For all its success this fall, one thing eluded Perkiomen Valley until Friday night: a shutout.
Check that accomplishment off the Vikings’ list after its wire-to-wire 38-0 victory over host Boyertown.
By reaching 4-0 in the Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division, Perk Valley locked up a place in the PAC championship game on Oct. 29. (PV holds the head-to-head tiebreaker on one-loss Spring-Ford and Owen J. Roberts with one game to play).
The Vikings wielded their big-play ability and a physicality on defense that carried them to their first shutout of the year after allowing OJR a single score a week ago in a 49-7 win.
“That was our first one,” said senior linebacker Gage Young. “It was really exciting. I thought there was a chance we would let it go in the last quarter but the secondary pulled through. We came out really strong in the first half and were strong through the first three quarters.
“We were getting teased a little bit about it. But it was a good one tonight to make sure that goose egg stayed up there on the scoreboard.”
The big plays came from the connection between senior quarterback Ethan Kohler (11-for-17, 187 yards, three TDs, one interception) and wide receiver Dawson Debebe. Debebe caught three passes for 116 yards, all of the scoring variety, going for 32, 36 and 48 yards in the first half.
Junior Ryan Klimek rushed just three times but two went for touchdowns, a 22-yarder to open the scoring before his 41-yard carry early in the third quarter enacted the running clock up 35-0.
Klimek kicked a 31-yard field goal to round out the scoring.
“The offense executed well all night,” said Debebe. “Even when we put in the second string it was next guy up and everyone was ready to go. We’re on a roll now.”
The PAC’s No. 1 receiver only added to his placement with his three scores, upping his season total to eight.
“Every play we need to get where we need to be and trust Ethan will find us,” Debebe said. “Once we get the ball in our hands it’s about making our guy miss and get to the end zone.”
Boyertown head coach TJ Miller lamented the lack of a pass rush that put his young secondary in peril.
“We couldn’t get much of a pass rush at all,” Miller said. “When you let a guy like Ethan Kohler have time to throw … Our secondary tonight included three sophomores (Jason Oakes, Anthony Famularo, Cade Sennott) and hats off to them, they fought like hell.”
Perk Valley outgained Boyertown 410-119 as the Bears were unable to gain any traction a week after putting up 42 points on Methacton.
“They were able to control both lines of scrimmage and that hurt,” Miller said. “It doesn’t matter what offense you run, that’s going to hurt you on both sides. … We weren’t able to get traction.”
Running back Leo Egbe had 47 yards on 13 carries while QB Anthony Panarello was 9-for-13 for 71 yards and an interception.
Boyertown (1-3, 3-5) did force two first-half turnovers, a fumble recovered by Gavin Chamberlain and an interception by Roman Marinello. But PV answered Marinello’s pick with one of its own by Luke Ricci on the next play.
Brad Curci and Jake Beaudoin had sacks for Perk Valley.
While the Vikings, No. 7 in the District 1 Class 6A rankings, are closer to their goal of reclaiming a PAC championship they last won in 2018, they’re staying in the moment.
“We’re taking it week by week and letting the chips fall where they fall,” Debebe said.
The Bears, sitting at No. 20 in District 1 Class 6A, likely don’t have a district postseason in the future, but there’s a great deal to play for, according to Miller.
“I love this team,” he said. “I just met with our seniors and this is one of the best classes we’ve had in terms of leadership. We’re going to be OK. We still have things to play for. For us there is having a .500 or better record and we’re in the Eastern Conference and there is an opportunity where we could play a Week 11 game for a championship. We have a lot to play for. We’re not done yet.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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