Phantoms kick out PAC 10 football season Friday against Pope John Paul II

Phoenixville kicks off the 25th season of Pioneer Athletic Conference football action tonight with a 7 p.m. home game against new league entry Pope John Paul II at Washington Field.
The Phantoms are coming off a 42-0 non-league loss at Unionville last Friday night while the Golden Panthers dropped their PAC-10 opener to two-time defending league champion Pottsgrove, 57-6.
“Unionville is a good team across the board,” said Phoenixville coach Bill Furlong.
Pope John Paul II is the merger of the former St. Pius X and Kennedy-Kenrick schools. The Golden Panthers are coached by Mike Santillo, the former coach at Kennedy-Kenrick.
The Phantoms fell to St. Pius X, 21-14, last fall but defeated Kennedy-Kenrick, 35-6. Now they will be facing a combination of the two schools.
“We expect a real good game,” said Furlong. “Their scores have been lopsided and so have ours with who we played. So we are similar. It has been a tough opening two weeks.”
Furlong hopes his ballclub comes out with a fire after absorbing the sound beating last week following a season-opening victory over Great Valley.
“I think they practiced well,” said Furlong. “I think emotionally they are ready to play. We have some things we want to accomplish.”
Phoenixville hopes to move its passing game into gear with senior quarterback Tom Romano at the controls. He, the receivers and the offensive line’s blocking have to do a better job of meshing in order for the Phantoms to be successful through the air.
Phoenixville running back Vinny Nattle , who suffered a head injury against Unionville after enjoying a huge game against Great Valley, is expected to miss the remainder of the season. Joe Hill, a transfer from St. Pius X, is one of the Phoenixville players in the hunt for the starting job.
The Phantoms hope to improve their work against the passing game. Thus far they have been vulnerable to some big plays.
“We have to be more consistent on defense,” said Furlong.