PJP expecting stiff test from Upper Perkiomen
Pope John Paul II, Upper Perkiomen square off in key Frontier Division matchup
The undefeated Pope John Paul II football team faces arguably its toughest game to date when Upper Perk visits today. Read about Saturday’s area matchups:
UPPER PROVIDENCE » They’ll admit to their lack of size.
But in terms of physicality, Pope John Paul II will go nose-to-nose with any team in the Pioneer Athletic Conference.
That again will be tested as the Golden Panthers face off against a hard-nosed Upper Perkiomen squad in a pivotal PAC Frontier Division matchup Saturday at 1 p.m. that could turn the race into a twoteam race by the end of the afternoon.
Pope John Paul II (3-0, 7-0), undefeated through seven games for the first time in school history, will stay alive in the divisional race with a win or a loss. Upper Perkiomen, however, needs a win to stay alive after being dispatched by Pottsgrove 55-24 in last week’s contest. Upper Perkiomen head coach Tom Hontz saw some positives in last week’s loss as his team is looking for its signature win of 2017.
“We are excited to play a very talented PJP squad,” Hontz said. “Despite the score, we did do some good things against Pottsgrove and so we are anxious to see if we can finally knock off an undefeated team. We have three losses this year and those teams we lost to are a combined 19-0. We need to have our own signature win.”
That’ll be tough against a PJP squad that continues to pile up the points. Through the team’s 7-0 start, the Golden Panthers have scored 34 or more points in six of their wins. Quarterback Matt DeLaurentis continues to shine, throwing for 1,168 yards and 12 touchdowns (second-best in PAC), while his elusiveness in the pocket and innate ability to scramble also has netted the signal caller 246 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. A win will need to come from his arm, and more importantly, a defense that has continued to stand tall against the run (thirdranked rush defense in PAC).
“Being the most physical team every single week is a huge key,” PJP senior defensive lineman Chris Haffey said. “We’re not going to overpower teams with our size, but we’re going to be there every single play, all game.”
“We have to stay focused,” added defensive lineman Denver Francis. “We’re not really big on looking at the stats and everything but we know we have to come out and go 1-0. We have to stop the run, shut down whatever they have for us. We’ve been preparing all week and we need to continue doing that.”
Staying level-headed has been key for the Golden Panthers through their undefeated start. Seeing PJP at practice on Thursday, the team didn’t carry themselves as cocky or assured of themselves. Hungry stands out as an identifiable adjective. Through the lean years, Haffey and Francis have also been looking for the team’s signature win. That may come Saturday against an Upper Perk team that downed the Golden Panthers 32-13 last year in a game that held the same weight.
“We’ve been with the program from its lowest days and we’re here now trying to build a program for the young guys,” Haffey said. “None of them have been here for a varsity loss. We’ve been here for many varsity losses so we have to keep them level-headed, have them play like we’re 0-0 every week.
“We’ve been trying to get the underclassmen to stay focused,” Francis said. “Yeah, 7-0 sounds nice and everything but we have to stay prepared and not taking anything for granted. Our season is on the line, we have to keep on going.”
KEY MATCHUP » Upper Perkiomen enters with the second ranked rush offense and they’ll face a third-ranked PJP rush defense. UP is led by a trio of backs, including power runner Tyler Whary (528 yards on 68 carries and six touchdowns), speedy Tyrese Reid (420 yards and five touchdowns on 46 touches) and Austin Tutolo (310 yards and three scores on 45 touches). “They have a lot of really talented guys, a great coach,” Haffey said of Upper Perkiomen. “They have a lot of guys that have played for a while. They are a very experienced team. I’ve bene focused on making sure we’re wrapping up, making sure we’re playing hard and just playing every single down like it’s our last.
HALL OF FAME » PJP will induct its firstever Hall of Fame class, which will include the 2014 baseball state championship team. HOMECOMING FESTIVIES
» The game will serve as PJP’s Homecoming. It has also been selected as the Game of the Week by the Philadelphia Eagles, so Eagles cheerleaders and mascot “Swoop” will be on hand.
PREDICTION » Upper Perkiomen 24, Pope John Paul II 23.