Football: Phantoms' Record-Breaking Season Comes to a Close

WHITEMARSH-Back in February, Valentine’s Day to be exact, Pottsgrove head coach Rick Pennypacker couldn’t help but wonder, after expressing final farewell wishes during the annual banquet to his outgoing senior class, which direction his football team would be headed in 2011.

After a 42-13 win over Phoenixville to claim their second PIAA District One title in three years, it is perfectly obvious that the direction chosen by the ground-and-pound offense of Pottsgrove is headed straight ahead into the state playoffs for the second time in school history.

“To be honest this team has far exceeded any expectations we had of them,” said Pennypacker. “To graduate a class of seniors like we did and be able to even make the playoffs is a testament to what kind of kids we have.”

It would be easy to talk about the running back corps of Robby Curtain (2 TD runs, 75 and 5 yds) Danny Michaels, Johny Fowler and Marquis Barfield or the lighting quick feet of quarterback Tory Hudgins who scampered for more than 175 yards on the ground including four touchdowns on runs of 5, 31, 60 and 73 yards, as the Falcons showed early on that the only thing that could stop them was themselves.

But the real story again, as it has been for most of the season, was the play of the offensive line led by seniors Dylan Pritchard, Eric Bomeberger, Scott Shollenberger and junior Madison O’Connor (aka “Big Show”) that blew holes in a Phantoms' defense that had been stingy against the run all season.

Pottsgrove (12-2), which won its seventh game in a row, dominated the trenches, racking up more than 350 yards of total offense by the intermission, forcing the run-minded Phoenixville offense to take to the air.

“I could drive truck through the hole this line makes,” said Tory Hudgins. “Seriously, anybody could do what I do back there. We come into every game with the mentality that we are going to win that game and can find a way to do it. This is just a great accomplishment to be able to claim the district championship.”

Phantoms' senior signal caller Alec McQuiston, who led the Phantoms (9-5) to the first and second district playoff wins in school history, responded by finding Vinny Nattle on a 48-yard hook up to cut the lead to 14 with eight minutes left in the first half.

“This senior class has delivered in every aspect,” said head coach Bill Furlong. “Our goal, which they far exceeded, was to make the playoffs. Playing in the district title game was beyond any expectation. They have brought the program as a whole to a new level.”

Pottsgrove will next face District Eleven winner Archbishop Wood (12-1), who ended the Falcons bid for the state title in 2009 with a 30-28 win at Northeast High School in the PIAA quarterfinals. 

“We’ll think about Wood tomorrow,” added Pennypacker. “I am so proud of how our boys played and the way they handled themselves all season. They just go out every game and do what they are supposed to do.”

McQuiston posted his second score of the night as he found Ryan Pinella in the flat for a 21-yard touchdown pass with just over three minutes to play prior to the break, but that’s as close as the visitors would be able to draw.

“We knew the last game against them did not matter,” said senior Danny Michaels. “We knew coming in from having district experience, that we could not take any team lightly, and Phoenixville has been playing outstanding football all year long.” 

Phoenixville            0            13            0            0            -            13

Pottsgrove            14            21            0            7            -            42

10:17   PG            Curtain 75 run (Bleakly kick)

6:27     PG            Hudgins 31 run (Bleakly kick)

11:34   PG            Curtain 6 run (Bleakly kick)

8:50     PX            Nattle 48 pass from McQuiston (Harrigan kick)

7:47     PG            Hudgins 5 run (Bleakly kick)

3:19     PX            Pinella 21 pass from McQuiston (kick blocked)

3:09     PG            Hudgins 60 run (Bleakly kick)

8:28     PG            Hudgins 73 run (Bleakly kick)