Perkiomen Valley keeping focus on Upper Perkiomen game

If Perkiomen Valley and Spring-Ford avoid upset losses next weekend, the teams will square off for top Pioneer Athletic Conference honors - and a higher seed in the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA playoffs - Nov. 6 in Royersford.

That said, is there a chance the Vikings (7-0 in PAC-10 action) could look past Upper Perkiomen (2-5) and ahead to the Rams (7-0) in a potential winner-take-all showdown?

"I doubt it," Perkiomen Valley senior defensive tackle T.J. Foley said. "It's probably going to be a huge game against Spring-Ford, but we can't look past anybody. We have to focus on the next opponent."

With Foley playing a key role up front, the Vikings' defense has yielded an average of only 7.1 points in league play. The unit's second straight shutout came in Friday's 42-0 romp at Phoenixville.

At 5-foot-9 and 190 pounds, Foley usually battles larger linemen. "He's not the biggest kid in the world, but he shows great technique and has a terrific motor," said Perkiomen Valley coach Scott Reed, whose squad is 8-0 overall.

Before the season, Foley was selected as one of three captains by his teammates. "That was a real humbling experience," the 17-year-old said. "I was at a loss for words when that happened."

Last year, Foley helped the Vikings go 9-2 overall and claim the PAC-10 championship with a 9-0 mark. He posted 101/2 sacks while earning first-team all-league honors.

Foley, of Schwenksville, honed his skills while playing for the Lower Providence Warriors and Perkiomen Valley Middle School-West.

"When I go up against a bigger lineman, I try to use my quickness, stay low, and keep leverage," he said. "And my goal is to go all-out for the entire game."

Foley, a midfielder in lacrosse, is joined up front by fellow tackle Jon Rotonda and nose guard John Tittle. Rafiq Clark-Walker rotates in at tackle.

Other anchors for a 3-5 defense that has allowed only 50 points since a 56-36 nonleague win at Council Rock North are linebackers Ryan Light, Ryan McCourt, Tim Nestor, and Nick Marren; free safety David Williams; and cornerback Justin Jaworski.

Williams and Jaworski are swift playmakers at running back and receiver, respectively, for an offense that averages 48.8 points. Fellow junior Stephen Sturm, a southpaw quarterback, has thrown for 1,867 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Also in the mix are fullback Ronnie Arch and receivers Aaron Morton and Sean Owens. "We have a lot of dynamic playmakers," Foley said.

Foley visited Millersville on Saturday. He plans to major in business and join an ROTC program in college. His father, Tim, served in the Marines.

Extra points. North Penn linebacker Nick Isabella was involved in 10 tackles, with seven solos, in Friday night's 27-20 win against Suburban One League National Conference rival Pennsbury. Doubling at fullback, he carried nine times for 58 yards and a score. Teammates Keith Earle (two), Nick Vasger, Korey Thompson, and Dan Jasinski combined for five sacks. . . . In Haverford School's 31-14 triumph over Malvern Prep in an Inter-Ac League clash Saturday afternoon, the Fords' Dox Aitken (eight catches for 157 yards) and Keyveat Postell (eight for 140) combined for 297 receiving yards and three TDs.

St. Joseph's Prep backup Joe Longo filled in for injured quarterback Kevin Shaw in the second half of the Catholic League Class AAAA game Saturday against Father Judge. With the Hawks down by 13-7 after three quarters, he sparked a 38-13 victory by firing a 61-yard TD pass to Terrence Greene and running for a 9-yard score.

robrien@phillynews.com

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