3 key Pa. football matchups on tap this weekend
It's early October and that means things are heating up in league races across Southeastern Pennsylvania. Here's a look at three of the high-stakes matchups coming up this weekend.
It's early October and that means things are heating up in league races across Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Here's a look at three of the high-stakes matchups coming up this weekend.
No. 12-ranked Coatesville at No. 5 Downingtown East, 7 p.m. Friday. The Ches-Mont League National Division championship is likely on the line at Kottmeyer Stadium.
The speedy Red Raiders (5-1 overall, 2-0 league) have won four consecutive games – and averaged 44.3 points in the process – since a 41-21 loss to District 3's Cumberland Valley.
Coatesville is spurred on offense by halfback Aaron Young, wideout Avery Young, and rookie quarterback Ricky Ortega.
Aaron Young has carried 46 times for 433 yards and 10 touchdowns. The sophomore exploded for 324 yards and five scores on 26 attempts in a 48-9 romp over Downingtown West on Sept. 23.
East (5-1, 2-0) has won four straight since falling to No. 3 North Penn, 23-7.
Offensively, the Cougars are ignited by workhorse running back Dan Liaudaitis, QB Bryce Lauletta, and wideout Ethan Harris.
Anchored by a stout defensive line, East has yielded an average of only 6.4 points in its five victories. That group features Will Kiely, Shane Hogarth, Joe Janick, Nica Hesel, and Connor Munnelly.
East also has one of the area's top cornerbacks in Jeremy Jennings. The Temple recruit has been clocked at 10.63 seconds in the 100-yard dash.
No. 6 Perkiomen Valley at No. 11 Spring-Ford, 7 p.m. Friday. Expect a packed house at Coach McNelly Stadium for this Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division showdown.
PV southpaw Stephen Sturm has completed 102 of 149 passes (68.5 percent) for 1,675 yards and 20 TDs.
Unfortunately for the Vikings (6-0, 2-0), they are missing Sturm's primary target. Savvy handyman Justin Jaworski (37 catches for 777 yards, nine TDs) is sidelined with a partially torn medial collateral ligament suffered Sept. 16.
Sturm now mostly spreads the ball among David Williams, Remy Sell, and Brendan Schimpf.
The only slip-up for Spring-Ford (5-1, 2-0) was a 41-40, double-overtime loss to District 3's Wilson on Sept. 9.
The Rams' T.J. Pergine has connected on 64 of 109 throws for 1,142 yards and 14 scores. Other threats are halfback Matt Gibson (70 carries for 500 yards, five TDs) and handyman Stone Scarcelle (26 catches for 469 yards, six TDs.)
Plymouth Whitemarsh at No. 14 Upper Dublin, 7 p.m. Friday. Between them, PW and Upper Dublin have captured the last five Suburban One League American Conference crowns.
PW (5-1, 3-0) has won five straight since opening with a 38-23 loss against Souderton. The Colonials have a trio of solid running backs: Khan Jamal (55 carries for 425 yards, three TDs), Blaise Gravinese, and Joe Stoberl.
Upper Dublin (5-0, 3-0) has stayed on the winning track despite losing all but a few starters from last year's PIAA District 1 Class 4A championship squad.
The Cardinals' offensive sparkplugs are QB Justin Horn, do-it-all halfback Phil Butler, and wideouts J.T. Breslin and Jalen Heim.
Extra points. Conwell-Egan's Dan Green, a strong safety and outside linebacker, notched a pair of sacks in Saturday's 26-0 shutout of Catholic League Blue Division rival Lansdale Catholic. Also, his fourth-quarter hit of a Crusaders receiver forced a fumble that Terome Mitchell recovered and returned 51 yards to the Lansdale Catholic 4-yard line. LC linebacker David Saulino was involved in six tackles, including a first-quarter sack. . . . Strath Haven's Zach Newlon has carried 104 times for 473 yards and 12 TDs. Panthers teammate Emmet Young has totaled 33 points, with three field goals and 24 conversion boots. . . . Roman Catholic's Miles McLeod, a running back and linebacker, suffered a serious knee injury in Friday's 20-7 win over Catholic League Red Division foe Archbishop Carroll. He has an MRI scheduled Monday.
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