Quarterbacks taking charge at Frankford, Judge
If there is a new Public League football sheriff in town, it has a familiar name. Last week, Frankford knocked off defending Pub champion Gratz, 35-18.
If there is a new Public League football sheriff in town, it has a familiar name.
Last week, Frankford knocked off defending Pub champion Gratz, 35-18.
Hold off on the coronation just yet. There is plenty of football to be played. But the Pioneers (2-2, 2-0), who won back-to-back Pub titles in 2012 and 2013 while in Class 4A, appear formidable once more.
With the classification shuffle, Frankford and Gratz are now both 5A and could meet again in the playoffs.
First-year head coach Dom Doyle leads a Frankford team with experience at quarterback, speed at wide receiver and playmakers on defense.
Senior quarterback Mikey Morell has already thrown for 816 yards and nine touchdowns without an interception.
On the outside, Ezequiel "Esky" Lopez, a senior wide out, owns 479 yards on 25 catches (19 per catch), and 7 touchdowns.
Last week, the Pioneers defense, led by senior linebacker Jameer Brooks, a three-year starter, was dynamic.
The defensive play of the game, however, may have come from sophomore linebacker Kyle Powell.
The Bulldogs (2-2, 1-1), which returned only two starters from last season's title team, led, 12-10, at halftime.
Back-to-back Frankford scores yielded a 22-12 lead in the third quarter. That's when Gratz ran a quarterback option to the right that didn't fool Powell.
In fact, Powell plucked the ball in mid-air as quarterback Amir Gillis attempted a pitch to a running back.
About 23 yards later, Powell cemented Frankford's victory with a touchdown return.
King takes the throne
Father Judge quarterback Rob King has put up impressive numbers far this season. After handing off a lot of the team's offense to running back Yeedee Thaenrat last season, King now wears the offensive crown.
Saturday night's rivalry game against Archbishop Ryan may have been his official coronation. King, a senior who orally committed to Temple, finished with four touchdown tosses, all in the first half.
Thaenrat is now logging minutes as a freshman at Tennessee Tech.
Through four games, King owns 674 passing yards and 10 touchdowns on 42-of-66 passing (63 percent), according to TedSilary.com. In 10 games last season, King threw for 860 yards and nine touchdowns with only 66 completions.
50-point club
So far in Pub play, three teams have gotten halfway to the century mark. Last week, Central, Imhotep and Bartram each scored at least 50 points.
Bartram buried Dobbins, 50-0, marking back-to-back weeks in which the Braves hung at least 50 on an opponent. Mastbaum was mauled, 52-6, the previous week.
Central toppled Franklin, 50-12, and Imhotep blanked Prep Charter, 58-0.
The defending PIAA 3A champion Panthers could have taxed the scoreboard further, but the game was halted at halftime because of its lopsided nature and concern about player safety. A similar accord was reached against School of the Future last season after just 9 minutes, 9 seconds in which Imhotep built a 40-0 advantage.
The Panthers take on Gratz this week.
Next week
Check out Springside Chestnut Hill against Father Judge, Saturday at 1 p.m. if you like quality quarterbacking.
King's exploits have been documented. Matt Rahill, the Blue Devils quarterback, dominated Roman Catholic by land and air last week.
Rahill rushed for 169 yards on 18 carries and added 192 more yards and two scores on 12-of-19 passing.
Judge's defensive front is stout. Something will have to give.
@AceCarterINQ
