BOYERTOWNS VICTORY OVER UPPER PERKIOMEN SOMETHING SPECIAL

BY DAVE KUTCH READING EAGLE

BOYERTOWN PA 9/6/1985

Boyertown coach don Grim found a most profitable way to spend much of one of this week’s steamy practice sessions. 

“We started working on our special teams this week,” Grim said after his Bears overcame a slow start to defeat visiting Upper Perkiomen 21-7 in Fridays opener for both schools. 

“We worked on special teams the last three or four days,” Grim said.  “We spent about 40 minutes on it at one practice.  It was so hot that we couldn’t do much else.” 

“We try to tell the players how important special teams are.  This should make believers of them.”

The time spent on special teams – particularly the punt rushing team—paid dividends.  Two blocked punts proved crucial in the Bears victory. 

The first provided a 14-7 lead late in the second quarter. 

The center snap from the 36 sailed high over punter Bruce Blank’s head.  Blank recovered at the 5 and attempted to punt.  Andy Edsall more than atoned for his earlier roughing penalty by blocking the punt.  Joe Dobry recovered deep in the end zone for a touchdown and the Bears first lead. 

The second blocked punt came in the third period and set up the Bears final score. 

After Dobry blocked a punt at the 18, the Bears stalled on downs at the 5.  Dobry was perfect on a 22 yard field goal, but Grim elected to take the points off the board when a roughing penalty provided a first down at the 3.  On third down, Mackey went the final yard for a 21-7 lead with 5:40 left in the period. 

“The penalty gave us the ball at the 3,” Grim said.  “I wanted to try for it (touchdown) for three plays.  If we didn’t get it in, it would just be an extra point for Joe to get the field goal.   I had to give it a try.  We’re trying to build confidence in a young team.”  

The Bears gave themselves a confidence booster with a goal line stand just before halftime. 

With Boyertown holding a 14-7 lead, the Pirates took over at their 37 following Mike Mckinlays 22 yard kickoff return.  Despite a clipping penalty, Upper Perkiomen managed first downs at the 50 and the 37.  Chris Heater then passed 31 yards to Carl Clevenstine, Eric Irey making a saving tackle at the 6. 

After two runs netted 1 yard the Pirates were set back 5 for illegal motion.  Two incomplete passes gave Boyertown the ball on downs. 

“Keeping them off the board before halftime was a big factor,” Grim said.  “It was a confidence builder. 

Boyertown dodged a bullet on the Indians opening possession – or more precisely, 6-4 senior Indian tight end Clevestine dropped one.  On third down from the Boyertown 28, Heater threw a strike to wide open Clevenstine.  Clevenstine, who would catch six passes for 148 yards, let the ball pass through his hands. 

The Indians scored on their next possession driving 69 yards in nine plays following a punt.  The drive was helped early when Edsall was penalized for roughing the punter. 

After the first down at the Bears 45, Heater passed to Clevenstine.  Clevenstine  fumbled the ball when tackled by Brian Musselman inside the 10, but teammate Kelly Adamitis recovered the at the 3.  On third down, Steve Youtzy dived the final yard.  Blank added the placement for a 7-0 lead with 30 seconds left in the first quarter. 

Three plays later, the Pirates were threatening again after recovering a fumble at the Boyertown 44.  With the aid of a holding penalty, Boyertown stalled the Indians on downs at the 40. 

The Bears used six plays to tie the score.  Chris Mackey passed the final 36 yards to Musselman who gathered the ball in at the 20 after a defender had tipped it.  Dobry hit the first of his three placements. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPPER PERKIOMEN                        7              0              0              0              --             7             

BOYERTOWN                                     0              14           7              0              --             21

 

SCORING             UP          YOUTZY 1 YARD RUN (BLANK KICK)

                                BOY        MUSSELMAN 36 YARD PASS FROM MACKEY (DOBRY KICK)

                                BOY        DOBRY RECOVERED BLOCKED PUNT IN THE END ZONE (DOBRY KICK)

                                BOY        MACKEY 1 YARD RUN (DOBRY KICK)

 

RUSHING: UPPER PERKIOMEN: YOUTZY 7-38, BITTENBENDER 9-28, ADAMITUS 7-31, ROSSITER 3-11,

                                                         SPRINGER 3-5, HEATER 2-(-13)

                   BOYERTOWN: MINZOLA 15-88, IREY 14-64, MACKEY 3-10, DOBRY 5-6, EDSALL 2-(-1),

                                             GRIM 1-(-10)

 

RECEIVING: UPPER PERKIOMEN: CLEVENSTINE 6-148, YOUTZY 1-10, BLANK 1-8

                      BOYERTOWN: MUSSELMAN 1-36, BIGLER 1-7, IREY 1-(-1)

 

PASSING: UPPER PERKIOMEN  HEATER 7-21-135 YARDS- 2 INTERCEPTIONS, 

                                                       ADAMITIS 1-1-31 YARDS-0 INTERCEPTIONS

                   BOYERTOWN: MACKEY 3-9-42 YARDS

 

 

 

 

 

 

STATISTICS                                                          UP                          BOY

FIRST DOWNS                                                    12                           13

RUSHING YARDAGE                                        31-100                   41-157

PASSING YARDAGE                                         166                         42

TOTAL YARDAGE                                              268                         199

PASSES                                                                                 8-22-2                   3-9-0

FUMBLES LOST                                                  3-1                          4-2

PUNTS                                                                  2-(-25)                  3-37

PENALTIES                                                          8-61                       6-60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PATRIOTS GET PHYSICAL IN WIN OVER THE BEARS

BY DAVE KUTCH READING PA

FRAZER PA 9/13/1985

For years, Boyertown has been the most physical team in the Ches Mont Football League.  Friday night Great Valley proved to be even more physical. 

The Patriots stymied the Bears traditional ball control game and put on two sustained drives in winning its league opener 13-3 under portable lights.

“We didn’t execute well,’ said Boyertown coach Don Grim.  “They played with more intensity than we did.  It came down to mental attitude.  We have a real young, inexperienced team – especially the offensive line. 

“Sometimes a loss like this makes you mature quicker than a win.”

One factor was that Boyertown (1-1 overall) was playing without a three year starter Eric Irey at tailback.  Irey, a powerful, punishing runner, suffered a severe knee bruise in last week’s victory over Upper Perkiomen. 

“Irey got hit by a helmet on his kneecap last week,” Grim said.  “He wasn’t able to bend the knee until Thursday.  We’re hoping to have him back for Owen J Roberts next week.”

The tailback position was filled by a pair of finesse runners – Andy Edsall and Mark Minzola.  Although Minzola had looked impressive in the opener, Edsall had the better week at practice and started.  Displaying good ability to cut back against the grain, Edsall led the Bears with 73 yards on 15 carries. 

Boyertown’s only threat of the first half came on its first possession. 

After a short punt return to the Great Valley 46, the Bears moved to the 10 in six plays.  The big gainer was Edsall’s 23 yard run off left tackle for the Bears only first down of the half – at the 16. 

When three plays netted 6 yards, the Bears settled for a 27 yard field goal by Joe Dobry for a 3-0 lead with 5:22 left in the first period. 

That held up until the final minute of the half. 

Great Valley (1-0-1 overall) took possession following a punt and moved 64 yards in 10 plays to score with 29 seconds left.  T.J. Tuscai passed 17 yards to Ralph Heister for the score.  Tuscai passed 17 yards to Ralph Heister for the score.  Tuscai had kept the drive alive with a sneak on a fourth and inches at the 40 with 1:30 remaining.  A screen pass for the conversion was incomplete. 

Boyertown showed signs of offensive life at the start of the second half.  Brian Musselman returned the kickoff 39 yards to the Great Valley 48.  The Bears strung together two first downs before stalling at the 22. 

The Patriots immediately put on another long drive for their second touchdown.  Tuscai completed third down passes to Heister for 13 yards and to Keith Carter for 32 to keep the drive going.  Musselman made a saving tackle of carter at the 11 on the latter play. 

Four plays later, Tuscai went the final yard.  Chris Pinto, a recruit from the soccer team, kicked the placement with 3:48 left in the third period. 

Moments later, Tuscai’s interception gave the Patriots possession at the Boyertown 22.  But the Bears Mark Moyer intercepted a second down pass in the end zone that killed the threat.    

The Patriots drove to the 5 in the fourth quarter, but Tuscai fumbled, and Boyertown’s Dennis Archambault recovered in the end zone. 

“Without that fumble, our fourth quarter was good offensively,” said Great Valley coach Ben Crisi.  “Penalties helped stop us earlier.  We must improve on sustaining drives to compete in the Ches Mont.”

“Our kids don’t come off the field at all.  Sometimes they don’t go to full throttle on offense because of the extra duties.”

Boyertown replaced Chris Mackey with Keith Grim at quarterback on its final possession.  Grim completed 6 of 9 passes for 38 yards in moving Boyertown to the Patriots 34 before the drive stalled.