FOOTBALL: Special teams spark Pope John Paul II in win over Upper Merion

UPPER MERION >> Pope John Paul II’s offense and defense were dominant in a 49-13 Pioneer Athletic Conference Frontier Division over Upper Merion Friday night, but it was the special teams that put the game out of hand early.

Three key special teams plays turned into three Golden Panthers touchdowns in the first eight minutes of the game and the rout was on at Upper Merion Area High School.

“We felt like last year,” PJP coach Scott Reed said, “especially as we got later in the season, special teams was a sore spot for us where we feel like in big games we’re going to need those plays to change momentum. We can’t turn the ball over on special teams, we can’t give up big returns and all those other things. We’ve been trying to work on that a lot.”

“There were some games last year that were decided on special teams,” PJP wide receiver and cornerback Braden Reed said. “They’ve been a big point of emphasis for us.”

After the Vikings went three-and-out on the game’s opening possession, the ball was snapped over the punter’s head on fourth down. He gathered the ball in the end zone and got off a punt, but it only made it to the 10-yard line. PJP’s Brent Mitala ran for a touchdown on the next play.

Another three-and-out on the ensuing possession, but this time Upper Merion got its punt away. Braden Reed fielded the ball at his own 43 and advanced to his left. He reversed field and found space up the right sideline for a 57-yard touchdown and 14-0 lead.

“Just find green grass,” Braden Reed, who had a punt return touchdown called back on a penalty earlier this season, said. “I don’t even know. It felt good to look back and there be no flags down.”

Jack Lockrey grabbed an interception on the next possession before Boyd Skarbek ran for a six-yard touchdown to make it 21-0.

PJP’s defense forced another three-and-out on the next drive and TJ Boccella and Kiernan Myers broke through to block the punt. Luke Terlesky hit Braden Reed for a nine-yard touchdown on the next play and it was 28-0 with 4:08 still to play in the first quarter.

“(Special teams make) all the difference in the world,” Scott Reed said. “These are kids, so you get big momentum on our side and they lose momentum on their side and all of the sudden if you’re Upper Merion your gameplan goes out the window and we’re sitting there almost being spotted 21 points. We were just able to make a couple special teams plays. That was fortunate for us and unfortunate for them.”

“It wasn’t a good first half,” Upper Merion coach Davis Chubb said. “There’s not much we can say. We’re going to flush that first half – we’re going to forget all about that. We didn’t have a great week of practice.”

Terlesky and Braden Reed connected on another touchdown – a 44-yarder – in the second quarter and Skarbek ran for a 12-yard score and the Golden Panthers (7-0, 3-0 PAC Frontier) took a 42-0 lead into the locker room.

The PJP starting offense played one drive in the second half and Myers ran for a five-yard touchdown.

Upper Merion (2-5, 1-2 PAC Frontier) scored twice in the second half.

The first was a 59-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Solley to Zahaid Edwards. Edwards, who grabbed a defensive interception in the first half, caught the ball along the right sideline, managed to stay in bounds and raced the final 30 yards to the end zone.

The second score was a six-yard run by Isaiah Robinson in the middle of the fourth quarter.

Upper Merion is just outside the 16-team playoff field in District 1-5A with PAC Frontier games against Pottsgrove (3-4) and Pottstown (4-3) on the schedule for the next two weeks.

“It all starts next week,” Chubb said. “1-0. 1-0 next week and start from there, start building. This division (PAC Frontier) can go any way. It really can. There’s ups and downs. We saw probably the best two teams in this division (PJP and Phoenixville) already. We’ll learn from it and we’re going to keep getting better with that. A lot of young guys out there – that was good for their experience.”

PJP, the No. 1 team is District 1-4A, visits Pottstown next week before hosting Phoenixville in a game that will likely determine the PAC Frontier championship on Oct. 21.

Pope John Paul II 49, Upper Merion 13

Pope John Paul II 28 14 7 0 – 0

Upper Merion 0 0 7 6 – 13

Scoring

First Quarter

PJP – Brent Mitala 10-yard run (Benjamin Bosio kick) 9:41

PJP – Braden Reed 57-yard punt return (Benjamin Bosio kick) 7:41

PJP – Boyd Skarbek 6-yard run (Benjamin Bosio kick) 6:02

PJP – Braden Reed 9-yard reception from Luke Terlesky (Benjamin Bosio kick) 4:08

Second Quarter

PJP – Braden Reed 44-yard reception from Luke Terlesky (Benjamin Bosio kick) 10:32

PJP – Boyd Skarbek 12-yard run (Benjamin Bosio kick) 2:58

Third Quarter

PJP – Kiernan Myers 5-yard run (Benjamin Bosio kick) 8:20

UM – Zahaid Edwards 59-yard reception from Jackson Solley (Cyrus Palladino kick) 2:40

Fourth Quarter

UM – Isaiah Robinson 6-yard run (kick failed) 8:40

TEAM STATISTICS

PJP           UM

First downs 18           7

Rushes-Yards 22-114   13-23

Passing yards 226           146

Total yards 340         169

Passing 11-15-1    8-25-1

Punts 0            6

Fumbles-Lost 3-1         1-0

Penalties-Yards 3-28        2-15

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

PJP: Boyd Skarbek 11-113, 2 TD; Brent Mitala 2-14, TD; Luke Terlesky 2-(-8); Kiernan Myers 1-5, TD; Jacob Lucci 3-1; Shawn Maletsky 1-3; Kayden Witter 1-(-12); Dominic Testa 1-(-2).

UM: Justin Besz 7-(-8); Isaiah Robinson 6-41, TD; Jackson Solley 1-(-10).

PASSING

PJP: Luke Terlesky 10-13-209-2-1; Kayden Witter 1-2-17-0-0.

UM: Jackson Solley 7-22-140-1-1; Isaiah Wright 1-3-6-0-0.

RECEIVING

PJP: Braden Reed 5-118, 2 TD; Brent Mitala 3-81; Jacob Lucci 1-17; Brandon DeAngelo 2-10.

UM: Erick Ramirez 4-70; Zahaid Edwards 2-65, TD; Kylee Hill 2-11.

INTERCEPTIONS

PJP: Jack Lockrey.

UM: Zahaid Edwards.