This column originally ran in the Dec. 4, 2009 edition of The Mercury.

PHILADELPHIA — There was little if any excitement in the first 10 weeks of Pottsgrove’s football season. Shutting out three opponents and limiting five others to just one touchdown, not to mention never trailing once at the halfway mark of any of those games, doesn’t exactly coerce coaches to pace crazily up and down the sidelines or force the fans behind them to fidget in their seats.

The last three weeks…

Well, neither head coach Rick Pennypacker nor any of his assistants have stood still for long (if at all), and their fans have been kind of sitting on pins and needles.

Talk about making up for lost time.

The Falcons have had to come from behind in all three of their playoff games – first against Upper Moreland and then against unbeaten Bayard Rustin for a pair of 21-14 thrillers, and again last week against unbeaten Interboro in a 28-21 overtime gripper.

“That was tense, and I mean tense,” Pennypacker said last Saturday night, moments after the Falcons whipped up some momentum late in the third quarter, held it through the fourth quarter, then carried it into overtime to outlast Interboro for the program’s first District 1-AAA title.

Pennypacker and his entire staff have indeed had a bit of an anxious look and an uneasy bounce in their collective step since the postseason kicked off back on the second weekend of last month.

Don’t expect it to be any different tonight, either, when they make their debut in the PIAA playoffs against Archbishop Wood in a Class AAA quarterfinal showdown here at Northeast High School’s Charles Martin Memorial Stadium.

“It has gotten tougher and tougher each week, and we know it’s going to be even tougher (tonight),” Pennypacker said. “You may be able to make a mistake here and there (during the regular season) and have it not hurt you. But once you get into the playoffs, one mistake can cost you … cost you the game, end your season.”

During the regular season, the Falcons more than made up for any occasional blunder. They opened with two very convincing non-league wins over Pennridge and Wissahickon, then ran the table on their Pioneer Athletic Conference rivals. The spotless 10-0 record earned them a second straight PAC-10 championship and the top-billing for the District 1-AAA playoffs.

But that’s all their impressive play earned them.

Upper Moreland put them in a 14-7 hole at the break, but the Falcons took advantage of some of the Golden Bears’ mistakes to pull out the win. Rustin – the defending district champions who dizzied every one of their opponents before visiting Pottsgrove – had them trailing 14-13 at the break, but the Falcons stepped up when the Knights lost a fumble and then their poise to pull out the win.

Last week, Interboro capitalized on a couple of breakdowns, mistakes if you will, to take a 21-14 lead at the break. But if there was ever a defining defensive play and defining drive to characterize the Falcons’ fight this postseason, it came by way of linebacker Preston Hamlette and their persistent offense. Hamlette sacked Interboro’s quarterback on fourth down to end the Bucs’ one last attempt to regain the lead. The Falcons took possession with 10:31 left and, despite not finding their way into the end zone, they ate up all but the final three seconds of regulation.

Into overtime they went … with momentum, and a whole heck of a lot of confidence.

It took just two snaps for Maika Polamalu to skirt the right side for the go-ahead touchdown, and four stops on defense – the last being Angelo Berry’s knockdown of a pass just inside the end zone – to finally end it.

Ironically, tonight’s scrap with Archbishop Wood could likely unfold like the previous three games, even end in similar fashion.

“It should be a pretty exciting game,” Pennypacker said.

Yep … the postseason may get a little repetitive in December, but never boring.

* * *

If the Falcons are looking for any additional motivation – or bulletin board material, as they call it – all they have to do is read a couple of the comments about their win over Interboro on easternpafootball.com... which, forgive us, we’ve cleaned up a bit (spelling and punctuation).

Bob said: “(Archbishop) Wood is going to destroy this Pottsgrove team. Pottsgrove is not good at all, they got lucky. And Terrell Chestnut is overrated.”

And FootballFan responded: “It should be Rustin vs. (Archbishop) Wood. That would have been a great game Bob.”

Let’s see now – Pottsgrove isn’t “good at all” and Chestnut is “overrated.” Hmmm… Pottsgrove beats Rustin, then beats Interboro. Two straight wins over undefeated teams is lucky? Maybe, then again how often have you heard coaches – in all sports – say they’d rather be lucky than good? And, for the record, Chestnut is either being recruited or looked at by 30-40 Division I-A schools. Could JoePa and some of the best minds in college football all be wrong?

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 weekend is the second round of the annual Pioneer Athletic Conference football fight … just the second round. Perkiomen Valley’s Scott Reed is well aware of that, so is Pottsgrove’s Rick Pennypacker.

So forgive the ol’ fellas if they don’t think their teams can deliver a knockout blow tonight.

Yes, both Perkiomen Valley and Pottsgrove have been mentioned over and over as the PAC-10 heavyweights this season. Yes, both punched their way to wins over credible challengers a week ago. And, yes, as long as they stay healthy, both have the ability to poke, prod and punch their way through the next – or final – seven rounds of the regular season.

So, yes, the Vikings and Falcons absolutely want to knock each other off their collective feet tonight.

But they’re also well aware that the bell rings again next week, the week after that, the week after that… all the way through the first weekend in November, then one final time Thanksgiving morning.

“Our team, and that includes every one of the players as well as all the coaches, know that whoever we play each week is the biggest game of the season,” Reed said. “That never changes. We prepare for the team we’re playing that week, and we prepare for it as the biggest game of the season.”

“This is like any other game for us,” Pennypacker added. “Yes, Perkiomen Valley is very good and, yes, this is a very big game. But all it means right now is that one of us gets a leg up on the other by being 2-0. Don’t forget, there are still a lot of games left to play.”

Though neither would admit it, Reed and Pennypacker probably spent a few extra hours with their defensive coordinators.

Understandably so.

The Vikings, who have been quite generous defensively – allowing 120 points in their first three games – will have to deal with Pottsgrove’s much-improved heavyweights up front and quick-as-lightning lightweights behind them. Quarterback Terrell Chestnut, as well as fullback Preston Hamlette and tailback Maika Polamalu, can flat out fly. Chestnut has gone 76, 61 and 77 yards for three of his five touchdowns; Hamlette went 94 yards for one score; and Polamalu, in addition to a 37-yard reception that ended in the end zone, shuffled through the defense for 63 yards and a touchdown that put last week’s bout with Phoenixville out of reach.

“(Pottsgrove) has a lot of marquee football players,” Reed said. “They have talent. They can move the ball, and they can score.”

Don’t think it’ll be any easier for Pottsgrove’s defense, either, because Perkiomen Valley lines up with one of the area’s most balanced – or most dangerous, if you prefer – offenses.

Lynwood Snowden, who showcased his speed in both the 100 and 200 meters during last spring’s PAC-10 Track and Field Championships, brought a kickoff back 90 yards in the season-opener, has run for four touchdowns and caught a pass for another. In other words, he’s a concern every time he touches the football. So is quarterback Zach Zulli – The Mercury’s Player of the Year last season – who has peppered opposing secondaries by completing 64 percent of this attempts for 671 yards and seven touchdowns – four going to Paul Thomas.

“They can score, and they can score in bunches,” Pennypacker said of the Vikings. “Zulli is one of the best high school quarterbacks I’ve seen in a long time, and with all the formations and all the motion they show you, you can’t afford any mental mistakes. Seriously, we could get blown out if we’re not careful in this one.”

Even though Pennypacker will go with an incredible number of underclassmen tonight – eight sophomores and nine juniors among the 22 lining up on both sides of the ball – Reed still sees the overall makeup of the Falcons’ youth movement.

“People have a tendency to think about running backs and receivers when you talk about speed, but Pottsgrove’s defense is very fast,” Reed said. “They get to the football very quickly, and that’s from all positions.

“They’ll be a big challenge for us. They’re very aggressive, and they fly to the football.”

* * *

Zulli needs just 26 yards passing tonight to become the area’s third quarterback to reach the 4,000-yard career mark. The others were Upper Perkiomen’s Jeff Moyer (4,161) and Daniel Boone’s Chris Bokosky (5,297). … The Falcons had beaten Perkiomen Valley seven straight times before falling 35-7 last year in Graterford.

BUSTIN’ IN BERKS

Daniel Boone, coming off what was unquestionably one of head coach Dave Bodolus’ most disturbing defeats – 48-47 in overtime to winless Columbia – opens its Inter-County League Section One card tonight against visiting Twin Valley.

The Blazers put up 440 yards and those 47 points against Columbia, so it wasn’t like they really missed quarterback Jon Monteiro, who was sidelined with a thigh bruise. Monteiro is expected to be back tonight, and Bodolus hopes the defense comes back, too. And not the defense that surrendered 451 yards and 48 points last Saturday night.

Twin Valley moved up from Section Two to Section One this season, the program’s 13th since opening up back in 1996 under former Owen J. Roberts standout Tim Kier.

PROFILE OF COURAGE

Perkiomen School’s visit to George School on Saturday will feature two outstanding quarterbacks – the Indians’ Abdul Smith and the hosts’ Justin Cancelliere.

Cancelliere, who like Smith also lines up in the secondary and returns kicks, has shown remarkable courage since losing almost his entire family in a plane crash midway through his freshman year. His mother, stepfather, three sisters and the family babysitter were killed when their plane crashed while attempting to land in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Cancelliere was actually supposed to accompany them on the flight, which originated out of Trenton, N.J., but he instead decided to stay at his father’s home to enjoy Super Bowl weekend.

“You’ve just got to keep your head up,” Cancelliere told the Bucks County Courier Times last month. “A lot of times it’s, “Ah, I feel like quitting. Why am I here?’ You ask why, but you need to look past that and think, ‘You’re still alive. You need to make your family proud. You’re living their legacy.’

“You’re the only left to represent your family, so you’ve got to represent them well and stay positive.”

Cancelliere plays three sports and is an excellent baseball player.

MILESTONES AND MORE

Pottstown was 48-48-1 at home in PAC-10 games before winning last week’s outing with visiting St. Pius X. Upper Perkiomen is 48-48-1 at home in PAC-10 games going into tonight’s game with the Trojans. Both teams will be looking to take the lead in their PAC-10 series, which is currently deadlocked at 11-11. The Indians will also be playing the 600th game in the history of their program, which kicked off in 1952 following the jointure of neighboring East Greenville and Pennsburg high schools. … Owen J. Roberts, which picked up some well-earned respect with last week’s decision over Upper Perkiomen, goes for its 100th Pioneer Athletic Conference win Saturday afternoon against Methacton, which is looking for its first.

DISTRICT BIGGIES

North Penn, No. 2 in the state and 3-0, hosts Central Bucks South (2-1), while No. 9 Neshaminy (2-1) entertains unbeaten Abington (3-0) in a pair of quality AAAA matchups. … An undefeated pairing has AAAA Upper Dublin (3-0) at AAA Upper Moreland (3-0). …Two other games – Garnet Valley (3-0) at Strath Haven (2-1) and Conestoga (2-1) at Ridley (3-0) – will also go a long way in setting up the early playoff points standings.

STATELY NOTES

Beaver Falls, Dunmore and Jeannette occupy the top three spots, respectively, in the state’s Class AA rankings. Former No. 1 West Catholic dropped to No. 4 after being upset 27-26 by La Salle College High School. Jeannette is the only team in the state that has yet to be scored on. The Jayhawks have blanked East Allegheny (43-0), Brownsville (41-0) and South Allegheny (45-0), and could make it four in a row at Waynesburg (1-2) tonight. … In Class AAA, No. 2 Erie Strong Vincent (3-0) travels across town tonight to take on No. 5 Erie Cathedral Prep (2-1). … McKeesport, which dropped a narrow 14-7 outing to powerful Colerain, Ohio, in its opener, jumped five spots to No. 3 in the AAAA state rankings behind No. 2 North Penn and No. 1 Gateway. The Tigers picked Plum apart 55-0 two weeks ago. Last Friday night, they took a 48-0 lead after one quarter and scored on eight of their first 14 plays from scrimmage en route to a 67-7 laugher over Connellsville. McKeesport and Gateway, by the way, meet in their WPIAL Foothills Conference final on Oct. 24. … If defense isn’t your thing, how about unranked William Penn High out in York? The Bearcats lead the state in scoring (167 points) after three romps over Reading (49-13), Lancaster McCaskey (57-20) and Susquehannock (61-10).