Sports

Pottsgrove Rumbles Over Upper Perk

Written by Jake Hallman, Staff Writer Wednesday, 04 November 2009 11:00

Ronnie Gillespie turns to avoid being tackled by a Falcons defensive player. Gillespie caught three passes in the game and turned one into a touchdown.

It was a game Upper Perkiomen’s players, as well as its fans, circled on their calendars the day Pioneer Athletic Conference football schedules were released.

Long before the Indians took to the field for their first practice, scrimmage or game, last Friday night’s contest at Pottsgrove represented one of the Tribe’s biggest tests of the season.

The Falcons, who before any practice, scrimmage or game were tabbed as the favorites to run through the PAC-10, have so far lived up to all of the hype. And Upper Perk, who by the eighth week of the season know all about Pottsgrove’s big weapons, knew full a match-up against an unbeaten would be as good a measuring stick as there is heading into the District 1-AAA playoff picture.

As it turned out, the Falcons did pull away for a 62-20 victory in Lower Pottsgrove, and yes, Upper Perk did learn a few things along the way.

For starters, the defense did limit Pottsgrove tailback Maika Polamalu to just 11 yards on eight carries. And that unit did keep quarterback Terrell Chestnut in check to a point, but the Tribe (4-3, 6-3) had no answer for Kayvon Greene. The junior rushed just eight times but ran for 136 yards and three touchdowns.

Upper Perk, meanwhile, racked up just 206 yards of total offense – thanks to a stingy Falcons defense – but got a solid nine carries for 94 yards and a score from senior tailback Esomchim Akpunonu. Chase Fleming lugged the ball 12 times for 62 yards at fullback and junior quarterback Casey Perlstein was 4 of 16 for 49 yards and two touchdowns.

Ronnie Gillespie pulled in three of those passes, one going for a 17-yard touchdown, as Fleming hauled in a 9-yard offering earlier in the game that went the distance.

Lady Indians One Win Away from Playing in State Tournament

Written by Eric Boehm, Correspondent Wednesday, 04 November 2009 10:54

UPHS Hockey

Upper Perk's Audrey Malloy prepares to take a shot on goal as her teammates surround her, assisting in the effort in last Thursday nights District One playoff game against Phoenixville. Malloy scored twice as Upper Perk's offense powered the Tribe to a 5-0 win.

In the district playoffs, perhaps more than any other time, just a few minutes of sloppy play can cost dearly.

That’s a lesson that the Upper Perkiomen field hockey team learned the hard way.

After overcoming a slow start to down Phoenixville in the District One quarterfinals on Thursday evening, Upper Perk stumbled out of the gate again on Tuesday, gave up two early goals, and never recovered in a 2-0 semifinal loss to Sacred Heart Academy.

The defeat means that Upper Perk, the number three seed in the district, will have to win the consolation match on Friday to grab the third and final berth in the state playoffs from District One. The Tribe will meet Springfield-Montco, but the location and time of the game had not yet been determined at press time.

On Tuesday, Kerri Crumlish scored twice within the first ten minutes of the match, and Upper Perk was unable to crack Sacred Heart’s defensive shell for the rest of the afternoon.

“We weren’t really ready for them at the beginning of the game, and they came out really well,” said senior Rebecca Connor.

The Tribe dominated the game after halftime, but despite earning seven penalty corners in the second half, they managed only two shots on goal.

Sacred Heart goalkeeper Taylor Brady made three saves to earn the shutout, but most of the work was done by the players in front of her, who blocked shots, intercepted passes, and generally disrupted Upper Perk’s offensive attack throughout the game.

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