Bears, Falcons continue rivalry
Bears, Falcons continue longtime rivarly in leadup to PAC season
Pottsgrove and Boyertown have seen quite a bit of each other over the course of the last six decades.
The two schools, separated by a little more than six miles, will play their 40th game in the last 56 seasons on Friday night at Pennypacker Field. Falcons coach Bill Hawthorne said the two teams scrimmaged when he was at Pottsgrove from 1989-92 so the unofficial number is even larger.
Friday’s contest between the Falcons and Bears is one of two Pioner Athletic Conference crossover contests to conclude the non-league schedule — Methacton at Pottstown is
the other — before PAC divisional play begins next week.
It’s a tradition both programs have been happy to uphold over the past several seasons before their entry into conference play.
“You’ve got two veer option teams who are neighborhood rivals,” Hawthorne said. “It’s a healthy, intense rivalry but respectful at the same time. What else would you want to see on a Friday night?”
Before the PAC moved to a two-division format in 2016, Boyertown (1-2) and Pottsgrove (2-0) met up on their league schedule for 14 straight seasons from 2002-2015.
The two schools have kept alive the rivalry with nonconference games in each of
the past five years, including the season finale in last year’s shortened season. The Falcons are one of two PAC Frontier rivals the Bears kept on their schedule along with Upper Perkiomen, who Boyertown took down in its opener this season.
Boyertown won last year’s meeting against the Falcons, 20-9, snapping a nine-game skid to Pottsgrove. Prior to that, the Bears’ last victory over the Falcons came in 2010. Despite the more recent success of Pottsgrove, Boyertown’s 2020 victory gave it a 20-19-1 advantage in the all-time series.
“The kids have grown up playing against each other, and I think our kids get excited for that,” Boyertown coach T.J. Miller said. “I think the kids also like the opportunity that even though it’s an away game, it’s not far for our people, our crowd to travel.”
After a 35-12 win against Upper Perkiomen in Week 1, Boyertown has dropped its last two contests to District 3 powers Exeter (56-8) and Wyomissing (35-7). Miller was proud of the character his team displayed against two squads who thinks have a chance to play deep into the postseason.
Pottsgrove is out to roaring start after having its season opener against West Catholic suspended then ultimately cancelled due to a COVID-19 issue with the Burrs. The Falcons defeated Lansdale Catholic, 39-14, before last week’s shutout win against Schuylkill Valley, 35-0.
The Falcons know the results of the Bears’ last two contests aren’t indicative of what they will bring to the table Friday. Hawthorne noted the Bears are strong on both their lines and skill positions.
“Every time you play Boyertown, you know you’re going to have a physical game,” Hawthorne said. “They’re just going to make you better. This game helps prepare us (for conference play).”
Pottsgrove senior quarterback Ryan Sisko has been lauded by Hawthorne troughout the preseason and into the start of the 2021 campaign. He is an efficient 9-for-15 for 180 yards and three touchdowns in two games. Boyertown junior quarterback Anthony Panarello is 7-for-18 for 157 yards and a two touchdowns compared to two interceptions in three starts for the Bears. He also has 26 rushing attempts for 102 yards and two scores.
Both teams have strong backfields as well. Pottsgrove junior Amir Brunson ran 18 times for 291 yards (16.2 yards per carry) and four touchdowns in two games, adding an 86-yard kick return touchdown last week. Miller noted senior lineback/fullback Max Neeson also brings a lot of toughness for the Falcons.
Boyertown senior running back Leo Egbe currently ranks sixth in the PAC with 273 yards rushing on 48 carries with three touchdowns. Roman Marinello is another threat on the ground (98 yards, TD) and through the air (6 rec, 39 yards).
“The way that we’re approaching it is is we’re getting ready to play a football game against a really disciplined team,” Miller said.
Senior Luke Ordway, another one of the Bears’ top pass target and defensive lineman, and sophomore Jason Oakes are two more Boyertown players the Falcons will have to keep an eye on. Tyler Kaufman, Riley Delp and Vinny Scarnato are Pottsgrove’s top pass catchers thus far.
Miller also made mention of Falcons’ senior linebacker Shane Caffrey and the Pottsgrove secondary, which has interceptions from Sisko, Gabe Rinda and Trenton Allen.
There hasn’t been a onepossesion game in the Boyertown-Pottsgrove series since 2015, when Pottsgrove won 28-27, but Friday’s contest is shaping up for a good one in the 40th go around between the Falcons and Bears.
“It’s just an inherent, natural rivalry,” Hawthorne said.