Zakaa Cooper’s big touchdown late lifts Phoenixville over Upper Merion

Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

Jason Napoli | September 27, 2025

Upper Merion has had a ton of bumps in the road this season, and tonight was one that they just were not able to get over. In their homecoming game, Phoenixville took home the thriller, 28-27. This win was nothing new for the Phantoms, now winning five in a row against the Vikings. Upper Merion left it all out on the field Friday night, an emotional roller coaster for players and fans.

The Vikings started the scoring off in this game. After a few three and outs midway through the opening quarter, Rudolf Wilhelm found Isaiah Robinson on the long ball for the score. This opened up a huge day for Robinson, making plays left and right, on both sides of the ball.

Until the 3;27 mark in the second quarter, Phoenixville had not been able to answer. Michael Venezia took off and ran it in, hopping over the pylon. It was not long after this that the Phantoms would get the ball back, but a crucial Zion Smith interception set Upper Merion up in golden position to take the lead before halftime. As they did just that, Kylee Hill caught a short slant pass from Rudolf Wilhelm for six. Just before the final first half buzzer, Phoenixville had a field goal opportunity, but missed.

This had been a grudge match so far. Neither team was moving the football efficiently, but Upper Merion was winning with the ground and pound offense. Things started the same in the second half with Phoenixville going three and out. After the punt, Isaiah Robinson continued his big day, catching another long ball, but this time with just one hand while maintaining his possession when going to the ground.

From that point on a little game of answers was played. First up, Phoenixville answered Robinson’s touchdown with one of their own. Michael Venezia found Zakaa Cooper across the middle, 21-14. Next was Upper Merion. Kylee Hill caught his second score of the night, on a long ball from Rudolf Wilhelm, 27-14.

The Vikings were up by a two score lead heading into the fourth and final quarter, but it was all Phoenixville. Near the midway point, Phantoms RB Will Illingsworth took one in for his first score of the night, cutting Upper Merion’s lead to just six. Following the touchdown, after a few big third down conversions, the Vikings were left empty and put the ball back into Venezia’s hands with two minutes to go.

This final offensive possession for Phoenixville felt like it could have taken years off of some of our lives. After a ton of penalties, injuries and other time stalling incidents, Zakaa Cooper slipped a tackle and just like that put his team ahead, 28-7 with 30 seconds to go. Upper Merion was able to do nothing with the short amount of time, and the Phantoms celebrated their comeback victory in such fashion.

“I’m extremely proud of our boys, we fought hard this game. That last defensive series, we were holding pretty well. We knew they were going to try to start striking deep, try and get behind our defenders, we got in a cover four, tried to keep everything in front of us and one of our defenders tried to make a play. That’s football though. Did we want to be on the other side of it? Absolutely” said Upper Merion head coach Marquis Weeks postgame.

The Vikings stay on the road for week 7. They will travel to Upper Perkiomen and face the Indians.

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