After a couple of playoff games in which the Panthers have rolled to relatively lopsided victories, this Friday the Saucon Valley football team will face off against a team who may prove to be their fiercest opponent yet.
Imhotep Charter is an inner city Philadelphia team that is undefeated (13-0), just like Saucon Valley (14-0). And just like Saucon Valley, “Tep’s” mascot is the Panther; but some might say the similarities between the two teams end there.
According to a description of the school posted on its website:
Imhotep Institute Charter High School is an African Centered science, mathematics and technology learning community whose mission is to provide a standards driven, high quality educational program for urban learners grounded in the African Principles of MA’AT and the seven principles of the Nguzo Saba. Imhotep aims to nurture lifelong learners who are valuable members of the world community.
Here are some key facts about Imhotep Charter, whose playing style and athletic prowess Panther head coach Matt Evancho and the rest of the Saucon football coaching staff, players and team supporters are no doubt now carefully analyzing.
Tep–an undeniably physically imposing team–is now the only obstacle between Saucon Valley and the entire community’s dream of a first for the district’s football program: playing in a state championship game.
Friday’s highly anticipated PIAA state championship AAA semifinal showdown will determine whose dream comes true with a trip to Hershey the week before Christmas: Tep’s or Saucon’s.
It will begin at 7 p.m. at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium (Liberty High School), where a large crowd of hometown supporters is expected to assemble for the big game.
7 THINGS TO KNOW
- Imhotep Charter advanced to the PIAA AAA semifinals round by beating Academy Park 46-16 at Plymouth-Whitemarsh Dec. 4.
- IC is hoping to become the first Philadelphia Public League team to win a PIAA state football championship (source: CBS Philly, “Imhotep Charter Football Team Looking to Make History”).
- MaxPreps.com has Imhotep Charter ranked at #5 in the state football rankings, while Saucon Valley is ranked #7 overall (Parkland is ranked #1). The website ranks Tep #1 and Saucon Valley #2 among AAA teams.
- Tep Quarterback Nasir Boykin (#2) averages 177.3 passing yards per game to Saucon QB Zach Thatcher’s (#7) 79.3 yards (source: MaxPreps).
- Imhotep Charter averages 198.3 rushing yards per game compared to Saucon’s 385.5 yards per game (source: MaxPreps).
- Tep has six players who weigh more than 300 pounds on its current roster, with the biggest team member tipping the scales at 368 pounds. Saucon Valley’s biggest player is 6’4″, 300-pound junior defensive tackle Cody Zrinski, who’s a member of the teams “Hogs.”
- Imhotep Charter has a couple high-profile recruits who are already committed to playing big league college football. Shaka Toney is committed to Penn State and Naseir Upshur is committed to Florida State.
For more information about the Imhotep Charter football team, check out their homepage on MaxPreps.com and see two recent articles about the team published by CBS Philly (Channel 3) and Philly.com.
