Indians very familiar with Garnet Valley

by Don Seeley, Pottstown Mercury Sports Editor

Posted on November 10, 2006

GLEN MILLS -- Keith Leamer didn't waste any time getting some game films of Garnet Valley and glimpse at his Upper Perkiomen football team's opponent for tonight's opening round of the District 1-Class AAA playoffs.

But when the projector stopped rolling, Leamer must have thought he was looking into a mirror the whole time.

Yep, Garnet Valley sure does look a whole lot like Upper Perkiomen.

"Actually, it did look a lot like I was looking into a mirror," Leamer admitted.

Garnet Valley (8-1 overall) features a very dangerous quarterback in Matt McHugh, a very reliable receiver in Paul Skulski, a couple of unsung running backs in Jared Bonacquisti and Greg Davis, and some hunks up front like Jon Deardorff (6-3, 245) and John Murray (6-3, 240). Sounds almost like Upper Perkiomen (8-2 overall) with quarterback Sean Nevin, wideout Kellen Jarrett, running backs Colin Lepore and Shawn Wenhold, and hunks up front like John Fieger (6-6, 285) and Matt Fody (6-0, 240).

And, very much like the Indians, the Jaguars line up in a variety of offensive sets, determined to run the football but at no time afraid to put it up top.

"They have a real nice quarterback, a tremendous receiver, some good backs and those big kids up front," Leamer said. "The quarterback is scary ..he's that good.

"They run a lot of misdirection in the backfield. They'll run the wishbone with double-tights (ends). They'll go shotgun with double-wings."

McHugh, much like Nevin, is the focal point of the offense. He has run for 580 yards and 10 touchdowns and hit on 70 of 130 attempts for 1,141 yards and 14 more touchdowns. When he does throw, he likes to find Skulski, who has 29 catches for 580 yards and four scores.

But head coach Mike Ricci hasn't lost sight of the run, either, with Bonacquisti (577 yards), Davis (518) or fullback Jerry Razzano (278) all capable of carrying the load.

Overall, Garnet Valley averages 373 yards.

"We have to be disciplined," Leamer said. "We have to play responsible football. We know they want to run the football, but we also know they can definitely throw, too."

Leamer hopes to counter with a defense coordinator Tom Paul's gang of Tom Oelschlager, Shawn Christy and Dane Kress rotating at the ends; Dan Jones (6-4, 265) and Matt Cleaver at the tackles; Jawad Majeed at nose; the tandem of Cody Fleming and Chris Walker in the linebacking slots; and a very proficient secondary of Justin Kresge, E.J. Stroman, Jarrett and Nevin.

Garnet Valley will find a similar challenge in stopping the Indians when they have the football, too.

Up front, Upper Perkiomen goes with Tyler Hild at center; twins Tom and John Artim at the guards; Fieger and Foley at the tackles; and the threesome of Kress, Jones and Walker rotating at tight end.

Behind that group, Nevin has run for 543 yards and a team-high 15 touchdowns, but is just as proficient throwing it, evidenced by his 1,250 yards and eight scores. Jarrett is among the entire district's leading receivers with 62 catches for 783 yards and all but one of Nevin's touchdowns. And the pesky Lepore (909 yards) and swift Wenhold (nearly eight yards a carry) are enough to keep linebacker Kevin Conrad and the rest of the Jaguar defense honest.

"We've been blessed all year in that we can run, and we can throw," Leamer said. "So we're going to have to run, get into our play-action in hopes of isolating Jarrett. But we can't make mistakes and get into those second- and third-and-long situations, either."

Even more important, the Indians can't step onto the field with any hangover from last week's loss to Perkiomen Valley.

"They realized what they lost, but we told them right after that game that every goal we set in the beginning of the year is still there," Leamer explained. "We still have the opportunity to win our league (on Thanksgiving against Boyertown), still have the opportunity to win districts, and still have the opportunity to go to states. It's all still attainable."

Especially when considering after their first loss the Indians regrouped and strung together five straight wins.

NOTES

Murray has committed to Division I-AA New Hampshire. Skulski has five interceptions in Garnet Valley's secondary. ..The Jaguars' lone loss was a 29-28 setback to No.4 seed Unionville four weeks ago. ..Tonight's game is the first meeting between the two schools.

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