Phoenixville, Spring-Ford collide on Turkey Day

Phoenixville and Spring-Ford collide in their annual Pioneer Athletic Conference (PAC-10) Thanksgiving Day morning football game Thursday at 10 a.m. at Washington Field.
Both the Phantoms and Rams have had up-and-down seasons and would like to cap the 2009 campaign on a high note.
The Phantoms and Rams both enter the contest with 3-8 records, although they both played competitive ball in most of their games, especially on defense.
In its last outing, Phoenixville defeated Kennedy-Kenrick, 35-6, on a Saturday afternoon at Norristown’s muddy Roosevelt Field. Spring-Ford was beaten by Upper Darby, 7-0, on a Friday night at Spring-Ford’s Coach McNelly Stadium.
“It is like this every year, no matter what the circumstances,” said Phoenixville coach Bill Furlong. “We need that game for something. Right now we are tied in records.”
Both the Phantoms and Rams have had their bright moments in a few victories and other quality showings against top opponents.
“We’ve been two different teams throughout the year,” said Furlong. “It will come down to which team shows up on Thanksgiving. If it’s the team from the last two games (10-6 loss to District 1 Class AAA finalist Pottsgrove, Kennedy-Kenrick), it should be a good game and we will play well. They (Rams) are a good team.. We have to make sure it’s that team that shows up. Against Pottsgrove, the kids played well all the game. Kennedy-Kenrick, the kids played well. Our offensive line, skill positions and defense played well, but not on special teams. That’s it.”
Junior Dan Kain made an impression by kicking five extra points for the Phantoms with no previous kicking experience.
The Rams are coached by Gary Rhodenbaugh.
“We have to keep working the next week and a half to get ready for Thanksgiving,” Rhodenbaugh said following the Upper Darby contest.
“Our defenses have played well,” Furlong said. “We are similar in that we held teams, but at times we haven’t scored enough points. We have similar woes.”
The Phoenixville and Spring-Ford teams will be honored by their community Rotary Clubs atthe annual joint luncheon Wednesday at 12 noon at Robert Ryan’s at Columbia Station in Phoenixville.

Phoenixville/Pottsgrove football preview

Phoenixville’s football team has its work cut out tonight as it faces PAC-10 leader and unbeaten Pottsgrove at Washington Field at 7 p.m The Phantoms (2-5, 2-7) are coming off a 15-7 loss to Pottstown last week while the Falcons (7-0, 9-0) hammered Upper Perkiomen, 62-20, in their last outing last Friday night.
Pottsgrove needs a victory to clinch at least a tie for its second straight PAC-10 championship as well as the home-field advantage as the No. 1 seed throughout the District 1 Class AAA playoffs.
Pottsgrove, which is coached for the 21st year by Spring-Ford High School graduate Rick Pennypacker, has already scored 347 points (38.6 avg.) while allowing just 81 markers (9.0). Both marks are best in the area.
Phoenixville has scored 114 points (12.7) while surrendering 168 counters (18.7).
Falcon junior quarterback Terrell Chestnut (5-11, 175) has scored 15 touchdowns and two extra points for 92 total points. Pottsgrove junior running back Maika Polamalu (6-0, 205) has scored 14 TDs with four extra points for 88 points. Junior fullback Kayvon Greene (6-2, 210) has scored nine TDs with four extra points for 58 points.
Polamalu has rushed for 930 yards on 99 carries (9.4) while Greene has 57 carries for 703 yards (12.3) and Chestnut 87 rushes for 646 yards (7.4). Phoenixville’s Sam McQuiston, who scored the team’s TD last week, has 112 rushes for 531 yards (4.7).
Phantom junior quarterback Tom Romano has completed 37 of 77 aerials (48.1 pct.) for 464 yards with three TDs and three interceptions.
Pottsgrove has been without senior first team all-state linebacker Preston Hamlette, who doubled at fullback, with an injury, but Greene has filled in very well, especially in recent weeks. The Falcons’ defense is led by senior end Justin Oliveri (6-1, 205), tackle Greene and senior Scott Madl (6-0, 195) at outside linebacker, who each had more than 100 tackles last year.
Chestnut and Polamalu, both Division I prospects, use their speed and big-play quickness to headline the secondary.
“We just have to play more consistent,” said Phoenixville coach Bill Furlong. “We have nothing to lose. We have to play consistent. We are not worrying about who we are playing or the last game. All the staff and kids will be proud if we play our best game.”
He spoke about the Pottstown game in which the Trojans earned their first victory of the season at Grigg Memorial Stadium.
“We didn’t play well early,” said Furlong. “By the time we were getting things better, it was too late. We played a good second half. We got some things going, but we have to do it the whole game. They (Trojans) played well early. They did a great job of controlling the ball. Their quarterback (Jeff Endy) threw the ball well. We were outplayed.”