Blindness not stopping Pottstown’s Pearson
Pottstown’s Pearson doesn’t let blindness affect his love for – and participation in – football
POTTSTOWN >> Marvin Pearson yearned to be with his friends again.
Having spent the last three years at the Overbrook School for the Blind, the Pottstown native was given an opportunity to attend his home school his senior year. Pearson took it. Now, he’s making memories. “There was an opportunity for me to come back and graduate with my class and with the kids I’ve known since the first grade,” Pearson said. “Growing up, we’ve always been a family. People that live in Pottstown, they kind of never leave. They kind of just stay here. I’m not exactly sure why, but Pottstown is a great town. I’m just happy I had the opportunity to be able to come back. It was a better academic opportunity, better athletic opportunity. I just wanted to feel what it’s like being around the people again before I go off to college.
His ‘Homecoming’ of sorts is only fitting as Pottstown hosts Pottsgrove in the ‘Backyard Brawl’ Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. The game will serve as the Trojans’ Homecoming.
“He’s been a positive addition to the team,” Pottstown head coach Gary Rhodenbaugh said. “I think for him it was somewhat of a homecoming. He spent some years at Overbrook and for him to be able to come back and be a part of this community, this team, I think is a real positive. Not just for him, but for our entire team.”
Pearson may be blind – he started losing his vision in second grade and fully lost his sight two years later – but one wouldn’t realize it on first glance ... or maybe the second or the third.
That’s because the senior running back is indistinguishable during practice and in games. Donning his No. 28 jersey and navy blue Trojans helmet, Pearson does what any player does. He participates in drills in practice, warms up and sprints out with the team for games. With the help of his “play-byplay analyst” freshman Zack Griffin, Pearson is kept in the know of each play, where receivers line up, the score, the time, down and distance, and when to yell out the “motion, motion” call.
Pearson is almost entirely deaf as well, but wears high-powered hearing aids that allow him to hear his teammates.
There isn’t anything he can’t do
and he’ll let you know of that.
“Nothing is out of reach, everything is in reach,” Pearson said. “Me playing football, everyone asks “Marvin, how do you play football?’ I just tell them, come out and watch me. Look at the way I never give up, or encourage our guys to do better.”
Don’t think Pearson is just a cheerleader either.
“He loves it,” Rhodenbaugh said. “During the scouting report he asks questions, good questions. He’s definitely into the strategy and the X’s and O’s.
“It’s been a feeling out process, what accommodations would benefit him and what is he comfortable with. Earlier today (Wednesday) we were doing tackling stations, he participates. It’s been a real cool experience for him and for us.”
He started going blind in second grade, an experience more frustrating than fearful for the young Pearson, who had a hard time getting his teachers and doctor to believe him due to his “boy who cried wolf” joking demeanor. He fully lost his vision nearly two years later.
“It was a tough time, but these type of things you have to get over,” Pearson said. “It wasn’t scary at all. I was more frustrated than anything. I was the type of kid that played around a lot. I went in the school and I was trying to look at a dictionary and I realized the words on the paper weren’t as clear as they should have been. I was telling my teachers, I was telling my mom and at first nobody believed me, not even the eye doctor. He said that he believed that I was having trouble seeing but didn’t know to what degree because I always was kidding around. I think at that point in time, that mentally helped me mature.”
Pearson played football and wrestled during his time at Pottstown middle school before attending Overbrook School of the Blind in Philadelphia the past three years. He was a standout athlete at Overbrook in track and field, losing only one race since 10th grade while running the 50-yard, 75yard, 200-meter and 400-meter. He also worked his way to the starting lineup in “Goalball” a 3-on-3 game designed specifically for blind athletes. The game features two teams that alternate throwing or rolling a ball embedded with bells (similar to a medium sized medicine ball) from one side of the playing area to the other. Players remain in the area of their own goal in both defense and offense, and must use the sound of the bell to judge the position and movement of the ball.
“It’s basically a cross between soccer and bowling,” he explained. “There are two soccer nets — one on each end — and you try to get ball size of basketball into the net by throwing or rolling it. Some guys were able to bounce it but the ball is very hollow so they don’t bounce well. I was on the bench my sophomore year but saw a lot of playing time. Junior year I worked my way up to being a starter.”
He would have started again his senior season, but coming back to Pottstown and suiting up with his friends for one last season was too good to pass up.
“I’ve known a lot of these kids for so long that when I was finally able to suit up, I felt blessed,” Pearson said. “Even though I can’t see, God blessed me with athletic ability, to be strong and to be fast. It felt really good to be on the field playing the sport that I love the most.”
On Saturday, that’s where No. 28 will be.
College Bound
Pearson, who manages 17 fantasy football teams, wants to stay involved in sports once he goes to college. He is looking at either Temple or Kutztown and is looking to work as a sports agent or scout.
“He loves sports and one of the things that’s so important is that he’s an advocate for himself, too,” Rhodenbaugh said. “I think he’ll end up doing real, real well in that field. He knows how to be assertive, and at the same time, he knows how to ask people for help if or when he needs it.”
Backyard Brawl
Pottstown hasn’t bested its neighboring opponent since a 47-0 victory in 2002. Pottsgrove enters Saturday’s clash after a dominating 35-0 victory over Upper Merion while Pottstown comes in after a disappointing 20-6 loss to Pope John Paul II last Saturday. Pottsgrove’s Rahsul Faison is second in the PAC with 708 rushing yards and first with nine touchdowns. Faison, Desmond Austin, Kobey Baldwin and Adam Girafalco each have an interception.
Lengthy Streaks
Boyertown is looking to top Perkiomen Valley for the first time since 2010. That’s also the same year Methacton last topped Spring-Ford. Pope John Paul II is also looking for its first victory over Phoenixville in school history. The Golden Panthers are 0-6 since Kennedy-Kenrick and St. Pius X merged.
Now for a look at Week 6:
Upper Perkiomen at Upper Merion, 7 p.m. Record: Upper Perkiomen 1-0 PAC, 2-3 overall; Upper Merion 0-1 PAC, 1-4 overall. Last week’s result: Upper Perkiomen defeated Phoenixville 47-35; Upper Merion lost to Pottsgrove 35-0.
Indians Facts/Figures: Tyler Whary rushed for 203 yards as Indians held on in fourth quarter to top Phoenixville . ... QB Zeke Hallman dropped to third in passing yards (929) but is still second in the league with 14 touchdowns. Senior QB has only thrown two interceptions and is completing 58 percent of his passes . ... Ryan Kendra is tied for league lead with three interceptions.
Vikings Facts/Figures: Nothing went right for Vikings in last week’s loss to Falcons . ... Team was limited to 32 yards through the air and 75 on the ground . ... Vikings are last in PAC in total offense (165.2 ypg), and 11th in points per game (9.6).
Be on the Lookout: Upper Merion hasn’t faced a team predicated on passing ... until Friday. Let’s see how Hallman and receivers Kendra and Tyler Keyser fare.
Prediction: Upper Perkiomen keeps scoring as defense does just enough. Indians win 31-14.
Boyertown at Perkiomen Valley, 7 p.m. Record: Boyertown 1-0 PAC, 2-3 overall; Perkiomen Valley 1-0 PAC, 5-0 overall.
Last week’s result: Boyertown defeated Methacton 46-41; Perkiomen Valley defeated Owen J. Roberts 43-7. Bears Facts/Figures: Bears won a thriller last week, outscoring the Warriors 12-6 in the final quarter after Methacton took a 35-34 lead after three . ... QB Jerry Kapp got going again on the ground with 121 yards rushing on 14 carries and three scores. He also completed 7-of-11 for 176 and two scores . ... Bears snapped three-game losing streak.
Vikings Facts/Figures: QB Stephen Sturm leads the league with 1,446 passing yards and 18 touchdowns through team’s first five games . ... Sean Owens hauled in four passes for 75 yards and David Williams was a dual threat in the run and pass game as Vikings fared well with leading receiver Justin Jaworski out with injury . ... Team ranks first in total offense (406.8 ypg).
Be on the Lookout: Boyertown hasn’t defeated PV since 2010 and the ugliest game came last year in 51-0 loss. How do they respond?
Prediction: PV wins 42-14.
Spring-Ford at Methacton, 7 p.m. Record: Spring-Ford 1-0 PAC, 4-1 overall; Methacton 0-1 PAC, 1-4 overall. Last week’s result: Spring-Ford defeated Norristown 50-14; Methacton lost to Boyertown 46-41.
Rams Facts/Figures: Rams have scored the most points of any team in the PAC so far (216) . ... TJ Pergine now ranks second in PAC in passing yards (941) after throwing for 195 yards in last week’s win . ... Rams built 43-7 lead at the half and have now outscored opposing teams 143-37 in first two quarters.
Warriors Facts/Figures: QB Jason Eckman had his best game to date against Boyertown, completing 10-of-16 passes for 112 yards . ... Ryan O’Toole had seasonbest 83 yards rushing for Warriors in loss to Boyertown. Warriors still rank last in total defense (412.8 ypg). Be on the Lookout: Warriors remember 82-0 result from last year and will be hungry to have a better showing. Prediction: Spring-Ford wins, but not by 82 points. SF wins 35-13. Pope John Paul II at Phoenixville, 7 p.m. Record: Pope John Paul II 1-0 PAC, 2-3 overall; Phoenixville 0-1 PAC, 2-3 overall. Last week’s result: Pope John Paul II defeated Pottstown 20-6; Phoenixville lost to Upper Perkiomen 47-35.
Golden Panthers Facts/Figures: PJP is riding a two-game winning streak, the first time it’s accomplished the feat in five seasons ... QB Matt DeLaurentis is 64-for117 for 752 yards and 8 TDs (5 INTs) this season. His 64 completions are third-most in the PAC. Phantoms Facts/Figures: Against Upper Perk, RB Matt Garcia rushed for 238 yards and three scores on 23 carries. At 845 rushing yards on the year, he could break the 1,000-yard barrier vs. PJP. Be on the Lookout: Phantoms should be desperate to avoid an 0-2 start in the PAC and expect to play like it. Prediction: Phoenixville gets it done, 2420 Daniel Boone at Governor Mifflin, 7 p.m. Record: Daniel Boone 1-0 Berks I, 2-2 overall; Governor Mifflin 1-0 Berks 1, 3-1 overall. Last week’s result: Daniel Boone defeated Muhlenberg 26-23; Governor Mifflin defeated Exeter 28-21. Blazers Facts/Figures: Blazers won second straight with last-second win over Muhlenberg . ... WR Ryan Okuniewski leads team with 17 receptions for 289 yards. ... Spencer McIntosh has rushed for 256 yards on 71 carries. Blazers have outscored opponents 19-0 in fourth, but have been outscored 66-7 in the second quarter. Mustangs Facts/Figures: Run-heavy offense has churned up 884 yards on the ground in first four games . ... Ajay Sczepkowski leads team with eight receptions for 102 yards. Be on the Lookout: Blazers run defense allowed 239 yards to Muhlenberg’s Brandon Gassert in last week’s win. How will they rebound against Mifflin? Prediction: Mifflin stunned Exeter last week and will be on the winning end again. Mifflin wins 28-21.
Nativity BVM at Perkiomen School, 7 p.m. Record: Nativity BVM 1-4 overall; Perkiomen School 2-1 overall. Last week’s result: Nativity BVM lost to Kutztown 27-13; Perkiomen School defeated George School 46-14.
Green Wave Facts/Figures: Green Wave have scored 20 points in four losses and have been shut out twice . ... Green Wave’s win came against 1-4 Columbia Montour Vo-Tech from Bloomsburg.
Panthers Facts/Figures: Perkiomen School will play in night game at Upper Perkiomen . ... Panthers have outscored opponents 100-27 in two wins.
Be on the Lookout: Perkiomen School has topped Nativity in past two seasons by margin of 83-7. Another blowout in store?
Prediction: Perk School wins easy, 34-6.
Saturday’s Games Owen J. Roberts at Norristown, 1 p.m. Record: Owen J. Roberts 0-1 PAC, 2-3 overall; Norristown 0-1 PAC, 0-5 overall. Last week’s result: Owen J. Roberts lost to Perkiomen Valley 43-7; Norristown lost to Spring-Ford 50-14.
Wildcats Facts/Figures: Wildcats have scored just seven points in two losses that sandwich a 12-0 victory over Upper Merion. ... Wildcats rank eighth in the PAC in total offense (232.2 ypg) and points per game (16.8) . ... Hunter Scherfel leads team with 267 yards rushing and five touchdowns.
Eagles Facts/Figures: Norristown struggling to put the pieces together in each of its five losses . ... Team ranks 11th in total offense (197 ypg), 10th in points per game (9.6) and ninth in total defense (361.6 ypg).
Be on the Lookout: Both teams are looking to rebound after blowout losses. Who will be able to do it?
Prediction: Owen J. Roberts wins 24-16.
Pottsgrove at Pottstown, 2:30 p.m. Record: Pottsgrove 1-0 PAC, 3-2 overall; Pottstown 0-1 PAC, 1-4 overall. Last week’s result: Pottsgrove defeated Upper Merion 35-0; Pottstown lost to Pope John Paul II 20-6. Outlook: See Story, C1 Prediction: Pottsgrove wins 42-16.
Hill School at Springside-Chestnut Hill, 3:30 p.m. Record: Hill School 2-1 overall; SCHA 3-1 overall. Last week’s result: Hill School lost to Episcopal Academy 23-19; SCHA lost
Rams Facts/Figures: Daniel Adeboboye again rushed for more than 100 yards, rushing for 125 yards on 18 carries in last week’s loss to Episcopal . ... Syre Gruber led the team with 89 yards passing last week.
Blue Devils Facts/Figures: SCHA came up with big wins against Roman Catholic and Father Judge in consecutive wins. Teams lone loss came to Blue Mountain (21-14) in Week 2.
Be on the Lookout: SCHA has not spelled good fortune for the Hill as the Rams are 0-5 in the last five years. Prediction: Losing streak continues for Hill, SCHA wins 24-21.