The Panthers take the field tomorrow in the PIAA State Semi-Final against Imhotep Charter
Tonight at 7 p.m. the 14-0 Saucon Valley Panthers will face off against the Imhotep Charter Panthers at Liberty’s Bethlehem Area School District Stadium in the 2015 semifinal of the PIAA state football tournament. Imhotep, out of the Philadelphia Public League, is the undefeated 14-0 District XII champion. TEP defeated Archbishop Wood 20-14 last week in the quarterfinal round of the state tournament. Saucon Valley advanced with a mercy-rule win over the Selinsgrove Seals. With another win, Saucon Valley will advance to the state finals in Hershey against the Bishop McDevitt-Erie Cathedral Prep winner. A loss brings the dream to an end.
Things Worth Watching:
Saucon Valley Panthers
When the Panthers have the ball…
Offensively, the Panthers average 44 points per game and will look to feed Evan Culver who is seemingly running better than ever. Culver finished with 202 yards and 3 touchdowns on 24 carries last week in a solid performance against a physical Selinsgrove defense. For the season Culver’s numbers are 273 carries, 2,861 yards and 46 touchdowns. Zach Thatcher also had a good night running for 100 yards on 9 carries last week. Thatcher was also 4 of 7 for 50 yards and a touchdown. For the season, Thatcher is credited with having a hand in 29 touchdowns with 1,121 yards rushing and 1,110 yards passing.
The Hogs (Steven Good, Christian Carvis, Ryan Meyers, Trey Polak and Cody Zrinski) are having an outstanding season and are credited with paving the way for the big numbers obtained by Culver and Thatcher. They will be faced with perhaps their biggest challenge of the year. TEP’s defensive front is big and fast.
Imhotep runs a base 4-4 defense that will often look like a 4-3 based on Saucon’s formations. The defense is led by some big name players including defensive end Shaka Toney (#7) who is committed to Penn State and inside linebacker Naseir Upshur (#9) who is currently committed to Florida State. Toney is listed at 6’4″, 219 while Upshur is 6’4″, 236. The entire defense plays very fast and closes holes quickly. They appear to like bringing pressure up the middle with Upshur and “spilling” the run to their speed outside.
Once again, Culver and Thatcher don’t need much to get going, but Imhotep doesn’t give very much either. Imhotep has only given up 68 points in 14 games and has 8 shutouts. This may be the biggest and fastest unit Saucon has faced. The Hogs and their teammates will certainly be challenged.
If TEP is successful limiting the Panther run game, Thatcher has a talented trio of receivers to target. Nate Harka, Mike Kane and Alstan Wolfe all hover around 20-yards per catch. They are proven playmakers who have reliable hands. Kane and Harka are currently tied for a school-record 16 touchdowns each. If Saucon experiences any run-game struggles, Thatcher and the Panther receivers will have to come up big.
When TEP has the ball…
Imhotep Charter Panthers
Imhotep has their own version of the Hogs. In fact, their Hogs are much bigger than ours. Leading the way to the buffet is senior guard Johncarlo Valentin (#57) at 6’5″, 338. His classmate Yasir Durant (#70) is listed at 6’7″, 328. Sophomore Justin Johnson (#74) checks in at 6’7″, 324. Senior Jahmir Johnson (#58) measures 6’5″, 272 while the runt of the litter is junior center Brashon McRae at 6’2″, 257. It would be safe to wager that this group is amongst the biggest offensive line units in the nation.
In addition to their size, TEP also has speed. Expect to see Mike Waters (#25) hauling the pigskin out of the backfield for Imhotep. He is listed at 5’10”, 190. As a backup to injured Tyliek Raynor, who evidently broke his ankle last week, Waters has rushed for over 1,000 yards. Junior Nasir Boykin (#2) is a dual threat quarterback with speed as well. Boykin, a junior, is listed at 6’1″, 184.
TEP has shown multiple looks from a standard “twins” set to a variety of spread looks. They will likely first try to establish the run behind their mammoth offensive line that likes to run “power” and “counter.” When they run “power,” it is typically with 338 pounds pulling and leading through the hole. When it is “counter” you will see about 650 pounds leading the way. TEP also has the speed outside to stretch the field and run a variety of quick “bubble” and “rocket” screen passes. TEP has hurt their opponents splitting their tight end, Naseir Upshur, out wide and letting Boykin throw the deep fade. The Imhotep Charter Panthers like to pound the ball, but can also make plays with their passing game horizontally and vertically.
The Saucon Valley Panthers enter tonight’s game as a heavy underdog. TEP is an all-star team of Division I recruits. They have size, power, speed and talent. It is going to be the biggest challenge of the 2015 season for Saucon to overcome. It is going to bloody. It is going to be a grind. It is going to be difficult.
But, to quote and play on the words of Thomas Paine…
(Imhotep Charter), “… like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”
Not many people outside of the Saucon Valley area are giving our boys much of a chance. On paper, Imhotep Charter’s semblance of a high school football program is just too well-constructed to overcome. The task is too tall against this stacked deck. But, what Imhotep does not have, that may be the difference-maker for Saucon Valley, is an authentic sense of homegrown brotherhood and family. A sense of organic community that runs deep through the core of our players. An inner-belief and confidence that could subconsciously carry the day. These boys have a long-developed bond and brotherhood that is very deeply rooted. Through familiarity they love each other and will compete to the end for each other.
Whether it will be enough to overcome what Imhotep brings is, of course, questionable at this point. But what’s certain is that these Saucon Valley Panthers will not be intimidated and will battle for 48 minutes. Longer, if necessary. If Imhotep swaggers their way into Bethlehem thinking that their reputation deserves deference, they will be in for a rude awakening.
The Saucon Valley Panthers may go down tonight in the face of this contrived, manufactured opponent. Win or lose, Saucon Valley has already proven themselves to be champions. These champions, however, will not give anything away. Saucon will come out swinging from the start. These Saucon Valley Panthers will compete against anybody. Make no mistake about it, they are in this to win it.
Good Luck Panthers! The Source and this entire community are with you!
