BOYERTOWN - There was a lot to talk about on the bright side, from Phoenixville's standpoint, following Friday night's 33-0 victory over Boyertown at Memorial Stadium.

 

The Phantoms played a sparkling football game in all facets of the Pioneer Athletic Conference whitewash of the host Bears to spoil their Homecoming evening.

 

Senior quarterback Chris Demey engineered an offense that churned out 369 yards of total offense, including 277 yards rushing, as Phoenixville built a 20-0 halftime lead and rolled from there on out. And on the side of the field, Phoenixville recorded its first shutout of the season.

 

The Phantoms, who faced a must-win situation while sitting on the bubble of the District 1-AAA playoff picture, raised their record to 3-2 in the PAC-10 (4-3 overall) while dropping the Bears to 1-5 (1-6 overall)

 

'It was great,' said Demey. 'Our defense really stepped up, and our offense really pushed the whole game. The first quarter really helped.'

 

The Phantoms received the opening kickoff and drove 62 yards in eight plays with Justin McDougal scoring the touchdown on a three-yard run with 8:26 to go in the first quarter. Ian Harrigan added the placement for a quick 7-0 lead. And before the first quarter ended, Demey found Cole Luzins on a 15-yard scoring pass for the second TD to cap a 65-yard drive in 10 plays that gave Phoenixville a 14-0 lead.

 

When it was over, Demey completed 7 of 14 passes for 92 yards and one TD. He also rushed for 27 yards on three carries as Phantom blockers paved the way for 20 first downs.

 

Ryan Yenchick scored on runs of three and 54 yards, and Brian Madden added a four-yard TD run for the final score. Yenchick ended the night with 114 yards rushing on 16 carries, while Sean Hesser netted 69 yards on 11 attempts, and McDougal totaled 58 yards on 14 tries.

 

Demey has steadily improved his performance from week to week in his first season as a varsity starting quarterback.

 

'Definitely from game one to now, I've progressed,' said Demey. 'I feel comfortable in the pocket and I stick in there. I have been making some throws that have been good.'

 

Tight end Ryan Pannella - who is also the leader of Phoenixville's defense from his inside linebacker post - caught two more passes for 49 yards. Luzins had three receptions for 37, and Yenchick had a pair of grabs out of the backfield.

 

'We try to keep the defense off balance,' said Demey. 'I am happy with all three of those kids. They catch the ball. They make big catches every game. Without them, it wouldn't be the same.'

 

Boyertown linebacker Brock Johnson had the lone interception of the night on a deflection in the second quarter. Phoenixville linebacker Zack Gallow had the lone sack of the game. Hesser recovered a fumble for the Phantoms.

The Bears stuck to their ground game that amassed 224 yards on the running of Matt Moccia (13 carries for 80 yards), Cody Richmond (14-69) and Eric Heller (12-53) as well as quarterback Griffin Pasik (8-22). Pasik also completed 5 of 14 throws for 46 yards. The Bears advanced the chains 15 times for first downs.

 

Demey talked about the Phantoms' own potent ground game that has allowed his passing to diversify the offense and be that much more effective.

 

'Our line has been stepping up,' said Demey. 'We are averaging over 200 yards rushing a game. All the backs have done well, and that takes the pressure off me when they gain 10 yards at a time.'

 

Phoenixville coach Bill Furlong was pleased with his ballclub's showing.

 

'It was a good, complete game,' said Furlong. 'We hadn't really done that. We would get a couple good quarters and halves, so it was good to put together a complete game.

 

'We mixed it up. They (Bears) were being really aggressive defensively to take things away. It was a group effort. We were loose. We play well when we relax. We always play better when we are not tight.'