2024 Pioneer Athletic Conference Frontier Division Preview
Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 1, News
Willie McGonigle | August 21, 2024
Last season The Pope John Paul II Golden Panthers for the fourth year in a row not counting the 2020 COVID season took home the Pioneer Athletic Conference (PAC) Frontier Division Title. They then went on the road and knocked off the Liberty Division Champion Spring-Ford in a classic game for the outright PAC championship. This season both the Golden Panthers and Rams appear poised for another showdown in the Championship but both teams will face tough competition in their respective divisions to make that happen. Perkiomen Valley and Owen J Roberts appear to be the top challengers to the Rams in the Liberty Division. In the Frontier Division look for Phoenixville and Pottsgrove to be the top challengers to the Golden Panthers.
Pope John Paul II Golden Panthers PIAA Classification: 4A Head Coach: Scott Reed
Last Season Recap: 12-1 District 1 4A Champions Lost to Bonner-Prendie in First Round of State Playoffs.
Key Games: 8-31 vs Neumann-Goretti, 9-7 vs West Chester Rustin, 9-21 vs Phoenixville
2024 Outlook: While graduation hit the Golden Panthers hard the future is still very bright.
Offensively the Golden Panthers have to replace All-American OL Kevin Heywood (Wisconsin). Still, they return two all-league players in Chase Frantz and Makel Parker along with Ignacio Escobar who started all 13 games a year. Malvern Prep transfer Anthony Borizillo will join the OL while Jrs. Jackson Snyder, Hasan Clayton Soph Daniel Tammaro, and Freshman Nate Seasholtz will all be competing for the fifth lineman spot. In the backfield, the Golden Panthers have to replace Boyd Skarbek and Mr Do Anything Brent Mitala however Seniors CJ Scruggs, Kiernan Myers, Jrs Jacob Lucci, and Dylan Skarbek will be competing to fill those shoes. The strength of the Golden Panthers offense is the receiving core which features Villanova commit Braden Reed, All-league TE/WR Denny Owen, and Brandon DeAngelo all returning. Sr Bradey Boss, Jr. Joey Digiacomo, Sophs Sonny Baldino, and Cole Scalfani have been working hard this offseason and could see varsity playing time. West Chester University commit and All-State QB Luke Terlesky also returns for the Panthers.
Defensively the Golden Panthers need to replace All-State DE TJ Boccella, Aidan Sgarra, and Heywood however Parker, Frantz, and Borzeillo are all expected to make a huge impact. Escobar, Snyder, and Clayton are also competing for a spot in the defensive line rotation. Owen, Myers, and Ryan Lamson are all returning starters at LB, while Jrs. Sean McNally and Jayden Vigilante will be fighting for playing time at LB. Reed and Dylan Slarbek, Scruggs, and Zahid Edwarns-Boone all are returning to the secondary while DeAngelo and Jacob Lucci will be competing for playing time in the defensive backfield.
The Golden Panthers need to replace All-State Kicker/Punter Ben Bosio however Sr Sam Simmy will take over the position. Simmy is also on the Golden Panthers soccer team.
Phoenixville Phantoms PIAA Classification 5A Head Coach: Anthony Ciarlello
–Last Season Recap: 7-4 Lost to Chester in Quarterfinals of District 1 5A Playoffs
Key Games: 9-13 at Kennett, 9-21 at Pope John Paul II, 10-18 vs Pottsgrove
2024 Outlook: Expectations are high for the 2024 Phantoms
Offensively the Phantoms return eight starters from a year ago. QB Talon Romance returns and he has the dangerous Deacon Williams at RB. Trey Lear and Kevin Kingsbury both are big-time playmakers. Patrick Carey, Logan Holiday, and Stephen Ferko are expected to make impacts at WR. Upfront TJ Howard, Andrew Kirk, and Cameron English return while Brendan Delay, Christopher Potuznik, and Ben Springer will all compete for playing time.
Defensively, the success of depends on the speed to the ball and the Phantom’s ability to finish each play. Nine starters are returning to the Phantoms this season they are Williams (LB), Lear(DB) Chris Mull(LB), Howard(DL), Kirk(DL), Kingsbury(DB) , Bobby Gray (DB), Tre Wheeler and Myles Tenbroeck (DB). Zach Rakowski and Henry Roberts will look to make an impact in the secondary. Springer, Carey, and Potuznik will contribute on the line. Ryan Jacobs returns as kicker,
Pottsgrove Falcons PIAA Classification 5A: Head Coach: Billy Hawthrone
Last Season Recap: 5-6 Lost to Bishop Shanahan in the First Round of District 1 4A Playoffs.
Key Games: 8-30 at Owen J Roberts, 10-4 vs Pope John Paul II, 10-18 at Phoenixville
2024 Outlook: The Pottsgrove Falcons look to rebound from a 5-5 regular season, culminating in a first-round loss in the District 1 AAAA playoffs. Pottsgrove will move up to the AAAAA classification in District 1 for the 2024 season, offering some of the best competition in the state. Falcons are ready to take on the challenges of the upcoming season with a balanced mix of experienced veterans and promising newcomers.
Offensively the Falcons have the most experience on the line where Dante Bibbs, Justin Coons, Jacob Fredrick, and Mason Kraichley return. Isaiah Rivera, Mikhi Dargan, and Anthony Mayes will all look to have big seasons at RB. Chase Hawthorne becomes the starter at QB and will benefit from having TE Cam Waller and WRs Tommy Sambrick and Deymein Doctor all returning.
Defensively the Falcons will be led by their LBs Rivera and Brandon McGinley. Waller, Jake Palladino, and Kraichley will anchor the line. Sambrick, Chayse Roberts, and Devon Grinnage return in the secondary. Elijah Scalafford,(RB/S) Chase Wiley (RB/LB), Kamal Curry (WR/DB) Brady Funk (WR/DB), and Jackson Wescoat (WR/DB) are newcomers that could make an impact on both sides of the ball.
Upper Perkiomen Indians PIAA Classification 5A Head Coach: Dan Heinrich
Last Season Recap: 3-7
Key Games:9-13 at Unionville 10-4 at Upper Merion, 10-18 vs Pottstown
2024 Outlook: “We have had a strong offseason with a large number of experience returning. Leaders have stepped up this summer and we are strides beyond where we were a year ago at this time. We are excited for this season and understand what we are capable of.” Indians Head Coach Dan Heinrich said of his upcoming team.
The Indians return four starters on the offensive line in Tice Hallman, Maddux Diaz, Ethan Scharneck, and Jonathon Strohl. Dylan Marshall will be the fifth member of the line. Logan O’Donnell returns at QB. Brody Weiss, Kane Krier, and Zach Schwartz all return to the backfield. Aiden Void, Jose Montero and Nate Schramm (TE) will all be threats in the passing game. All of these players will see time on the defensive side of the ball as well at various positions.
Upper Merion Vikings PIAA Classification 5A Head Coach Marquis Weeks
Last Season Recap: 2-8
Key Games: 8-30 at Norristown,9-20 at Pottstown 10-4 vs Upper Perkiomen,
2024 Outlook: Marquis Weeks takes over the Viking program. This year’s version of the Vikings is a team that is looking to build off the good things they did last season and will look to improve in each and every game.” We want to see an improvement in the win column, but the major focus is that we compete at a high level every time we face an opponent and we don’t beat ourselves. Our attitude is, if you are going to beat the Vikings, we want to make you fight tooth and nail to do.” Coach Weeks said.
Jackson Solley returns at QB for the Vikings while, . Isaiah Robinson (RB/S), Teddy Walmsley (RB/LB), Malachi Wynn OL/DT, Kylee Hill (WR/DB), Erik Ramirez-Perez WR/DB are all two-way returning starters Zion Cleveland (WR/LB) will look to make an impact on both sides of the ball.
Pottstown Trojans PIAA Classification 4A Head Coach Levert Hughes
Last Season Recap:5-6 Lost to Pope John Paul II in First Round of District 1 4A Playoffs
Key Games:8-29 vs Renaissance Academy, 9-20 vs Upper Merion, 10-18 at Upper Perkiomen
2024 Outlook: The 20024 Trojans offensively will look to be consistent in their approach. Chris Thomas Jose Cherriez, Caden Nihart, and Kingston Allen are their returning starters
Defensively the Trojans will look to rally to the ball and make it a 7-9 gang tackling session every game. Allen, Jeremiah Geigher, Tyson Robins, and Josiah Paugh are the returning starters.
Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews
You must be logged in to post a comment.