Football: Phantoms Open PAC-10 Schedule This Weekend

Phoenixville head coach Bill Furlong has made it clear since day one of training camp that one of the keys to the Phantoms having success this season is their ability to get better every week and to out do the previous week’s performance.

The Phantoms (2-0) will have to step it up in a big way if they are going to improve on last Friday’s dismantling of Neumann-Goretti in which they posted 38 points, 300 yards of offense and recovered two fumbles on the defensive side of the ball.

This Saturday, Phoenixviile will travel to Fairview Village to take on a much-improved Methacton squad that is averaging almost 200 yards per game on the ground and defeated former Suburban One League rival Upper Merion by a count of 35-11.

Coming off a complete team victory, the focus for the Phantoms defense, which has forced six turnovers so far, will be easy to locate as he lines up right behind the center.

Warriors quarterback Brandon Bossard poses a formidable threat as he has a better than average arm, but he has been most dangerous over the past two season when he tucks the ball and breaks out of the pocket. An example of that came at the expense of Spring-Ford last season when Bossard ran for more than 125 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown scamper to beat the Rams.

Thus far Bossard (44 yards rushing last week) has only managed 108 yards through the air, but the team does have a deep threat in Cooper Given. The pair connected last week on three passes for 53 yards, the longest being a 20-yard touchdown strike.

It’s doubtful that the air will be filled with leather, as both squads prefer winning the battle in the trenches and moving the ball in a more up-close-and-personal fashion, implementing a solid ground assault.

The Phoenixville offensive line is coming off another stellar performance in which they paved the way for Vinny Nattle (34 carries, 310 yards), Ryan Yenchick (12 rushes, 133 yards) and gave quarterback Alec McQuiston room to run when he has called his own number to the tune of 129 yards on 11 carries.

Head coach Bob McNally and his Warriors (1-1), have been fueled by tailback Davonte Fung (15 rushes, 107 yards) and Andrew Gannon (11 carries, 52 yards), posting three touchdowns between them giving the Phoenixville defense a plethora of targets to deploy their attack on.

Ryan Penella, who garnered CBS Sports/MaxPreps team player of the game last week with 12 tackles and assisting on seven more along with Jesse Gervasi (eight tackles, four assists) will have their hands full as the PIAA-class-AAAA Warriors try to stretch the field and post their first league win of the year.

The fast start by the Phantoms has moved them up 57 spots in the Pennsylvania state rankings and more than 1,300 spots in the national landscape.

Kickoff is 1 p.m. on Saturday at Methacton High School.

Projection- Phoenixville 26 Methacton 19

Look for place kicker Ian Harrigan to have his impact felt, as he has not only connected on a field goal in each of the first two games, but has been vital in the Phantoms winning the field position battle, pinning opponents deep on kickoffs.

Other Pioneer Athletic Conference Match-ups

Friday, Sept. 17 

Perkiomen Valley at Owen J. Roberts  7 p.m.

Upper Perkiomen at Pottsgrove  7 p.m.

Boyertown at Pottstown   7 p.m.

Pope John Paul II at Spring-Ford    7 p.m.

Projected winners- Spring-Ford, Boyertown, Pottsgrove, Owen J. Roberts

The Boys of Fall

Season projected records

Owen J. Roberts         7-2

Spring-Ford             6-3

Phoenixville         6-3

Perkiomen Valley       6-3

Boyertown            6-3

Pottsgrove           5-4

Methacton        3-6

Pottstown        3-6

Upper Perkiomen  2-7

Pope John Paul II  1-8

Phantoms game of the year-Saturday, Oct. 15, 1 p.m.,  Boyertown at Phoenixville (Phantoms win)

PAC-10 Game of the year-Saturday, Oct. 22, 2 p.m. Owen J. Roberts at Spring-Ford (Rams wins)