Plymouth Whitemarsh Outlasts Upper Merion in a Season Opening Duel
Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News
Matt Licwinko | August 26, 2023
Plymouth Whitemarsh and Upper Merion began their seasons tonight in an unexpected dog fight that showed both promise and concerns for both teams as we start the 2023-24 year.
The Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials are beginning a year in which they hope to three-peat as SOL Liberty Division champions, and although this game was not in conference, it certainly gave us a good look at what their conference rivals should expect moving on into the year. Despite losing multiple key pieces to a heavy rushing attack, the Colonials and head coach Dan Chang clearly are going to stick with the option offense throughout the season. Senior starting QB #2 Anthony Iannozzi threw just five passes in his starting debut. The theme of the game would take shape very quickly in the first quarter: Turnovers and flags. PW’s opening possesion of the year ended with an interception which was then followed by an Upper Merion offensive try which was turned over on downs. On the ensuing possession PW would be gifted to its first 2023 touchdown by the legs of Senior WR #1 Nazye Boggs who took it 46 yards to the house.
The Vikings would start the second quarter with a strong showing of how efficient their offense can be when it’s clicking all at once. Boosted by a 15 yard penalty they closed in on the end zone before a fumble stalled their drive out at the 33 yard line and they had to attempt a 43 yard field goal which ran wide left. However the missed kick would end up benefiting Upper Merion after a PW three and out led to a muffed punt which was recovered at the nine yard line. But a resilient PW defense that has only seemed to grow from last year forced a clean interception by #1 Nazye Boggs that saved them from feeling the pain of sloppy turnovers. On their try to extend the lead, PW found great movement despite another penalty and #2 Iannozzi found #3 Everett Baker for a big gain which set up All Conference RB #8 Luke Winterbottom to score the easy touchdown from the two yard line. Despite the growing deficit, Upper Merion stayed resilient and pressed PW’s secondary with a huge air gain of 31 yards by Senior QB #13 who then scrambled through multiple defenders to find the end zone for his teams first score of the year.
Upper Merion would lose a chance to tie the game after a muffed snap cost them a drive. The ensuing PW drive would show us what they are really capable of doing this year. All four of #2 Iannozzi, #1 Boggs, #8 Winterbottom, and #3 Baker would get at least a carry as the PW rushing offense plowed downfield and into an inevitable score to open the game up. PW looked like it had the Vikings wrapped up after both a penalty and fumble during their next drive, but a 40 yard rush by #4 Robinson completely flipped a switch for Upper Merion, who would score on the very next play. An absolute disaster of a drive from the Colonials included a false start followed by a 20 yard loss on a fumbled that was kicked around, then on the first play of the fourth quarter #22 ran the punt back for an electric score that got the crowd, and Upper Merion, right back into the game.
The Colonials wouldn’t help themselves on the next drive as #8 Luke Winterbottom coughed up the ball and Upper Merion fell on it. Luckily for PW, another nice play in the secondary by #1 Boggs would force UM to turn it over on downs once again. Plymouth Whitemarsh would begin to work the clock in the way they are so used to doing before facing a huge fourth down in Upper Merion territory. However, the Colonialsd opted to go for it as opposed to attempting a field goal, #2 Iannozzi was stopped on a QB keeper and the Vikings again had life. But, on the very next play, Jr LB #7 Kevin Hegarty would tip the pass and So #25 Andrew Iannozzi would pick it off to give the Colonials hope that they could close it out on the following possession. The hope was short lived as PW would take a penalty before giving up yet another fumble. Following the roller coaster of plays, Upper Merion would elect to punt in hopes of forcing a PW turnover or punt of their own. This would not go to plan, as Iannozzi and Boggs both rushed for firsts downs and PW closed out a tough but rewarding first win of the year.
Both of these teams showed us what they are capable of this year. Upper Merion looks improved offensively with a strong balance between stud skill position players. Defensively, they are solid but not in the upper tier of high school defenses just yet. Plymouth Whitemarsh very clearly told us that despite missing key parts to last years squad, the game plan and mentality are the same, and the SOL may need to keep them on watch or they could cruise to their three-peat. On the defensive side of the ball they look well spread out talent wise. The secondary looks to be better this year while the d line may need to step up. Regardless, two glaring problems remain, turnovers and penalties, but both teams are very capable of righting those wrongs and improving even more. Next week Upper Merion will bring Norristown into their home field, while PW will stay on the road for another tough test vs Methacton.
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