2024 Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Conference Preview

Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 1, News

Willie McGonigle | August 22, 2024

Last season the Spring-Ford Rams took home the Liberty Conference and advanced to the PAC Title Game where they lost a heartbreaker to Pope John Paul II. This year the Rams appear poised to return to the PAC Championship. Perkiomen Valley and Owen J Roberts appear to be the top challengers. Let’s take a team-by-team look at the Liberty Conference

Spring-Ford Rams PIAA Classification 6A Head Coach Chad Brubaker

Last Season Recap: 9-3 Lost to Central Bucks South in District 1 6A Quarterfinals

Key Games: 9-23 at Souderton, 9-13 vs Downingtown West,10-4 at Perkiomen Valley

2024 Outlook: 2024 has the makings of being an exciting season for the Rams with a total of 16 starters back combined from last season’s team.

Offensively, the Rams offense is led by Missouri commit QB Matt Zollers who has thrown for over 5000 yards in his career. “Clearly everything in our offense goes through Matt Zollers, who will be in a position to set numerous career passing marks at Spring-Ford” Head Coach Chad Brubaker said of his QB.

Jamal Lewis returns to RB. At receiver, the Rams must replace their two most productive receivers from a year ago, but they do return Jordan Marsillio. Seniors Ian Pettica, Chase Blanken, Juniors Blake Turner, and Aiden Baumeister along with Sophomores Jackson Wickersham, Shane Cornelison, and Dylan Palmer are all in the mix to see time at WR. Junior Cole Broderick who is a RB by trade could also see time at WR. Ryan Kerchner is a returning two-year starter at TE for the Rams while Senior Decaln Finney will be an asset at TE as well.  Three offensive linemen are returning starters in Seniors Jaiden McLeod, and Connor Hudak along with Jr. Andrew Moyer. Sr. Dylan Callahan, Jrs Ashton Pugh, Grant Dziedzjak, Sophomores Lynn Bellard, and Pat Clark are all in the mix for the other spots up front.

Defensively the entire secondary from last season returns for the Rams, they include 3-year starter Lewis, and Zack Stead at has the cornerbacks. Anthony Earley and Blake Turner return at Safeties. At linebacker Braden Welsh and Nick Garzarella are returning starters while Jacob McDowell is the early front-runner for the third spot Cole Brenner and RJ White will also provide depth at the position. At Defensive End, Gyasi Romu returns while Kerchner and Taegan Tutrani will help at the position. On the interior of the Bryce Roberts return while Moyer and MacLeod along with a few underclassmen will rotate throughout the game.

On the special teams side the Rams return Ryan Fields as Kicker and Trent Yoder as holder while Zollers will handle the punting duties. Fields is the current school record holder for most consecutive PATs.

Perkiomen Valley Vikings PIAA Classification 6A Head Coach: Rob Heist

Last Season Recap: 9-3 Lost to Downingtown East in District 1 6A Quarterfinal

Key Games: 8-23 vs Chester, 9-22 vs Owen J Roberts, 10-4 vs Spring-Ford

2024 Outlook: “We’re very excited for the 2024 season. We have a strong class of seniors who are poised to leave a strong legacy. We will face outstanding competition early in our non-league schedule and throughout league play. We are excited as a coaching staff to work with this group of young men.” Coach Rob Heist said of the 2024 season.

Offensively the Vikings return Patrick MacDonald at Quarterback. The offensive line returns Cole Euker (Princeton Commit) Andrew Keenan, Richie Strano, and Eddie Smith. Nate Reedy and Carter McCabe return as running backs. Carter Euker returns as halfback. Dimitri Toman, Joey Keough, Brayden Perone Julian Corropolese, and Colin Hollingsworth all return at receiver. Anthony Rodriguez returns at Tight end.

Defensively Cole Euker, Keenan, and Smith all return on the defensive line. In the secondary Toman, Perone, McCabe, Corropolese, Keough, and MacDonald all return. Carter Euker Strano, Rodriguez, and Reedy will make up the linebacking core.

Owen J Roberts Wildcats PIAA Classification 6A Head Coach Rich Kolka

Last Season Recap: 8-3 Lost to Garnet Valley in First Round of District 1 6A Playoffs

Key Games: 9-20 vs Perkiomen Valley, 10-11 at Methacton,10-19 at Spring-Ford

2024 Outlook: Coach Rich Kolka is excited for this year’s version of the Wildcats.

Offensively after bursting on the scene as a freshman Mekhi Graham returns as Running back. At receiver Matt Gregory and Justin Daubert return. In the Wildcats playoff lost to Garnet Valley Gregory nearly broke the school record for receiving yards in a game. Doug Keck, Gus Smith, and Kyle Miller all return up front.

Defensively the Wildcats have the luxury of returning 10 starters from last season’s team. Lorenzo Saitiro and Brody Mazaelle lead the linebacking core. Daubert and Troy Swittenberg lead the secondary while Keck and Andrew Lehman anchor the defensive line

Methacton Warriors PIAA Classification 5A Head Coach: Eric Ranieri

Last Season Recap: 6-5 Lost to Upper Dublin in First Round of District 1 5A Playoffs

Key Games:9-27at Spring-Ford, 10-11 vs Owen J Roberts, 10-18 vs Perkiomen Valley

2024 Outlook: “We are looking to continue to improve in the win column. We have players that received significant playing time last season. We are looking for those players to help lead the team. We have a number of younger players that we are looking to fill in those spots that were vacated by last year’s seniors.” Eric Ranieri first-year Head Coach said.

Offensively the Warriors return QB Kolby Howarth who will be joined in the backfield by RB Nick Fazio.  Joe Benson returns to receiver. Ryan Brandi returns at TE where Andrew Augustine will also see time. Up front is anchored by returning starters Shane Come and Andrew Keenan. Henri Zeneli and Harry Collins will join them.

Defensively Come (DE) Howarth (FS) Benson (CB) Brandi (DE) Keenan (DL) McFadden (SS) Augustine (LB) Fazio (LB) Collins (DL) and Zeneli (DL) will all play both ways while Alex Shaw returns at LB. Aiden Drozd will be a weapon at kicker for the Warriors

Boyertown Bears PIAA Classification 6A Head Coach: Jami E. Sands

Last Season Recap:3-7

Key Games: 9-20 at Metahacton, 10-4 at Owen J Roberts, 10-18 vs Norristown

2024 Outlook: Jami E. Sands takes over the Bear program. Who looks to rebound after a 3-7 season.

Offensively the Bears return 5 starters, all of them are along the offensive line in Giovanni Panarello (Guard) Austin Bouthilette (Guard), Christian Calautti (Tackle), and Connor Houck (Tight End) Casey Shaak is expected to be the other tackle. Connor Foskey takes over the QB position. Nick Billetta and Michael Boorse are expected to share the carries at running back.

Defensively the Bears only return two starters Michael Palmiero (DT) and Luke Hagan (LB). Tilman Henley is expected to see time in the secondary and also at tight end on offense. Nick Morgan returns as the kicker.

Norristown Eagles PIAA Classification 6A Head Coach Joseph Milligan

Last season Recap:1-9

Key games: 8-30 vs Upper Merion, 10-4 vs Methacton, 10-18 at Boyertown

2024 Outlook: Offensively the 2024 Eagles want to play fast and smart football. They want to control 3^rd to make it manageable. They return eight starters Brendan Farrell (QB), Marzon Carr (RB), Tyler Henry (WR), Remynisce Grate (OL), Jeremy Walk (OL), Chris Coey (OL), and Marcello Pardon.

Defensively, the Eagles want to fly around and have fun hitting their opponents. Carr (LB), Henry(DB), Marcello Pabon, Chris Wilson (DB), and Xavier Blackwell (LB) are all returning starters for the Eagles. Brett Murphy returns as Kicker.

Look for Rashaun Bryd-Williams, Joseph Melonson, and Nasier Minor to all contribute to the Eagles this season.

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