A look back on the 2017 PAC football season
The 2017 fall high school football season was yet another to remember in the Mercury’s coverage area.
Reloaded Perkiomen Valley picked up its second straight Pioneer Athletic Conference title while Pottsgrove’s season culminated into a second straight state playoff berth in Rick Pennypacker’s final season as head coach.
Records were shattered, accomplishments were fulfilled and memories weremade. Here’s a look back at some of the standout moments, people and players from the 2017 fall season: A IS FOR ANSWERING THE CALL » There were certainly questions surrounding Perk Valley following the graduation of Stephen Sturm and Justin Jaworski, the PAC’s respective all-time leading quarterback and receiver. Sophomore quarterback Cole Peterlin answered those questions, the first-year QB racking up 1,705 passing yards with 13 touchdowns and a team-high 906 yards rushing with eight TDs on the ground. The Vikings featured multiple receiving threats in Jon Moccia, Remy Sell, Bren--
dan Schimpf and Isaiah Domine, who led the way with 522 yards and six TDs.
B IS FOR BONANNI » Spring-Ford sophomore Dante Bonanni led the Rams with 649 yards receiving (second in the PAC) along with four touchdowns. He pulled in a seasonbest 162 yards and two touchdowns during Spring-Ford’s win against
Methacton.
CIS FOR COYLE» Boyertown kicker Declan Coyle nailed his first-ever field goal attempt from 24 yards out with seconds remaining to give Boyertown a 24-21 upset win over Owen J. Roberts Week 7. The moment took a while to sink in. “I don’t even know what to say,” Coyle said after the game. “This time last year, I was watching these games (from the stands)… now I’m being mobbed by my teammates. I’m so happy I was able to create this memory with these guys.”
DIS FOR DEFEND THE LAND» Of the six PAC teams that finished out with winning records (Perkiomen Valley, Owen J. Roberts, SpringFord, Pottsgrove, Upper Perkiomen and Pope John Paul II), the teams were a combined 27-7 on their home turf. OJR and Pottsgrove were both 6-0 at home.
E IS FOR EXCELLENT ENDING» After a forgettable 0-4 start to the season, Boyertown hit its strides during the final stretch under firstyear head coach TJ Miller. The Bears won their final three games — four of their last five — including a 48-20 win over Pocono Mountain East in the Eastern Conference championship.