This column originally ran in the Nov. 21 edition of The Mercury.

Two of last year’s state champions’ seasons are over and done with, their equipment cleaned and packed away until next August. The other two are still playing, and both will be lining up tonight for what they hope is the first of four more wins and another PIAA title.

Pittsburgh Central Catholic and Jeannette (and that fella by the name of Terrelle Pryor) finished on top in the AAAA and AA brackets last season, but will have to wait until next year for another attempt at a return trip to Hersheypark Stadium. But 2007’s Class AAA and A elite, Thomas Jefferson and Steelton-Highspire, which are ranked No. 1 in their respective brackets, are playing like they’re No. 1 … and will again be entertaining their home folk this weekend.

Week Three of Pennsylvania’s postseason kicks off tonight and continues Saturday with a slew of district and sub-regional finals, even a handful or two of district semifinals.

And, for the most part, what a card of high school football it is.

Two of the biggest schools in the entire state square off against two of their smallest rivals in this evening’s District 1-AAAA semifinals. Giant North Penn — second only to Reading High School on the PIAA’s enrollment chart — is unbeaten through 12 games, still ranked No. 2 in Pennsylvania as it’s been much of the season, and considered by many to be the untouchable this side of the empty steel mills in Harrisburg. The Knights, who have lost just once in five years at home, entertain Downingtown West (11-1), which has more than earned a spot in the semifinal show by beating seven opponents with winning records. And on the other side of the bracket, Neshaminy (11-1), the district’s only team other than North Penn to win a state title this decade, travels to unbeaten Garnet Valley (12-0), the AAA state runner-up a year ago that has showed no signs of wear and tear, or surrender, in many of its David-versus-Goliath match-ups this fall.

In Class AAA, Rustin (11-1) and Upper Moreland (10-1) — who took out Pioneer Athletic Conference rivals Pottsgrove and Owen J. Roberts last Friday night — square off in the district final at Plymouth-Whitemarsh.

Out in the District 3-A final, No. 1 ranked Steelton-Highspire (12-0) hopes to keep its second straight title run intact against Camp Hill (9-3). The Lions lost two of their last three regular-season games, including a 28-20 decision to Steel-High.

The Steamrollers, who have literally steamrolled everyone but Camp Hill this season, feature senior running back Jeremiah Young, who is just 65 yards away from the state career rushing record of 8,432 yards, set by East Stroudsburg’s James Mungro (1992-1995).

But if you prefer real drama between teams who simply do not like each other, take the long drive out to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh for the Saturday Spectacular — all four of District 7’s finals.

These games are about a lot more than just district championships and advancing into the state playoffs … much, much more.

In Class A, it’s No. 6 ranked Monaca (11-1) and No. 3 Clairton (12-0). Monaca has been to the final four times and dropped all four, including its last three in a row (1998-2000), but none of the losses have been by more than a touchdown. Still, the Indians have to deal with arguably the most dominant team in all of Pennsylvania. Clairton is No. 5 on the scoring chart (44.5 points a game), and No.1 in scoring defense (allowing just 2.5 a game). The Bears have shut out seven opponents, and not one of the other five managed to put up more than seven points against them.

In Class AA, it’s No. 5 ranked Aliquippa (10-2) and No. 1 Beaver Falls (12-0), where bad blood and ill-feelings toward one another begin in youth football. Aliquippa is determined to avenge a 27-12 loss to the Tigers back in Week Three. Beaver Falls’ program boasts 575 wins, but not one appearance in the state playoffs because of losses to eventual state champions Washington (2001) and Jeannette (last year) in its previous two district final games.

In Class AAA, it’s No. 4 ranked Blackhawk (11-1) and No. 1 Thomas Jefferson (11-1). Neither team has really been challenged at all this season, at least TJ hasn’t since a season-opening loss to Ohio’s nationally ranked Glenville. Some feel Blackhawk isn’t capable of offering much of a challenge on Saturday, either. You can bet those comments made their way onto the Cougars’ bulletin board.

And in Class AAAA, it’s No. 3 Bethel Park (12-0) against No. 1 Gateway (12-0). The Blackhawks have knocked off two of the big boys on the District 7 football block — Penn Hills and McKeesport by identical 20-13 scores, have two outstanding running backs and a very, very good quarterback. But Gateway, which has been among the top five teams in virtually every national ranking this season, has a defensive end by the name of B.J. Stevens, who has 21 sacks, and an offense that has produced 499 points.

STATE NOTES

MOUNT ’EM UP: Mount Carmel quarterback Marcus Wasilewski threw for four touchdowns last week to push his career total to a school-record 61. Matt Moroz caught his 100th pass of the season in that game, and teammate Colin Menapace booted his way into the school’s record book with his 25th straight point-after and 55th of the season. The Tornadoes (12-0) will need all that and more tonight against Montoursville (10-2) in the District 4-AA final.

ZACH ATTACK: Schuylkill Haven’s Zach Barket has run for 3,551 yards, 57 touchdowns, and 344 points, and he could add even bigger numbers to those totals in tonight’s sub-regional final against Commnications Tech. Barket, whose touchdowns and points scored are already single-season state records, needs 302 yards to break former Parkland standout Austin Scott’s mark (3,853). He is currently fourth on the state’s career rushing chart (7,680) behind Honesdale’s Terrin Ash (7,748), Young, and Mungro.

NATIONAL NOTES

WIN SOME, LOSE SOME: Down in Mississippi, Leland used a last-second touchdown to upset Walnut, 24-21, last Friday night in the Class AA playoffs … or so it thought. The state’s executive committee on Tuesday overturned the officials’ call on the final play and awarded the win to Walnut. Leland scored on a 20-yard pass as time expired for the win, but a penalty was called for an illegal forward pass — which is distance and loss of down. But officials granted Leland another play and, ironically, scored again for the win. The MSHAA (like the PIAA) cited the National Football High School Rule Book, which states, “A period shall not be extended by an un-timed down if during the last timed down of the period one of the following occurs … (penalties) that specify a loss of down.”

Walnut coach Timmy Moore: “We felt like the activities association and executive committee would do the right thing and correct a wrong.”

Leland coach Eugene Sanders, who said he’s contemplating resigning: “They’re not doing the right thing for the kids. It should be decided by officials and not people sitting behind a desk. It has torn the kids up, and it has torn the community up.“

The officials crew from the game has been suspended for the rest of the season and put on probation for 2009.

KNOWING ANOTHER RULE: Down in Florida, Crestview took advantage of the rarely used rule that allows a free kick following a punt to pull out a dramatic 31-28 win over Washington. J.T. Arnold put a tee down and booted a 60-yard field goal with 2.4 seconds remaining to give Crestview the victory.

A LOT OF POINTS: Out in Nevada, Pahranagat Valley set two national (eight-man) football records with 17 touchdowns in its 128-74 win over Coleville in the state’s Class A semifinals. The Panthers recovered five of six onside-kicks in a blowout 44-8 third quarter. Wonder how Coleville quarterback Jason Peters felt after throwing for 490 yards and 10 touchdowns … in a loss?

BIG NUMBERS: Ponderosa (Calif.) junior Lyndell Scarr ran 26 times for 392 yards and eight touchdowns in a 61-35 rout of Oak Ridge. … Down in Arkansas, quarterback Spencer Keith threw for 515 yards and six touchdowns and ran for two more of his own in a 63-39 rout of Alma.

ROLLING ALONG: Long Beach Poly (Calif.) has now won 79 straight league games. … Nationally ranked St. Xavier (Ky.) has outscored its last five opponents by a 291-14 margin, or average spread of 56 points a game. … Centennial (Ariz.) and Timpview (Utah) are playing for their third straight state titles this weekend, while Maryville (Tenn.) goes for its fifth straight state championship.

Don Seeley is the sports editor of The Mercury.

This column ran in the Nov. 18 edition of the Mercury.

Five area teams lined up for games last Friday night … three playoff games and a pair of non-league games.

All lost.

Wipeout.

But while Boyertown, Owen J. Roberts, Pottsgrove, and Spring-Ford returned to the practice field Monday to work out the kinks, prepare for their respective Thanksgiving Day football feasts, and focus on the opportunity to close out their long seasons on a winning note, that wasn’t quite the case up at Daniel Boone.

The Blazers were returning the equipment Monday.

A disappointing 31-7 setback to unbeaten and top-seeded Mechanicsburg in the District 3-Class AAA quarterfinals closed the door on their postseason and put a lock on the program’s 50th season, which could only summed up as yet another very successful one for head coach Dave Bodolus and the Blazers.

Then again, wins, appearances in the postseason, and winning seasons — and a lot of each if you care to count — have become the norm, not the exception, since Bodolus strolled up to Birdsboro and began mapping out the Blazers’ game plan six years ago.

Talk about reversing one’s ways.

Daniel Boone, often regarded as the Inter-County League’s doormat, which 11 consecutive losing seasons will reduce any program to, has strung together six straight winning seasons under Bodolus. There have been a couple of I-C division titles, six uninterrupted trips into the postseason, and so many eye-popping performances that have led to an almost complete rewrite of school’s individual and team record book.

Quarterback Jon Monteiro and wideout Zach Keeley put their names on countless pages in that book, as well as the Berks County and area record books, this season. And the Blazers erased the single-season mark for points scored in a season, too.

But it will be a while before Bodolus and the Blazers will be able to comfortably absorb their recent accomplishments.

“We had a good year,” Bodolus said Monday. “I think we’re all a little disappointed how it ended, though. We didn’t play very well at all last Friday (at Mechanicsburg).”

Daniel Boone’s run game, in overdrive at certain junctures this season, wasn’t in gear at all. The passing game, unquestionably the county’s and entire district’s most prolific with Monteiro and his unshakable gang of receivers, was out of sync. Four turnovers, missed blocks, and tackles here and there, mental errors … all of which led to the Blazers’ undoing, to the end of their season.

But what a ride it was for a team that kicked it off back in August with so many new bodies squatting down on the offensive and defensive lines, not to mention a few unproven receivers and a junior quarterback who had missed all of last year because of a leg injury.

“I thought we could be competitive, I really did,” Bodolus said. “What helps is that our league is very challenging week in and week out. (The league) helps you get better.

“I was more concerned about our defense than I was our offense. We had a good group of receivers for (Monteiro), and we knew that Nate Greene ran the ball very well. But we didn’t have a lot of experience on defense, especially with the loss of some very good linebackers last year. We just tried to get better every week.”

They did, despite the hard-to-believe and harder-to-explain 48-47 overtime loss to Columbia in Week Three. They would lose two more times — to eventual District 3-AAAA playoff qualifiers Governor Mifflin and Muhlenberg — before last Friday’s season-ender out at Mechanicsburg.

“We had a lot of kids step up this year,” Bodolus said. “Monteiro wasn’t necessarily a surprise because he’s such an intelligent kid and such a good athlete. And Keeley, he was the glue to this team, our leader on both sides of the ball, and he led both verbally and by example with his work ethic and his play on the football field.”

And next year?

“Right now, well, it’s too early to tell,” Bodolus said.

The Blazers return, among others, guards Mike Guarino and Mohammed Eid to anchor the offensive line and provide protection for Monteiro. Kelly Saylor, who caught 52 passes for 594 yards, and Josh Ortiz, who averaged just under 30 yards per reception and found the end zone on every 2.5 catches, will likely be Monteiro’s favorite targets next season. … Daniel Boone is 49-21, with eight or more wins in each of the last five years, under Bodolus.

HONORABLE

Player of the Week honors go to Keeley, who caught eight passes for 74 yards and a touchdown — capping his career and shattering virtually every school and area receiving record, as well as a couple Berks County records — in the Blazers’ 31-7 loss to Mechanicsburg.

RARE TRIPLE

Boyertown quarterback David Crognale came up with high school football’s rare single-game “triple” when he ran for a touchdown, passed for another, and caught a pass for six points during last Friday night’s loss to Hatboro-Horsham.

Despite missing a game this year because of a concussion, Crognale is the area’s third-leading rusher with 1,164 yards. He has also thrown for 951 yards that, along with his 41-yard touchdown reception last week, adds up to 2,156 yards of total offense.

Going into Thanksgiving morning, Pottsgrove’s Terrell Chestnut and Crognale are one-two among quarterbacks in yards rushing in the PAC-10 with 859 and 856, yards, respectively. Both are within reach of the 1,000-yard plateau — a mark no quarterback has reached since the league’s inaugural season back in 1986.

Crognale is also high on The Mercury’s overall career leaders chart. With one game remaining, he is sixth in passing (3,720), and third in total offense (6,379 yards) behind Perkiomen Valley senior Zach Zulli (6,577) and St. Pius X graduate Zack Pierce (6,731).

SHORT LIST

Owen J. Roberts sophomore Ryan Brumfield, despite being held to a season-low 32 yards and kept held out of the end zone for the first time this fall, ran by Dennis Laws (2,006) and current head coach Tom Barr (2,029) into second place on the Wildcats’ chart for most yards rushing in a single season. Brumfield, with 2,035 yards, will take aim at Matt Lucas’ school record of 2,046 on Thanksgiving morning against visiting Pottstown.

FOR THE RECORD

Monteiro finished the year with Mercury-area, single-game records for completions (29) and yards (475); single-season records for completions (190), attempts (319), yards (2,999), touchdowns (34), and average yards per game (272.6). He also set season records for the most games passing for more than 200 yards (8) and for more 300 yards (4), and for the most games passing for five touchdowns (3).

Keeley finished the year with Mercury-area, single-season records for receptions (87), yards (1,249) and touchdown catches (17). He also graduates with the Mercury-area career record for yards (1,945) and finishes second in career receptions (136) behind St. Pius X graduate Mike Todd (169), who was coached by Bodolus when he guided the Lions’ program.

NOTES

Pottsgrove’s 6-5 mark in the postseason is the only winning record among active Pioneer Athletic Conference members. Former member Lansdale Catholic ranks first overall with its 15-8 mark. Methacton is 1-1 (defeating Great Valley for the 1995 district title and losing to North Schuylkill in the first round of states). … St. Pius X is the only PAC-10 team other than Pottsgrove and Lansdale Catholic with more than one win in the postseason. The Lions are 3-4 overall, with three of their losses by a combined four points — a 29-28 overtime setback to Lakeland in 1999; a very controversial 13-12 loss to Pen Argyl in the state semifinals in 2001; and a 21-19 loss to Hanover Area in 2002.

Bayard Rustin likes to run, run, and run some more behind its sizable and quick offensive line. Pottsgrove likes to run, run, and run some more behind its sizable and quick offensive line.

Don’t think the keyboard got stuck … or is stuttering.

It’s just that tonight’s District 1-Class AAA semifinal showdown could very well turn into a track meet of sorts with the fleet afoot finding lanes of their own and running for goal lines instead of finish lines.

Rustin, on a nine-game run and 10-1 overall, features brothers Rondell and Rameer White, who together average eight yards every time they take a handoff, and have taken a couple hundred of them for 1,928 yards this season. Pottsgrove, also on a nine-game run and 10-1 overall, features Terrell Chestnut and Maika Polamalu, who together average a half-step under eight yards every time they carry the football, and have taken a few hundred of them for 2,238 yards this season.

Think the films and scouting reports look the same?

“We’re definitely similar in what we do,” said Pottsgrove head coach Rick Pennypacker. “Rustin is a run-the-football team. They’ll throw at times, but most of the time, it’s only because they’re trying to score in a hurry-up offense.”

For the record, quarterback Nick Michaels has gone up top just 62 times and

completed 30 of them for 462 yards and four scores. Chestnut has gone up top just 61 times and completed 35 of them for 840 yards and eight scores.

“Rustin is easy to prepare for, just like a lot of people may say about us,” Pennypacker said. “But that doesn’t make it any easier to defend them.

“What (the Golden Knights) do, they do very, very well. They’re like a lot of those old Strath Haven teams … at times coming at you with two tight ends and other times coming at you in the Wing-T. They like to get the ball to the White brothers. They’ll go to their fullback, too. They just pound the football.”

The Falcons can pound as well. And can they ever scoot, as Chestnut and Polamalu — as well as fullback Preston Hamlette — have done so often this season.

But whether they’ve been short or long runs, or the occasional short toss or long bomb, Pottsgrove’s offensive production begins up front with center Dan Foust, guards Andrew Filopanti and Eric Moran, tackles Antonio Filopanti and Brandon Mason, and tight end Scott Madl. Their unsung work has helped the Falcons average 265 yards on the ground and 341 yards overall.

“They usually show a ‘50’ on defense,” Pennypacker said. “They have two very good linebackers, too. I just don’t know if they’ve seen the kind of speed they’re going to see (tonight). But they’re very good.“

The Falcons aren’t too bad on the defensive side of the ball, either. Take away what Pottstown did two weeks ago and the Falcons have allowed their other last four opponents an average of only 53 yards rushing. The front five — ends Justin Oliveri and Andrew Tremble, tackles Eric Figorski and Kayvon Greene, and nose guard T.J. Demetrio — have come up with big stop after big stop. They’re backed up by linebackers Paul Owens, Madl, and Hamlette and a very aggressive as well as efficient secondary featuring Isiah Quick and Sheppard on the corners and Chestnut at safety.

“Our defense has been playing well,” Pennypacker said. “The kids are always looking for a challenge, and they’re definitely looking forward to this challenge. They know they’re going up against a very good football team.”

Owen J. Roberts at Upper Moreland

Owen J. Roberts (9-2) travels to top-seeded Upper Moreland (9-1) tonight in the other District 1-Class AAA semifinal.

OJR head coach Tom Barr likely had a long chat with Phoenixville’s Bill Furlong, who saw a turnover with less than four minutes remaining lead to the winning score in last week’s opening-round setback at Upper Moreland.

The Golden Bears have a well-balanced offense with the swift Chris Smallwood and quarterback Mike Rosenbaum. Smallwood has run for over 1,543 yards and 22 touchdowns, while Rosenbaum is closing in on 1,000 yards passing with 10 touchdown tosses. Defense is anchored by linebacker Dmitri Miller and safety Ronye Dennis.

The Wildcats counter with Ryan Brumfield (2,003 yards, 19 TDs), Sam Funk, and Cory Bissland in a run game that averages just under 300 yards a game. Quarterback Dan Miller, who has an outstanding season on both sides of the ball, can throw and has three excellent receivers in Brumfield, tight end Brad Davis, and wideout Kohl Batdorf. Defense is led up front by Sam Morgan and Sean Moloney and by linebackers Rich Zazo and Scott Syrek.

Daniel Boone at Mechanicsburg

Daniel Boone (8-3) is off on yet another long bus ride to visit top-seeded Mechanicsburg (11-0) in the District 3-AAA quarterfinals … and hope to do what last year’s team did — take out an unbeaten top-seed in the second round (as the Blazers did to Northern York).

The host Wildcats are coming off back-to-back 3-7 seasons. Tarik Leftenant (1,100 yards), fullback Devon Hensel (372), and quarterback Jake Zeigler (408) are averaging a combined seven-plus yards per carry. Zeigler keeps defenses honest, too, hitting well over 50 percent of his passes for 1,050 yards and 14 touchdowns. Tyler Bullock (6-4, 265), who dominates at guard and at defensive tackle, has already committed to Connecticut.

Daniel Boone, meanwhile, shows Mechanicsburg a passing game it hasn’t seen the likes of all season. Thanks in part to an offensive line that has allowed him time to throw, quarterback Jon Monteiro has amassed 2,853 yards and 33 touchdowns through the air. He has two excellent receivers in Zach Keeley and Kelly Saylor, who have caught a combined 128 passes for 1,729 yards and 19 touchdowns. Nate Greene’s (880 yards) ability to break a long run keeps defenses honest. And speaking of defense, the Blazers’ feature returning all-state Keeley in the secondary, where he has picked off seven passes this season.

Playoff Notes

Mechanicsburg’s last undefeated regular season was 25 years ago. The program’s only unbeaten overall season was a 10-0-1 run in 1954. Veteran Wildcats’ head coach Rich Lichtel died just before last season kicked off after losing his battle with cancer. … Rustin is No. 2 on the District 1-Class AAA enrollment chart with 537 male students (9th through 12th grade). OJR (510) is at No. 5, Upper Moreland (450) is at No. 15, and Pottsgrove (410) is at No. 18 on the 22-school bracket. … Pottsgrove (6-4), Owen J. Roberts (1-0), and Methacton (1-0) — along with former member Lansdale Catholic — are the PAC-10’s only teams with winning records in the postseason. Daniel Boone is 4-3 in postseason play in District 3-AAA (4-5 overall including two Eastern Conference playoff appearances)

This column was originally published in the Nov. 13 Mercury.

Wrestling practice doesn’t begin, officially that is, until Monday. And the season, when everyone actually gets out on the mat to strut their stuff against the opposition, doesn’t get under way until next month.

But 19 wrestlers from District 1 headed south last week for the grueling Super 32 Challenge in Greensboro, N.C. … and some more than warmed up for next week’s first day in the room.

Four entries, led by Oxford standout Nick Ruggear and Octorara’s Josh Smith third and fourth at 189 pounds, made their way to the awards podium by the end of the tournament, which drew some of the nation’s premier individual talents. Council Rock South’s Josh Dziewa was fourth at 135, while Council Rock South’s Jimmy Vollrath was seventh at 152, and Upper Moreland’s James Nicholson was the district’s third medalist at 189 after taking eighth.

Ruggear went 1-2 at states last spring, then went on to capture his weight class in the National High School Coaches Association’s Sophomore Nationals. In the Super 32, he overwhelmed Alabama state-medalist Michael Kennedy (18-1) and Virginia state-medalist Colin Lenhardt (19-6) in the first two rounds, then edged Northampton’s Joey Piro – who was seventh at the PIAA Championships – by a 9-6 margin. He dropped a 3-1 semifinal decision to Ohio’s Nicholas Mills, but came back with a 3-2 win over Florida’s Caylor Williams to set up the bout with Smith – a fourth-place finish in the state’s Class AA bracket last spring – which he won in a 2-1 thriller for the bronze medal.

Four other District 1 wrestlers – Truman’s James Bak (103), Garnet Valley’s Joe Marino (140), Octorara’s Dan Miller (145) and Sun Valley’s Josh Marquard (171) – all came within one win of getting into the medal rounds.

Pennsylvania had four individual champions at the Super 32 Challenge – Central Mountain’s Andrew Alton (140), Central Dauphin’s Marshall Peppelman (152), Warwick’s Anthony Giorgio (215), and Canon-McMillan’s Sam Brownlee (third straight title at 285).

C.D. Mock, a former PIAA and NCAA champion from Council Rock who is now the head coach at the University of North Carolina, watched his son, Corey, finish fourth at 130 pounds.

LOCK HAVEN FALL CLASSIC: Boyertown senior Ryan Kemmerer was one of four wrestlers from District 1 who pinned down gold medals at Lock Haven University’s Annual Fall Classic. Kemmerer, a two-time state medalist at Upper Perkiomen before competing for Spring-Ford last year, dominated at 145 pounds. Other champions were Springfield-Delco’s Dan Dortone (112), Council Rock South’s Ed Shupe (180) and Springfield-Delco’s Andre Petroski (190).

COMMITMENTS: Two national publications have noted that three district wrestlers have committed to Division I-A programs. Great Valley seniors Carl Buchholz and Justin Schellenger have reportedly give verbal commitments to Rutgers and Cal State-Fullerton, respectively, while Radnor’s John Meyers will be attending Duke.

HALL OF FAME: After being blanked on last year’s ballot, District 1 will be represented by John McHugh in this season’s class to be inducted into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame. McHugh, who had an outstanding career at Cheltenham (1953 state champion) and then the University of Maryland (two-time AAC champion), also coached the Terrapins for 32 years and compiled a 256-143-8 career mark.

COLLEGE NOTES

RANK AND FILE: Three area graduates – Bloomsburg’s Matt Moley (Spring-Ford) and Delaware Valley teammates Chris Sheetz (Upper Perkiomen) and Brandon Clemmer (Upper Perkiomen) – are among six former District 1 standouts who were listed on InterMat’s preseason national rankings.

Moley, an NCAA All-American last year, is eighth at 157 pounds in Division I, while Sheetz and Clemmer are fourth and seventh, respectively, at 125 and 133 in Division III.

Others earning national attention are Liberty’s Tim Harner (Norristown), 17th at 141, and Maryland’s Mike Letts (Octorara) – who is reportedly red-shirting this season – 11th at 174, both in Division I; and Kutztown’s David Zeek (Council Rock North), who is eighth at 157 in Division II.

TOURNEY TIME: Moley was third at last weekend’s Michigan State Open in East Lansing. The former two-time state runner-up, Moley’s only loss was a 3-2 double-overtime setback to eventual champion Kurt Kinser of Indiana. … Bucknell’s Jay Hahn (Great Valley) was fourth at 197 in the Freshman/Sophomore Division of the tournament.

* * *

Letts wrestled unattached and dominated the 174-pound bracket at the North Carolina State Open. Letts, a two-time state champion in high school, had two pins, a technical fall and major decision among his five wins. North Carolina’s Mike Rappo (Council Rock South) won his first three bouts before dropping two straight and getting eliminated at 141.

* * *

Lock Haven’s Nick Hyatt (Boyertown) bounced back from an early loss and placed sixth at 125 pounds during the Buffalo Open in N.Y. … Across the state, in the Oklahoma Gold Classic at SUNY-Brockport, Oklahoma’s Pat Flynn (Quakertown) went 4-1 with four pins to place third at 184 pounds.

* * *

Messiah sophomore David Jones (Boyertown) and Elizabethtown freshman Will Bentley (Owen J. Roberts) were first and third, respectively, at 174 and 125 pounds in last weekend’s annual Messiah Invitational. Jones doubled up Waynesburg’s Todd Martinek, 8-4, in their final for Messiah, which pinned down the team title with a slim 84-80 margin over Elizabethtown. Ursinus freshman Connor McCormick (Owen J. Roberts) came within one win of a medal at 149 pounds.

* * *

Ithaca got a first from freshman Seth Ecker (Pottstown) and a fourth from freshman Jeremy Stierly (Owen J. Roberts) to run away with the team title in the 26th renewal of its own Ithaca Invitational. Ecker, who was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler, posted three pins and two technical falls en route to the title at 125 pounds. He was the first Bomber to win the OW award since current assistant coach Marc Israel (2004).

DUAL TIME: Liberty got back-to-back technical falls from Harner and Brad Clark (Methacton) at 149 and 157, respectively, to bury NCAA East Regional rival Gardner-Webb, 43-6, in Tuesday night’s season-opener. … Lehigh opened its 100th season of wrestling last week with a 21-15 win over No. 17 ranked Maryland.

This column was originally published in the Nov. 11 edition of The Mercury.

One doesn’t have to stroll too far outside the Pioneer Athletic Conference football neighborhood to hear the bashing, which over the years has been as loud and clear as Chuck’s whack-and-wallop of Gifford nearly two generations ago.

From the time five schools withdrew from the Ches-Mont League, another two did the same over in the former Bux-Mont League, and Lansdale Catholic teamed up with the gang of seven to kick off the new league back in 1986, the Pioneer Athletic Conference has been tagged, among a few unprintable names, the Whimp-Mont League. Oh, it was an alignment with similar enrollments and favorable geographics, mind you, just as administrators from the eight schools had sought. But it was also an alignment, others snarled, that was just as undermanned and undersized — “feeble,” as one critic called it — when it came to their collective football program.

At one time, you had to be hard of hearing in one ear and deaf in the other not to hear the knocks. Nowadays, unless you don’t have access to a computer, it isn’t at all difficult to read the invectives on this and that Web site.

More than a few people are a bit irked by the rap the Pioneer Athletic Conference gets, and the waves of insults were at high tide a number of times this season, too.

One, Pottsgrove head coach Rick Pennypacker, is tired of hearing them. And while some may claim he’s obviously biased in his assessment of the PAC-10, they may have forgotten that long before Pennypacker took over the Falcons’ program in 1989 — a year after the league expanded to its current membership of 10 schools — he was a three-time, first-team All Ches-Mont standout at Spring-Ford, so he has vivid memories of what, at the time, was one of the best leagues in the entire state. Others may have forgotten that he invested a number of years as a coach in Virginia and West Virginia before returning to the area, and that he’s been on coaching staffs for countless Montgomery County All-Star and Big 33 games.

In other words, he’s been around, seen a bit more football than most (including the whispering wonder-minds and nameless wanna-be-writers).

And Pennypacker, like Pioneer Athletic Conference coaches past and present, doesn’t feel what he hears or reads is — for the lack of a better or printable word — fair.

“When you go to the district (playoffs) meeting and see three coaches from our league, when you realize three out of our five AAA schools are in the playoffs, to me that says a lot about our league,” Pennypacker said. “Three teams from our little area? We’ve done this before in the past, too, and yet we never seem to get much respect.

“Just look at last weekend. Phoenixville played Upper Moreland, the top-seed, and was beating them almost the entire game and should’ve beaten them; Owen J. Roberts beat Great Valley, which had another great year in the Ches-Mont; and we beat Interboro, one of those tough, tough Delaware County teams that was also one of the district’s best quad-A teams the previous two years. I for one am very proud of this league.”

Critics were getting a little hoarse this season, though, pointing out the PAC-10 didn’t really fare well at all in the preseason. Actually, it didn’t, going an overall 6-13 against opponents around and outside District 1.

But of those 19 opponents, 11 were lined up last week for playoffs in three different districts. Oh yeah, those 19 opponents had a combined 97-78 record going into last weekend, too.

And as far as the postseason, the PAC-10 is 28-29 overall in district and state playoff games … not quite “pathetic” — a few critics’ favorite word when it comes to berating the league.

In other words, PAC-10 schools aren’t exactly picking up or picking on patsies.

“We don’t have a lot of quad (A) schools like Suburban One Conference and the Ches-Mont does, so when we do go out of our league for a lot of those preseason games, we don’t necessarily do too well when it comes to wins and losses,” Pennypacker said. “That’s when we hear, ‘You guys aren’t that good.’

“But year in and year out, we have good teams in our league. A lot of people outside our league, outside our area, don’t realize that, though. We don’t get much attention from the media beyond our area, so most people don’t know much about us, about our kids, about our teams. We’re far enough from (Philadelphia) that we don’t get much press from the big-city papers … and I think that’s one reason why we don’t get the respect we deserve.”

What may get overlooked the most, Pennypacker said, is the league’s individual talent.

“I’ve coached in a lot of all-star games, especially the (Montgomery County game),” he explained. “Kids from our league excel in that game every year. They’re as dedicated and as hard-working as any, believe me, and they play exceptionally well.”

Pennypacker felt there was another unsung group — which also draws the wrath of its own fans at times — that doesn’t get nearly the respect it deserves, either.

“Our coaches,” he said. “Our league has great coaches, coaches who make you work hard every week, make you prepare every week, because if you don’t, you’re going to get beat. We have great coaches and great staffs, and I can’t say enough about all of them.”

All of which Pennypacker says easily adds up to a very competitive league.

“When you put things in perspective, we’re going out and playing good teams from around and outside our district and doing pretty well,” Pennypacker said. “That’s why all of us in (the PAC-10) want to see our teams play well, be competitive, win … we all want that badly. The league is the most important thing, and I for one think we’re doing just fine.”

Daniel Boone gave the area an added boost of respectability with another win in the District 3-AAA playoffs last Friday night. The Blazers (8-3) put an asterisk next to this, their 50th season of football, with the 42-24 win over Northern York.

Head coach Dave Bodolus, who has taken six straight teams into the postseason and is now 4-3 in districts (and 0-2 in the Eastern Conference playoffs), earned a spot in this weekend’s quarterfinals at top-seeded and unbeaten Mechanicsburg (11-0). Last year, the Blazers stunned top-seeded and unbeaten Northern York, 17-14, before falling in the semifinals the following week.

Quarterback Jon Monteiro, meanwhile, continued his record-shattering season throwing the football. The junior quarterback, five completions behind Perkiomen Valley standout Zach Zulli’s single-season mark (181), already owns the area single-season records for most games passing for 200-or-more yards (8), most games passing for 300-or-more yards (4), total yards passing (2,853), and touchdown passes (33) going into the showdown with Mechanicsburg.

Zach Keeley also continued his record-breaking season, too. With at least one game remaining, the senior wideout already owns the area single-season records for receptions (79) and yards (1,175) as well as the area career records for receptions (128) and yards (1,871).

HONORABLE

Player of the Week honors go to Perkiomen School’s Abdul Smith, who ran for 204 yards and four touchdowns and passed for 128 yards and another score in the Indians’ season-ending 33-16 romp of Pennington Prep, N.J.

Coach of the Week honors go to Owen J. Roberts’ Tom Barr, who guided the Wildcats to the 30-29 double-overtime win over Great Valley in the program’s first postseason appearance.

FILLING THE PAGES

One of the most prolific passing careers came to a close last Saturday when Perkiomen Valley’s Zach Zulli led the Vikings past Methacton in both teams’ final game.

Zulli, the PAC-10 and The Mercury’s Player of the Year last season, almost rewrote the entire league and area record book, owning or sharing nine passing marks. This fall, he set PAC-10 single-season records for completions (146), yards (2,096), and total offense (3,215), and tied former Pottstown standout Terrence Shawell’s record for touchdown passes (24). He also owns the league’s career marks for completions (288), yards (4,470), and touchdowns (54).

Zulli, who became a starter midway through his sophomore season, also established area career records for completions (374), yards (5,884), and touchdowns (67). He finished up with 6,577 yards of total offense, second only to St. Pius X graduate Zack Pierce’s 6,722.

SHORT LIST

Ryan Brumfield last week became just the fourth back in Owen J. Roberts’ history to reach the 2,000-yard, single-season mark. Just a sophomore, Brumfield now has 2,003 yards. With at least two games remaining on his schedule, Brumfield is within a carry, two or three of scooting by Dennis Laws (2006 in 1970), current OJR head coach Tom Barr (2,029 in 1978), and Matt Lucas (2,046 in 1998).

FITTING FINISHES

The Hill School didn’t just beat Lawrenceville, it put a 26-0 thumping on the Big Red to close out its first winning season in three years. Head coach Marty Vollmuth led the Rams to a pair of big back-to-back victories to finish up at 5-4. Hill will kick off next season needing just one win to join Phoenixville as the only area programs with 500 or more wins.

And up at Perkiomen School, head coach Kevin Manferdini and athletic director Ken Baker — who have taught and coached two generations of student-athletes — bid farewell to arguably the best football player in the history of the Indians’ program on Saturday. Abdul Smith, who has accepted a full scholarship from Division I-A Rutgers, finished his career with 332 carries for 2,510 yards and 33 touchdowns; 17 receptions for 181 yards and five touchdowns; and threw for 1,378 yards and 12 touchdowns. Smith also scored seven other times on defense and special teams. He was, without question, one very, very big reason why Perkiomen has strung together three straight winning seasons.

Pottsgrove and Owen J. Roberts kind of took the direct route to get into the District 1- AAA playoffs — they kept winning. Ditto for Daniel Boone in its run to the District 3-AAA playoffs.

Phoenixville? Well, neither head coach Bill Furlong nor the Phantoms themselves needed a GPS, mind you, but talk about traversing the ol’ Long and Winding Road (with apologies to Paul and those three other cereal bowl-haircut boys’ own rendition a generation ago).

With a lot of underclassmen and even more new names on the sidelines, the Phantoms were virtually invisible on the football radar screens most of the season, especially in the beginning when they dropped two of their first three games. Four straight wins may have created a blip or two, but when they turned over everything but their uniforms in a 27-7 setback to Owen J. Roberts three weeks ago, a late drive for a Pioneer Athletic Conference title stalled … for good.

The loss also dropped the Phantoms well outside the Top Eight in the district’s playoff points standings. So it seemed there was little hope recharging the batteries and revving up the offensive and defensive motors would get them anywhere near the postseason starting line.

Or so it seemed.

Phoenixville bounced back with wins the last two weeks, while a few teams ahead of them in the playoff race lost. So don’t say Furlong’s crew didn’t know how to maneuver around some bumps in the road … and find the way to the playoffs.

“That loss to Owen J. was certainly pivotal,” Furlong explained. “We were hoping if we won (out), we’d still have a chance to get into the playoffs. We knew we needed some help from other people, too.

“But the important part was that I didn’t see any letdown (after the loss to OJR). I think maybe I put too much emphasis on that game. Not to take anything away from Owen J., but we just didn’t play our best game. But afterward, we put the loss to rest and probably played one of our best games (against Upper Perkiomen). The kids have been executing well, offensively, defensively, and on special teams, since.”

Well enough to improve to 7-3 and earn a first-round game at No. 1 seeded Upper Moreland (8-1) on Friday night.

“Before the season started, I wasn’t really thinking about the playoffs,” Furlong said. “I certainly wasn’t expecting to get in, mainly because we graduated 10 seniors who all played so much for us last season.”

Furlong did have Anthony Nattle, who had started one place or another since he was a freshman, and the durable Abdul Kelly, a two-way lineman who would move back to carry the ball this season. But two players, as good as Nattle and Kelly are, a team doesn’t make.

But a lot of fresh faces have brought smiles to Furlong and his staff’s faces. Call it a maturation process, or simply unproven talent stepping up to another level of play. Either would suffice as far as Furlong is concerned.

Offensively, the line honors belong to center Steve Carter, guards Ken Cenci and Matt Viscuso, tackles Kevin Bohl and Mike Cress (the lone senior among the group), and tight end Vince Ciaverelli. They’ve made it a lot easier for sophomore quarterback Tom Romano, who has shown considerably more poise and confidence handing off the ball to Kelly, Nattle, and Rich Yenchick and throwing it to Will Kileen, Sam McQuiston, and others the past month.

Defensively, well, the Phantoms have molded themselves into one of the area’s toughest groups to score against (allowing just 14.3 points a game — or a mere half-point more than PAC-10 leader Pottsgrove).

“Our defense has put us in every single game this season,” Furlong said. “We lost our opener by one point (to Great Valley), missed three tackles against Pottsgrove that turned into three long touchdown runs, and played well against Owen J. despite not establishing into any rhythm offensively.

“But we have some kids on defense who have been absolutely incredible this season. The defense has been steady.”

Kelly, at nose guard, and Nattle, at one of the corners, certainly aren’t surprises after solid seasons a year ago. But ends Dave Eggeling and Greg Porter and Kress — perhaps one of the best inside linemen in the PAC-10 — have more than held their own. The entire new set of linebackers, namely Ciaverelli, McQuiston, Derek Ryan, and Yenchick, with backup support from A.J. Ryan and Viscuso, have played beyond expectations. And Killeen’s knack for picking off passes alongside Nattle, Kahlil Ervin, and recent transfer Zack Gorczynski has created a very respectable secondary.

Now, though, a new challenge awaits them.

“I’m certainly glad to be where we are,” Furlong said. “And I say that for two reasons. First, the three teams that beat us this year are ahead of us (in the playoff seedings). Second, we now have a shot at redemption … we’re in a position to avenge those three (losses).”

HONORABLE

Player of the Week honors go to Daniel Boone’s Nate Greene, who came back from a leg injury and carried 17 times for 189 yards and three touchdowns in the Blazers’ 48-33 win over Exeter.

Coach of the Week honors go to Hill School’s Marty Vollmuth, who took the Rams across the state line into New Jersey and defeated favored Hun School, 19-16, to get his team back to .500 (4-4) and in line for its first winning season in three years.

THE GAME

Say what you want about this or that game during the season, but Saturday afternoon’s feature between Lawrenceville and The Hill School in Pottstown is The Game. One of the longest-running series in the entire nation, the Larries (3-5) and Rams (4-4) meet this weekend for the 112th time. Hill will be looking to cut into their guests’ 59-42-10 advantage in the series, not to mention finish up on the winning side of the won-loss ledger for the first time in three seasons.

FAREWELL

Perkiomen School (4-3) also needs a victory Saturday in its finale with visiting Pennington for another winning season. The game also marks the end of quarterback-defensive back Abdul Smith’s career, one of the area’s most outstanding individual talents for four seasons.

Despite a limited number of games and often playing out of position, the Rutgers-bound Smith has put up some eye-opening numbers going into his last game this weekend. He wasn’t full-time offensively as a freshman or sophomore, and he’s taken snaps as the quarterback the last two years. Nonetheless, he has carried 311 times for 2,306 yards and 29 touchdowns; caught 17 passes for 181 yards and five touchdowns; and completed 100 of 178 attempts for 1,250 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s also found the end zone seven times on the back end of interceptions and kick returns, all of which adds up to having a hand in 52 of the Indians’ scores.

More important, Smith is one very big reason Perkiomen lines up Saturday with a shot at its third straight winning season.

TURNOVER TIME

Perkiomen Valley head coach Scott Reed may invest in some invisible glue this week. The Vikings turned the ball over a PAC-10 record nine times last week during their overtime loss to Upper Perkiomen. The Vikings have turned it over just 10 times in eight games this season. But in two losses to Phoenixville and Upper Perkiomen, they’ve given it away 15 times, leaving them minus-13 in takeaways.

Boyertown was a plus-six in takeaways in its 3-1 start in the PAC-10. In the last four games, though, the Bears are 1-3 and minus-11 in takeaways. … Owen J. Roberts turned it over 12 times and was minus-1 in its first four games, but in its last six outings have given the ball up just five times and is plus-13. … Phoenixville has had just eight turnovers in nine games. The other, against OJR, featured those six turnovers.

CATCH THIS

Daniel Boone wideout Zach Keeley, already the school’s career leader in receptions and yards, became the first area player to go over the 1,000-yard mark in a season. Keeley’s 76 catches this season have stretched out to 1,133 yards — breaking the area record of 991 set by St. Pius X graduate Mike Todd back in 1998.

GRAND TIMES

Three players, including two quarterbacks, went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark last week to join overall leader Ryan Brumfield of Owen J. Roberts on the grand list. Pottsgrove’s Terrell Chestnut (1,038) and Boyertown’s David Crognale (1,007) hit the mark, as did Pottstown running back Kenny Baker (1,000) for the second straight season.

PASSING BY

Both Daniel Boone junior Jon Monteiro and Perkiomen Valley senior Zach Zulli have at least one more game on their respective cards, or one more game to add to the slew of records they’re penciling in for themselves.

Monteiro and Zulli are one-two, one way or the other, in every category this fall and have set area season records for completions, yards, touchdown passes, completion percentage and yards-per-game. Monteiro is 162 of 263 (61.6 percent) for 2,564 yards and 28 TDs, while Zulli is 169 of 282 (59.9 percent) for 2,386 yards and 26 TDs.

NO BLANKS

Pottsgrove tied its PAC-10 record for most consecutive league games without being shut out. The Falcons, whose original mark (57 straight) was set between 1988 and 1994, can break the record on Thanksgiving against St. Pius X. After Saturday’s win at St. Pius X, Spring-Ford hasn’t been shut out in 54 games, which broke their previous-best mark.

This column was originally published in the Oct. 28 edition of The Mercury.

For those without one of those magnetized calendars sticking on their refrigerator or flip-up types sitting right smack in front of them on their desk at home or work, Friday is Halloween.

Fright Night, if you will (minus the full moon).

Don’t expect to see any football coaches or their teams dressed up in anything but their traditional fall weekend attire — helmets, pads, and so on. And don’t expect to see or hear about any different routines leading up to the weekend either, even if a few of the ol’ fellas are a bit superstitious or get a little creeped out at this time of the year.

Trick-or-treat isn’t exactly part of the game plan … but you sure could say those words apply to just about every game this weekend, three of them in particular. Pottstown, Boyertown and Exeter would like nothing more than to trick Pottsgrove, Owen J. Roberts and Daniel Boone, who are looking for nothing more than a treat — a win, that is.

Pottstown, which has become the Pioneer Athletic Conference’s Team of October — thanks to a few notable surprises in the past, last year’s upset of then-unbeaten Lansdale Catholic, and last week’s win over heavily-favored Boyertown — visits Pottsgrove. The Trojans got embarrassed 41-0 a year ago, lost their lead and a 21-13 thriller two years ago, and got thumped by that same 41-0 score three years ago. So, yes, beyond the wanting-to-beat-the-neighbors, the Trojans should be a little motivated, to say the least. On the other hand, so should the Falcons. After splitting their first two non-league games, they’ve run the table with seven consecutive wins and now need just one more to clinch no worse than a tie for another title.

Boyertown entertains Owen J. Roberts. Bears’ head coach Mark Scisly, the baby on the PAC-10 coaches’ birthday card list, and the rest of the younger set may not realize this has been one of the most entertaining (and unpredictable) series for more than 40 years. The Bears need a win to have a shot at a .500 or better season, which would be quite a turnaround from last year’s 1-11 nightmare. The Wildcats, buddy-buddy with the Trojans this week for the obvious reason, need a win to stay within reach of Pottsgrove (or alongside the Falcons if their Pals from Pottstown pull off the upset) and, just as important, a win to officially clinch their first appearance in the postseason.

And up in Berks County, Daniel Boone hosts Exeter — two teams who don’t exactly share any love for one another. The Blazers have to regroup after last week’s setback cost them a share of the I-C Division One title, and need a win to keep their slim hopes of staying home for the first round of playoffs game next week. Exeter? The Eagles are winless, just as they were a year ago when they nearly pulled off the Upset of the Year against the playoff-bound Blazers. So you can bet your newly-purchased Spencer’s spooky outfit the Eagles sure have ending another 0-for-10 season on their collective minds.

Good thing Mischief Night is Thursday, eh?

HONORABLE

Player of the Week honors go to Owen J. Roberts’ Ryan Brumfield and Methacton’s Tim Smith. Brumfield carried 33 times for a career-high 303 yards and two touchdowns and added a few big plays from the defensive secondary in the Wildcats’ 27-26 thriller over Perkiomen Valley. Smith carried 13 times for a career-high 234 yard and three touchdowns and was his usual intimidating self on defense in a 41-18 victory over St. Pius X.

Coach of the Week honors go to Pottstown’s Bret Myers, who guided the Trojans to another October Special — the surprising 28-20 win over Boyertown.

PRIVATE MATTERS

The Hill School dropped its first Mid-Atlantic Prep League game last week at Blair Academy. The Rams (2-1, 3-4) need to finish with two wins against Hun (this Friday) and Lawrenceville (the following Saturday) to stay a game back of Blair. The Bucs have just one MAPL outing left, in two weeks against winless Peddie School.

Perkiomen School (4-2) needs a win this week at St. Andrew’s School to assure itself of a winning season. The Indians survived the mud and four turnovers by limiting Elkton Christian to just one first down and 35 yards of offense while creating five turnovers in last Saturday night’s 14-0 shutout.

SETTING THE STANDARDS

Perkiomen Valley senior quarterback Zach Zulli broke the area’s career record for passing yards and is closing in on two more marks after last weekend’s efforts in the Vikings’ loss to Owen J. Roberts. Zulli also broke four PAC-10 records, and could add his name to four more before he’s done in his final two games.

Zulli, who picked up invaluable experience as a sophomore when starter Mitch Johnson was injured midway through the season, eclipsed Daniel Boone graduate Chris Bokosky’s career passing yards mark last weekend and now has 5,419 yards. Zulli needs just four more completions and four more touchdown passes to break Bokosky’s marks, too.

In the PAC-10 record book, Zulli already owns the marks for career completions (258), yards (4,4045), and touchdowns (47), and moved up to No. 1 for total offense (2,182) in a season. He needs five completions and 57 yards to break the league’s season records in those two categories. He is also completing 60.1 percent of his attempts this season, and if he maintains that pace will erase Lansdale Catholic’s Mike deMarteleire’s season record of 59.4 percent set back in 1997.

Pottsgrove sophomore Terrell Chestnut (958) and Boyertown senior David Crognale (846) are closing in on becoming the area’s first quarterbacks to run for more than 1,000 yards in a season. Crognale is also the only area quarterback to run for more than 2,000 career yards. He has exactly 2,300 yards going into Friday night’s game with OJR.

Daniel Boone’s hot-hot combo — quarterback Jon Monteiro and wideout Zach Keeley — have chiseled down the erasers, too. Monteiro is now the Berks County record-holder for completions in a game and season, yards in a game and season, and is tied for touchdown passes in a season. The sophomore also owns area records for completions (29) and yards (475) in a game, and yards (2,331) and touchdowns (25) in a season … and he has at least two more games remaining this fall. Keeley, the school’s all-time leader in career receptions who last week passed Mark Justice as the Blazers’ all-time leader in receiving yards, needs 30 yards to break St. Pius X graduate Mike Todd’s area season record for receiving yards (991 in 1998) and 38 to become the first to go over 1,000 yards in a season.

OJR’s Ryan Brumfield last Saturday became just the second Wildcat to run for more than 300 yards in a PAC-10 game. Brumfield’s 303 yards came up shy of OJR graduate David Frame’s two outings of 308 and 311 yards, though.

With two league games remaining, Brumfield is exactly 200 yards shy of Frame’s school record for yards in a PAC-10 season (1,548) and 328 yards shy of Matt Lucas’ school record for yards in a season (1,718). With 2,490 yards and two seasons remaining, the sophomore is well on pace to erase Owen J. Roberts’ career rushing mark — 3,633 yards, held by current head coach Tom Barr.

NO BLANKS

Pottsgrove needs to get on the scoreboard Friday night to tie its PAC-10 record for most consecutive league games without being shut out. The Falcons’ mark (57 straight) was set between 1988 and 1994. Spring-Ford, which used Jared Houck’s field goal to avoid getting blanked by the Falcons last Friday night, hasn’t been shut out in 53 games, which ties their previous-best mark set between 1991 and 1997 — also the second-longest streak behind Pottsgrove’s.

NOTES

Upper Perkiomen (4-5) visits Perkiomen Valley on Friday night needing a win to get back to .500 with one, or possibly two games remaining. The Indians have not had a losing season since head coach Keith Leamer took over the program in 2003, or since going 3-9 in 2000. … Barring any major upsets, the local card for Friday, Nov. 7 will be changed completely with one or both teams in the five scheduled games already in line for the postseason playoffs. Boyertown, Spring-Ford and Upper Perkiomen have the option of finding other opponents and, according to sources, will attempt to do so. Phoenixville, which has gotten outstandings seasons from Abdul Kelly and Anthony Nattle – arguably the “ quietest best“ two-way players in the area, has a bye next week.

LAURELDALE – Since Dave Bodolus took over the Daniel Boone football program back in 2003, the Blazers have beaten all but one Berks County rival at least once.

All but one. … Muhlenberg.

“We’ve played them tough and lost some close ones,” Bodolus said earlier this week. “We’ve just come up a little short.”

If it’s any consolation, for Bodolus that is, a couple of coaches before him couldn’t get the best of Muhlenberg, either. As a matter of fact, Daniel Boone hasn’t beaten Muhlenberg since 1989.

If you’re counting, that’s 18 straight losses.

Both Bodolus and the Blazers hope to end the frustration tonight when they visit the Muhls in a game that will have an impact on both the Inter-County League Division One race as well as both of District 3’s Class AAA and AAAA playoff points standings.

The Blazers (4-1, 6-2 overall) enter this evening’s game tied with Governor Mifflin and Conrad Weiser for the division lead. Because both Governor Mifflin (at home against Pottsville) and Conrad Weiser (at home against Exeter) are heavily favored tonight, the Blazers must win to keep pace. Muhlenberg (3-2, 6-2), which saw a perfect five-game start go to waste after an uncharacteristic two-game slide, needs a win – and some help from others – if it hopes to grab a share of the lead.

And that’s only half of what’s on the line between the two teams, who met every year from 1959 through 1974, then resumed the series again in 1981.

Daniel Boone, situated in the eighth spot in the District 3-AAA points standings, needs a win tonight and another next week against winless Exeter to assure itself a home game in the opening round of the playoffs. Muhlenberg, situated in the seventh spot in the District 3-AAAA points standings, needs a win tonight and next week against Governor Mifflin to clinch a home game in the opening round of the playoffs.

So, yes, calling it a big game – for both the Blazers and the Muhls – would be a blatant understatement.

“I think our guys will be going in with a bit of an attitude,” Bodolus said.

They’ll also be going in with an offense unlike any the Muhls have seen this season. The Blazers, behind quarterback Jon Monteiro, are averaging just over 438 yards a game – about 75 more than their nearest rival in the 18-team Berks County lineup. But, at least in Bodolus’ mind, they’ll have to continue to generate those kind of numbers (as well as their 34.5 points per game) if they’re to stay ahead of the Muhls and their big-play offense.

“(Muhlenberg) has a lot of good players, and they have that big-play ability,” Bodolus explained. “So the big thing for us is negating those big plays. And we certainly can’t turn the ball over.”

The Muhls have a pretty darn good quarterback themselves in Nate Daniels, an All-Berks selection a year ago. Daniels, intercepted just twice this season, has completed 58 percent of his attempts (95 of 165) for 1,415 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has a pair of very reliable – not to mention dangerous – receivers in Brett Fox and Tyrell Ellison, who have a combined 74 catches for 1,158 yards and 13 scores. The run game has been shared by Taj Logan (293 yards), Eric Thomas (258), Daniels (229) and Trevor Lenart (191).

“We have to try and take away what they do well, which is the big play,” Bodolus said. “But there’s nothing more frustrating for a team than when another team drives the ball down the field on you with one of those 8-10 minute drives. The bottom line is that we have to play good defense.”

The Blazers’ defense, which has forced an area-high 21 turnovers, is led up by Nick Ciatto, Tim Evans, Mitchell Stead and Kyle Yarmush up front and by Zach Keeley in the secondary. Ciatto and Stead are the team’s leading tacklers; Evans, Stead and Yarmush have combined for 10 sacks; and Keeley, an all-state selection a year ago, has six interceptions.

The Muhls’ defense, usually a 4-3 set, will have an even bigger challenge in trying to quiet the Blazers’ offense.

Monteiro, who missed one game with an injury and played just over half of another in blowout, has broken a slew of area records – among them completions (29) and yards passing in a game (475) – and is oh so close to breaking the Berks mark for yards passing in a season. The 6-foot, 190-pound junior is 128 of 200 for 2,049 yards with 22 touchdowns.

A lot of Monteiro’s success can be attributed to the time he’s had to throw. Center Nick Ciatto, guards Michael Guarino and Mohammed Eid, and tackles Cody Albright and Tim Evans have seen to that. And when Monteiro throws there aren’t many that get dropped. Keeley (55 receptions, 792 yards), Kelly Saylor (38-459), Yarmush (20-418), along with deep threat Josh Ortiz, are as reliable a gang of receivers as any in Berks and beyond.

But the Blazers, or Monteiro to be specific, definitely need more production from the run game, which averaged 186 yards through six games but has manufactured just 103 total in the last two outings. Nate Greene, who ran for better than 1,000 yards last season but has only 584 this fall, is expected back after sitting out the second half last week with a leg injury.

“We’re certainly more of a passing team,” Bodolus said. “Still, we’d like to run the ball better than we have lately.

“(Muhlenberg) has a solid defense. They’re very good. But what we’ll do (offensively) … you just don’t know how our defense will play, or how the game unfolds.”

Hopefully, Bodolus admits, a little differently than the last 18.

“I don’t think that (losing streak) means a whole lot,” he said. “Every year is a new year. I’m sure our kids are aware of it, and I’m sure they’d like to end it. But if the shoe was on the other foot, if we had the 18-year winning streak, I don’t feel anyone would be thinking all they had to do was show up to win again, either.”

NOTES

Both teams have excellent kickers, who could be the difference in a close game. Daniel Boone’s Bernie Roell leads the area in kick scoring with 32 placements and four field goals. Muhlenberg’s Matt Herbein has 22 placements and four field goals. … Four of Bodolus’ five losses to the Muhls have been by seven points or less. His first game against veteran head coach John Yocum and the Muhls in 2003 was a 41-34 double-overtime setback. … Muhlenberg also has the distinction of scoring the most points (58) against a Daniel Boone team in the 50-year history of the Blazers’ football program. The high-mark was reached in back-to-back games – 58-7 in 1999 and 58-19 in 2000.

From the Oct. 21 edition of The Mercury.

Two months from now, give or take a few days here and there, most of the all-league and all-area teams will be announced. And except for those unsung brutes up front on the offensive and defensive lines and a handful or two of the linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties, the premier skill position players have pretty much already made a name for themselves, or established who’s who among running backs and receivers.

But when the Pioneer Athletic Conference coaches sit down to vote on their all-league teams (not to mention The Mercury sports staff when it sits down to vote on the All-Area teams), they may face their most difficult call of the entire season when selecting a quarterback … just one for the first team and one for the second team, that is.

Easy? Well, how about a yuk-yuk-yuk, Curly?

In the PAC-10, with two full weeks of games (potential playoff contests) and the traditional Thanksgiving Day card remaining, Boyertown’s David Crognale, Perkiomen Valley’s Zach Zulli, Pottsgrove’s Terrell Chestnut, and even Spring-Ford’s Trevor Sasek are legitimate candidates on the QB ballot.

Hold on, there’s more.

On the All-Area ballot, Daniel Boone’s Jon Monteiro and Perkiomen School’s Abdul Smith are more than just pacifying write-ins, too.

Their statistics, which would sway a lot of fans, range from pretty darn good to absolutely ridiculous. Whether they step over the line of scrimmage to play defense and contribute to the special teams as well, definitely warrants consideration for four of the six aforementioned individuals. And their leadership, what they bring to the field every practice and every weekend — an intangible few recognize let alone understand — carries considerable weight on the voting scale.

Think all that criteria separates the six? How about another yuk-yuk-yuk, Curly?

Crognale, who last week broke Pete Madeja’s school-record of 27 career touchdown passes — a mark that held up for 33 years — and became the area’s first quarterback to run for more than 2,000 career yards, has been as valuable the last two seasons as he was during the Bears’ run to the PAC-10 title back in 2006.

Zulli, perhaps the purest passer the PAC-10 has had, displays the poise and patience to find his second, third, and fourth receivers on any given play. This season, with what amounts to an entirely new receiver corps and an almost-new offensive line in front of him, he’s on pace to break last year’s record-setting 2,156-yard, 26-touchdown effort. Already at 1,934 yards with 20 touchdown tosses, Zulli has added the run to his game and stepped out 452 yards this season, giving him an area-best 2,386 yards of overall offense. He has also had a hand in an area-high 29 touchdowns.

Chestnut is taking snaps for the first time. Yes, he was an all-state defensive back a year ago, but has he ever made the transition to offense. He’s run for 913 yards — putting him on a pace to join Crognale with 2,000 yards before he’s done — and responded with 530 yards in the Falcons’ limited passing game. He’s arguably one of the area’s best defensive backs, and he’s scored twice on special teams. Just a sophomore, Chestnut may be the PAC-10’s — if not the area’s — most complete player.

Sasek, like Zulli in that he’s working with almost an entirely new cast around him, has still thrown for 1,171 yards for the young Rams.

Smith, often criticized for playing a questionable schedule, has already accepted a full ride from Division I-A Rutgers — which more than confirms the talent the Perkiomen senior displays. In only five games, he has run for 673 yards and nine touchdowns, thrown for 459 yards and six more scores despite averaging considerably less attempts than other area quarterbacks, and he’s scored three other times on defense and special teams. There isn’t anyone anywhere in this neighborhood, either, as valuable to his team as Smith is to the Indians.

And Monteiro, despite losing his entire sophomore year to a knee injury, has come back and broken a slew of records – among them most yards passing in a game (475), completions in a game (29). Monteiro has played what amounted to 6-1/2 games this season, and he’s already over 2,000 yards on the season and, regardless of Daniel Boone’s postseason run, is likely to break school, Berks County, and Mercury area records for completions, yards, and touchdowns in a season. Oh yeah, he has next year to look forward to as well, which means a slew of area career marks will be in jeopardy.

Take your pick if you’d like … and think of the coaches (and us poor souls in the sports department) when it’s our time to do the same.

HONORABLE

Player of the Week honors go evenly to an elite foursome, namely Boyertown’s David Crognale, who ran for 217 yards and a touchdown and threw for two more scores in the Bears’ 34-7 romp over Perkiomen Valley; Daniel Boone’s Jon Monteiro, who threw for 400 yards and three touchdowns in the Blazers’ 36-26 win over Pottsville; Perkiomen School’s Abdul Smith, who ran for three touchdowns, passed for two more, and returned a kickoff for yet another touchdown in the Indians’ 47-18 trouncing of Princeton Day School; and Pottsgrove’s Terrell Chestnut, who ran for three touchdowns and returned a punt for another in the Falcons’ 39-0 shutout of Methacton.

Coach of the Week honors go to Owen J. Roberts’ Tom Barr, who guided the Wildcats to a 27-7 win over Phoenixville to remain one game back of unbeaten Pottsgrove in the PAC-10 and retain its No. 8 position in the District 1-Class AAA playoff points standings.

BLAZIN’ A NEW TRAIL

Daniel Boone wideout Zach Keeley has been getting a lot of help this season from first-year assistant LeRyan Dallas, who had an outstanding career as a receiver at St. Pius X and East Stroudsburg. Now Keeley is passing by Dallas on the area’s career receiving charts.

Keeley, who broke former teammate Mark Justice’s school record for career receptions two weeks ago, moved in front of Dallas and into second place on The Mercury’s all-time leaderboard last weekend when he pushed his total to 104. Keeley also moved in front of Dallas and into third place on The Mercury’s career receiving yardage leaderboard by pushing his total to 1,488 yards. Dallas had 102 catches for 1,462 yards before graduating from St. Pius X.

HIGH TIME

Perkiomen School’s 47-18 rout of Princeton Day School last Saturday represented the most points scored by any Indians team since a 52-21 romp over Wyoming Seminary eight years ago. It was also the program’s third-highest point production in the last 30 years.

TURNING IT OVER

Two weeks ago, Phoenixville forced Boyertown into six turnovers and won. Last week, Phoenixville turned it over six times and lost to Owen J. Roberts. The Phantoms had just seven turnovers in their first seven games before the debacle with the Wildcats. … Pottsgrove, which has won an area-best six games in a row, may be the PAC-10’s lone unbeaten because of turning over the football a league-low five times.

NEED A FINISH

Pottstown has played very well through the first three quarters of its last two games against Perkiomen Valley and Spring-Ford. But the young and ailing Trojans surrendered 35 unanswered fourth-quarter points to erase leads against both rivals and lead to a pair of losses. … Marc Smith has run up 480 yards in his five PAC-10 games. … Three-year starter Ken Baker made a surprise return to the lineup Saturday at Spring-Ford and responded with 74 yards on 10 carries. Baker, who had missed two games after underdoing minor knee surgery, has 2,667 career yards rushing.

NOTES

The long-running Monday Morning Quarterback, featuring host Dave Reidenouer and former longtime St. Pius X head coach Jim Mich, will have a special broadcast next Monday (5:30-7 p.m., PCTV Channel 22).

All eyes, or at least most area football fans’ eyes, will be on two games this evening — Pottsville at Daniel Boone in an Inter-County League Division One feature and, of course, Methacton’s first meeting with Pottsgrove in a Pioneer Athletic Conference showdown.

Not to get the lids blinking, but tonight’s Owen J. Roberts and Phoenixville affair at Washington Field may be the game to keep one eye (or both) on.

There’s no title on the line, mind you. However, both the Wildcats and Phantoms are 4-1 (as well as 5-2 overall) and, realistically, the only two teams capable of catching or catching up to Pottsgrove in the event the Falcons stumble down the stretch.

What is on the line this evening, at least for the Wildcats and Phantoms, is the opportunity to keep those District 1-Class AAA playoff hopes alive.

Owen J. Roberts is currently eighth in the district’s points standings (610 points and power rating of 87.143), while Phoenixville is ninth (530, 75.714).

Tonight’s winner will pick up 150 points — 100 for the win, 10 points each for their opponent’s five previous wins — the loser gets zero.

Remember now, only eight teams qualify for the postseason.

The three teams ahead of them — No. 7 Strath Haven, No. 6 Upper Merion, and No. 5 Rustin — are all heavily favored to win this weekend, so there won’t be much (if any) room to move up. Of more concern, though, is that the three teams below them — No. 10 Interboro, No. 11 Academy Park, and No. 12 Bishop Shanahan — are also heavily favored to win this weekend, and with two of them going against AAAA rivals, the bonus points could conceivably push both past OJR and Phoenixville, regardless of who wins, out of the Top Eight.

Pottsgrove and Upper Moreland (6-1) lead the District 1-AAA points standings. But the Falcons, with a win over AAAA Methacton tonight, will break that tie with the idle Golden Bears. … Former PAC-10 member Great Valley and Henderson are tied for the third spot. … Out in District 3-AAA, Daniel Boone is eighth.

HITTING 50

Phoenixville’s Bill Furlong, Spring-Ford’s Gary Rhodenbaugh, and Upper Perkiomen’s Keith Leamer all coached their 50th Pioneer Athletic Conference games last week.

Lansdale Catholic’s Jim Algeo holds the PAC-10 record (129). Pottsgrove’s Rick Pennypacker, who is second, lines up for his 115th league game tonight.

MILESTONE DAY

Pottstown and St. Pius X will both play their 200th Pioneer Athletic Conference games on Saturday. The Trojans and Lions are the only teams that avoided the two teachers’ strikes at Spring-Ford (1988) and Phoenixville (1989) and have played all their scheduled league games.

Perkiomen Valley, Pottsgrove, and Upper Perkiomen will hit the 200-game mark next weekend.

DISTRICT BIGGIES

There shouldn’t be any big surprises, although the Ches-Mont League has a pair of headliners. One is in Downingtown, where East (4-3) meets West (6-1), while the other features Coatesville (5-2) at Henderson (5-2). … Unbeaten North Penn (7-0), No. 1 in the district and No. 2 in the state, visits Souderton (4-3) on Saturday. … Chester, which is still in the AAAA playoff hunt, last week blanked Penn Wood, 44-0, for the 500th win in the history of its program.

STATE…MENTS

At least four teams in Pennsylvania will be losing their first game this weekend … and likely leaving the Top 10 rankings in their respective brackets. In Class AA, No. 6 Mount Carmel (7-0) hosts Lewisburg (7-0) in a District 4 feature, and No. 7 Karns City (7-0) hosts Moniteau (7-0) in a District 9 showdown. In a cross-bracket and cross-district brawl, District 6-A Portage (7-0), ranked No. 9 in the state, travels to District 5-AA defending champion North Star (7-0), which is unranked. … Out in District 7, unranked Keystone Oaks (7-0) visits unranked Sto-Rox (7-0) in a WPIAL feature between Class AA rivals. … Beaver Falls (7-0), on top in Class AA, has a test at Center (6-1), while Steelton-Highspire (7-0), on top in Class A, should get a test as well at Trinity (6-1).

MAKING THEIR POINT

York’s William Penn (56.6) and Portage (51.0) are the only two teams in the state averaging more than 50 points a game. … Perkiomen Valley is No. 1 in District 1 and No. 47 in the state (35.4). The Vikings (3-4) are the only team with a losing record among the state’s 113 schools averaging more than 30 points.

Ten teams, led by Rochester (2.4) and Clairton (2.9), are allowing less than a touchdown a game. Neshaminy is ninth in defense, permitting just 5.9 points a game.

PASSING THROUGH

While Perkiomen Valley senior Zach Zulli and Daniel Boone junior Jon Monteiro are threatening to erase most of the area’s passing records before they’re through their careers, Brockway’s Derek Buganza is doing the same out in District 9. Just a sophomore, Buganza unofficially leads the state with 1,999 yards going into this weekend. The next closest passer happens to be another District 9 quarterback, Richland Township junior Giovanni Ramires, who has thrown for 1,917 yards.

NATIONAL NOTEBOOK

Defending Maryland 2A champ River Hill, led by Wake Forest-bound running back Mike Campanaro, has defeated opponents by a combined 319-22 this fall and an amazing 870-43 combined margin during its 20-game winning streak the last two seasons. … Down in Kentucky, two state records fell last Friday night. Manchester senior quarterback Zach Lewis broke the state’s career passing yardage record previously held by former NFL No. 1 draft pick Tim Couch. Lewis threw for 391 yards to push his career total to 12,490 yards. Russell senior placekicker Jason Dolly booted his state-record 75th consecutive extra point in a blowout of Vanceburg. … Further south in Florida, Sheridan Hills’ Frainy Alfrena took 15 handoffs for 405 yards (27 yards per carry) and five touchdowns in last week’s 41-13 win over Highlands Christian. … In Minnesota, Elliott Mathieu hit on 26 of 41 passes for 452 yards and eight touchdowns, breaking the state record that was shared by six others, among them Minnesota Twins all-star catcher Joe Mauer. … And out in Wyoming, a major snowstorm couldn’t slow down Natrona County’s Tom Early, who ran for 327 yards and four first-half touchdowns — all 30 or more yards — in a rout of Riverton.

ANSWERING THE MAIL

Two readers’ emails asked if last weekend’s high-scoring fiascos across the nation set any records. Well, not really. The National High School Sports Record Book lists scoring records as follows: Most points in a quarter — 66, by Prescott (Ariz.) against Kingman in 1925; Most points in a half — 86, by Lincoln Prep (Mo.) against Northeast in 1985; Most points in a game — 256, by Haven (Kans.) against Sylvia in 1927; and Most points in a season — 903, by Albermarle (N.C.) over 16 games in 2001.

Just when you thought Daniel Boone was going to run the Inter-County League Division One table … Just when you thought all Pottsgrove would have to do was strap on the gear and go through the motions to tackle another Pioneer Athletic Conference title … Just when you thought there just weren’t any real meaningful games remaining on the regular season schedule …

Just when …

Stop right there. You thought wrong.

Daniel Boone got knocked off cruise control last Friday night with a 19-7 loss to Governor Mifflin and went from the division’s lone unbeaten to one of three teams parked alongside one another atop the standings. So the Blazers best warm up — or rev up, if you prefer — their offensive motor in a hurry. Unpredictable Pottsville will be in Birdsboro this Friday night, then next week, there’s the trip up to Muhlenberg, which must be feeling like it’s driving in circles after opening with five wins only to lose its last two.

The Blazers better not run out of gas for their finale with visiting Exeter, either. Yes, the Eagles have lost 18 in a row and 24 of their last 26 games dating back to 2006. But don’t forget, while they were going nowhere the last two seasons at the same time the Blazers were going to the District 3-AAA playoffs, it was Daniel Boone that needed some late scores to hold off their neighboring rivals 17-7 and 20-19 in those two meetings. And their next get-together, in the event you haven’t glanced at the calendar, happens to be on Halloween Night.

That’s kind of scary, especially when thinking two losses could conceivably sack the Blazers’ bid for a third straight appearance in the postseason.

In the PAC-10, Pottsgrove has left the league’s upper echelon scratching its collective helmet with five straight wins. And for a while there, the Falcons didn’t appear to have much of a challenge ahead of them, either. But all of a sudden, there is one — Friday night with visiting Methacton.

The Warriors, whose inconsistencies on both sides of the ball early on left them adrift in mediocrity, are sailing now with three straight wins. They have enough size and mobility up front to create some havoc; a quarterback who may have matured — or improved — as much as anyone over the last month; and a young fella by the name of Tim Smith, who is already on (or will be on) most of the coaches’ Player of the Year ballots before the season winds down.

The PAC-10 has another biggie on the weekend card, too. This one, a Saturday matinee, features Owen J. Roberts at Phoenixville — the only teams with just one loss in the league. You can bet your chin strap both will be hooting and hollering for Methacton on Friday night, but less than 24 hours later they’ll be going after one another for the obvious reason. A spot in the District 1-AAA playoffs may very well be on the line, too, especially when considering they’re currently eighth and ninth in the points standings (and only eight teams qualify).

Should be an interesting weekend after all.

Yep, the high school football season has officially reached crunch time.

Pottsgrove moved on top of the District 1-AAA playoff points standings this week, while Upper Moreland was second. Former PAC-10 member Great Valley and Henderson are tied for third. Rustin, which surprised Henderson last weekend and dropped the Warriors out of the No. 1 position, was fifth. Upper Merion and Strath Haven were next, with Owen J. Roberts holding a slight edge on Phoenixville for the eighth spot.

HONORABLE

Player of the Week honors go to Pottsgrove’s Bill Sheppard, who ran for one touchdown, caught a pass for another score, and returned two punts for touchdowns to help the Falcons defeat Upper Perkiomen, 41-14.

Coach of the Week honors go to Phoenixville’s Bill Furlong, who guided the Phantoms over Boyertown, 21-18, and into a tie for second place in the PAC-10 standings.

PRIVATE MATTERS

The Hill School’s 14-6 thriller over Mercersburg last Saturday kept the Rams unbeaten in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (2-0, 3-2 overall) and left them halfway to the six victories they need to become just the second area program to reach 500 wins. The Rams have four games remaining, with trips to Wyoming Seminary (3-2) and Blair (4-0) the next two weeks before closing at home against Hun (3-2) and Lawrenceville (3-2).

Perkiomen School is all even (2-2) at the halfway mark of its season. The Indians host Princeton Day School this week, then hit the road to visit Elkton Christian School in Maryland and St. Andrew’s in Delaware before closing at home against Pennington Prep.

NOTEWORTHY

Boyertown had just six turnovers through its first six games before doubling that figure with its six-turnover nightmare last Friday evening against Phoenixville. Quarterback David Crognale has moved up to No. 6 on the area’s all-time career total offense chart with 5,255 yards. … Daniel Boone not only lost (19-7) to Governor Mifflin, but was held under 10 points for only the sixth time in 65 games since head coach Dave Bodolus took over the program. Wideout Zach Keeley pulled in six more passes last Saturday to become the school’s all-time leader with 93 career receptions. Keeley broke Mark Justice’s record of 88. Keeley also has 1,330 career receiving yards, second only to Justice’s total of 1,578. … Methacton is plus-four in takeaways in its current three-game winning streak. Tim Smith has scored seven touchdowns in the same span — two on runs, four on pass receptions, and three on defense or special teams. … Owen J. Roberts has the area’s leading scorer and rusher in Ryan Brumfield, who is on pace to become just the fourth OJR back to run for 2,000 or more yards in a season. Teammate Kohl Batdorf’s string of successive touchdown catches ended at three last week in the win over St. Pius X.

Perkiomen Valley may be 3-4, but before last week’s come-from-behind win over Pottstown the Vikings were actually the highest-scoring team in District 1. The Vikings lead the area in total offense (2,971 yards) — just 12 yards better than Daniel Boone. Senior Zach Zulli last week became just the second area quarterback to go over the 5,000-yard career passing mark. Zulli has thrown for 5,069 yards and needs just 229 more to break the area record set by Daniel Boone’s Chris Bokosky. … Phoenixville has recovered six fumbles and picked off six passes in its last two games, which has helped the Phantoms take over the area lead in takeaways with a plus-14 mark. Quarterback Tom Romano was 10 of 30 for 158 yards with one touchdown in his first four games, but is 22 of 38 for 452 yards with five touchdowns in his last three games. … Pottsgrove fumbled away a possession last week at Upper Perkiomen, the team’s first lost-fumble in five games. Bill Sheppard has scored six touchdowns the last two weeks — two on runs, two on passes, and two on punt returns.

Pottstown, which played so well for three quarters last week, is likely to be without running back Kenny Baker for at least another week. Baker, recovering from minor knee surgery, has 2,593 career yards and is trying to join Tyrone Dalton (3,324) and Christian Allen (3,705) as the only Trojans with more than 3,000 career rushing yards. … Spring-Ford quarterback Trevor Sasek broke Lance Viola’s school record for career passing yards last week. Sasek’s total is currently at 4,043, and he may be forced to go up top a lot more this weekend if running back David Tyler isn’t back from an injury he suffered against Methacton last Saturday. … St. Pius X is expected to be back to full strength for the first time this weekend when they Lions line up in search of that elusive first PAC-10 win. … Upper Perkiomen was averaging 301 yards offensively through its first six games but managed to produce just 91 last Friday night against Pottsgrove.

This column originally ran in the Oct. 3 edition of The Mercury

Time isn’t running out on anyone quite yet. Please, it’s only Week Six of the high school season for goodness sakes. But you could easily say this weekend, or the outcome of one game tonight and another Saturday afternoon, will get a few of the football clocks ticking.

This evening, Owen J. Roberts and Pottsgrove — the lone remaining unbeatens (3-0) in the Pioneer Athletic Conference with identical 4-1 overall records – get together. And in a Saturday matinee, Conrad Weiser and Daniel Boone — two of three unbeaten teams (2-0) atop the Inter-County League’s Division One standings with identical 4-1 overall records – get together.

Neither the Wildcats nor the Falcons are going to run off with the PAC-10 title with a win tonight, mind you, although there’s no question as to who has the considerably tougher month of October ahead of them, or who can ill-afford a loss more than the other in this one. Neither the Scouts nor the Blazers are going to run off with the I-C Division One title Saturday afternoon, either, not with unbeaten Muhlenberg (and a few other ruthless rivals) remaining on both of their schedules.

But who survives and who doesn’t, on the scoreboard that is, will definitely impact both of the league’s stretch runs … and it’ll be the perfect time to establish who’s who in all four of the teams’ chase for postseason playoff berths.

Owen J. Roberts is tied for fourth and Pottsgrove is tied for second in the District 1-AAA points standings, where very, very little separates the top seven teams (and only eight qualify, remember).

Conrad Weiser is tied for fourth and Daniel Boone is 10th in the District 3-AAA points standings, where there may not be as much concern about finishing among the top 16 as there is about positioning.

But aside of the records, points standings and anything else the football mind can conjure up, both games are likely to be as good if not better than any other this season.

Owen J. Roberts may have, at least through the first five weeks, the most improved offensive line in the area (not to mention a lot of depth at the unsung fullback position). Together, they’ve made it considerably easier for Ryan Brumfield and Dan Miller.

Brumfield has gotten better, or shall we say a wee bit bigger and a lot more savvy, since stepping into the lineup as a freshmen a year ago. He’s already run for 1,011 yards, putting him on a pace to step past three former Wildcats – Dennis Laws (2,006), current head coach Tom Barr (2,029) and Matt Lucas (2,046) – and set a new school record for yards rushing in a season. Miller is the little fella with the ability to scramble out of trouble, go up top for some big yards, or keep it and go head-to-head with defenders twice his size.

Pottsgrove has a roster full of those unknowns, along with headliners like Terrell Chestnut, Maika Polamalu and Preston Hamlette, who have simply got the job done week after week after week. The Falcons have given up a lot of yards and a lot of points. They also generate their share of yards and points … and they win. Forget that margin of victory – an average of just seven points a game against Phoenixville, Perkiomen Valley and Boyertown – because all that matters in the end is how many notches are in the left column of that won-loss ledger.

Daniel Boone, meanwhile, may be lining up with the best team of any in the area this season, at least up to this juncture. And, for the record, if the Blazers continue their prolific ways Saturday, through the remainder of the month and into the playoffs, they’re likely to erase virtually every offensive mark scribbled in the area’s record book. Quarterback Jon Monteiro has completed on nearly 70 percent of his passes for 1,360 yards and 16 touchdowns – in what amounts to less than four games (he missed one with an injury and played only minutes into the third quarter in another). Monteiro is very good, no doubt about that. And he’s had the opportunity to showcase his talent because of the protection and time he gets from the fellas up front, because of the threat of Nate Greene and others to run the football, and because of band of receivers – led by Zach Keeley, Kelly Saylor, Kyle Yarmush, to name a few – who run their patterns, catch passes and, most important, know what to do with it after they pull them in.

So, yes, there is a sense of urgency in tonight’s game at Pottsgrove and in Saturday’s game at Daniel Boone. But don’t think the pressure, or the stress, will lighten up all that much over the next month, either.

* * *

Perkiomen Valley and Phoenixville – both 2-1 in the PAC-10 – get together Saturday as Washington Field in Phoenixville with a lot on the line. Neither the Vikings nor the Phantoms can afford another loss at this point, not if they expect to remain in the championship chase. And Phoenixville is still well within reach of moving up among the top eight in the District 1-Class AAA playoff points standings.

PV quarterback Zach Zulli, who is threatening to erase most of the PAC-10 passing records (and a few of the area’s all-time records, too), needs 147 yards of offense to go over the 5,000-yard career total offense mark, something only five other area players have done. He’ll be going for the milestone against the area’s top-rated defense, though.

MAKING A POINT

The first official District 1 and 3 playoff points standings were released earlier this week.

In Class AAA, nine teams are currently squeezed into the Top Eight. Henderson is first; Pottsgrove is tied with Upper Merion in that second spot; Owen J. Roberts shares the fourth spot with Upper Moreland; Bayard Rustin is sixth; Great Valley is seventh; and Bishop Shanahan and Strath Haven are tied for eighth. Every one of the teams are 4-1 with the exception of Bishop Shanahan and Strath Haven, who are both 3-2.

The four remaining unbeatens in the AAAA bracket – North Penn, Downingtown West, Ridley, Garnet Valley – are first through fourth, respectively. Council Rock South, Pennsbury, Neshaminy, Quakertown, Glen Mills, Abington, Penncrest, Upper Dublin and Upper Darby – all with identical 4-1 records – occupy the next nine spots. Souderton is 14th, while C.B. South, Norristown and Unionville are tied for 15th.

Eight teams qualify for the AAA playoffs, while 16 move into the postseason in AAAA.

Out in District 3-AAA, unbeatens Mechanicsburg and Greencastle are one-two, respectively; West York (4-1) is third; Conrad Weiser shares that fourth spot with Garden Spot and Lebanon; Northern Lebanon is seventh; Cocalico and Northern share ninth; and then it’s Daniel Boone at No. 10. The top 16 qualify for the playoffs. It is very possible a .500 record will be good enough to get into the District 3-AAA postseason show.

DISTRICT BIGGIES

Tonight, among the big games whose outcome will have a significant impact on those aforementioned playoff points standings are Abington at Council Rock South and C.B. South at Quakertown in AAAA. In a couple of key bracket crossover games, Henderson could really pad its lead in AAA with a win at unbeaten AAAA Downingtown West, as could AAA Great Valley with a win against visiting AAAA Unionville.

* * *

Around the state, there are six games featuring 5-0 teams going up against one another. In District 3, Middletown visits Steelton-Highspire, ranked No. 1 in the state in Class A; in District 7, Beaver Area (No. 8) travels across town to take on Beaver Falls, ranked No. 1 in Class AA, and C