Slivka shines in debut for UD

Junior QB leads Upper Dublin over Norristown in 1st varsity start

WEST NORRITON » Mike Slivka made his first varsity start for Upper Dublin Friday night and led the Cardinals to a comfortable 28-7 season-opening win over Norristown at the Norristown Area High School Athletic Complex.

“I woke up this morning with a couple butterflies,” Slivka said. “They were gone when I got in the locker room. I was ready to go.”

The junior completed seven of 12 passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. His first touchdown was an eight-yard strike to Brody Balasa on the fourth play from scrimmage and the second a 65yard deep pass to Selvin Haynes to give Upper Dublin a 14-0 lead in the final minute of the first quarter.

“I thought he was impressive,” Upper Dublin head coach Bret Stover said. “He made some good decisions. He made some bad throws, but it’s his first varsity start. He’s doing a lot. He’s telling people where to go and checking at the line of scrimmage. He’s got a lot on his plate right now and he’s only going to get better. He’s his hardest critic. He isn’t going to let himself be complacent.”

Slivka took the field a little sooner than expected. The Cardinals, ranked No. 18 in PA Prep Live’s Top 20, won the toss and deferred to the second half, but recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff to bring the offense onto the field at Norristown’s 23yard line.

“You can’t really script that,” Stover said. “That’s what you want. And then to capitalize on it was really what we needed to do. You don’t want to not get some points there.”

Slivka also made a big play with his legs. On third-and-7 at his own 27-yard line late in the

GENE WALSH — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Upper Dublin quarterback Mike Slivka prepares to throw Friday night.