UPPER PROVIDENCE >> Some people are never satisfied.
Luckily, Pope John Paul II’s football team is right at the top of that list.
The Golden Panthers became the first Frontier Division school to win a PAC championship in football last season and topped that accomplishment with a District 1 Class 4A title. Asking the 2024 squad to duplicate those accomplishments was an overly demanding expectation – to everyone but the players.
“Our key is to just keep the 1-0 mentality,” said two-way lineman Chase Frantz after a decisive 49-7 victory over Springfield Township gave PJP II its second consecutive District 1-4A championship. “When you go 1-0 every week, the bigger goals take care of themselves.
Dylan Skarbek ran for 161 yards and four touchdowns, while Braden Reed caught and threw a touchdown pass as the Golden Panthers took a game tied at 7 after one quarter and dominated the final 36 minutes.
It’s a second consecutive double for PJP, who repeated as PAC champions two weeks ago with a 28-19 victory against Perkiomen Valley.
“Last year’s seniors built us a legacy,” said Frantz, “and our job was to uphold what they started. It’s a big thing – at the start of the year, we did look forward a bit, and to go back-to-back in the PAC and Districts is a great feeling.
But this year’s team was different. Losing multiple all-state level performers to graduation left a number of positions unsettled coming into the campaign, particularly in the offensive backfield – where PJP was replacing Mercury Player of the Year Boyd Skarbek – and the offensive line.
It was another Skarbek who seized the job around midseason and hasn’t looked back. Dylan Skarbek came into the game averaging over seven yards a carry and improved on those figures, compiling his 161 yards on just 14 carries.
“Just following these guys,” he said with a nod to Frantz, but also alluding to Makel Parker, Dan Tammaro, Nate Seasholtz, and Ignacio Escobar.
At the start of the season, Skarbek was mostly focused on his defensive role, and got some reps and receiver before moving to running back in a win over Bishop Shanahan. “Ever since then, I haven’t looked back.”
The opening quarter saw both sides with identical profiles — a fumble, and a two-yard touchdown run by the respective quarterbacks, Springfield’s Jack McGuckin and PJP’s Luke Terlesky.
But on the opening play of the second quarter, Braden Reed began displaying his all-around abilities by booting a rugby-style punt down to the Springfield 5-yard line. After Springfield went three-and-out, Terlesky took advantage of great offensive line protection to find Reed wide open down the middle for a 53-yard score and a 14-7 PJP lead.
The Golden Panthers’ next possession began with Reed taking an end-around around his own 25. This time, he pulled up after a few steps and fired to junior Brandon DeAngelo, whose fingertip catch turned into PJP’s second explosive touchdown of the quarter.
For good measure, operating as the place holder on the point after Reed pulled there all and threw to Bradey Bass for two points and a 22-7 lead.
Meanwhile, the Golden Panthers’ defense held Springfield without a first down in the second stanza, the highlight play provided by two-way lineman Frantz with a tackle for loss on a pivotal third down.
Skarbek’s two-yard plunge — set up by a 40-yard run by Reed — sent PJP to the break with a three-TD advantage.
For the night, Reed finished with 96 yards receiving, 73 yards passing, 39 yards rushing, two total touchdowns plus the two-point conversion pass.
But lest anyone think PJP was a one-man show, Skarbek started taking over the game behind his dominant offensive line after halftime. A 53-yard gain to set up his second touchdown summed up the evening perfectly, as he carried over Frantz at right tackle on a third and five.
Blocks from Frantz and tight end Denny Owens did most of the work in getting the first down, but it was Skarbek who weaved between Springfield tacklers and the sideline to about the 10-yard line, where he dragged at least three opposing player to the doorstep before being ruled down at the two.
No matter though – he finished the job on the next play.
“These guys are special,” said Frantz, “and it’s every receiver, running back we have, plus a quarterback who runs the whole thing. If we can keep (Terlesky) clean, we’re hard to stop.
“We just want to get guys in space, because they can make 1-2 guys miss every play. If we take care of the other nine? It’s a touchdown.”
Adding to the doubles? Friday was PJP’s second win over Springfield Township this season, after the Golden Panthers went on the road for a 34-27 victory in the season opener.
CJ Johnson led the visiting Spartans with 57 rushing yards. Springfield Township saw their impressive campaign end at 9-3, with PJP providing two of the losses and the only other setback coming against 6A playoff team Plymouth Whitemarsh.
It’s a remarkable step forward for coach Chris Shelly and the Spartans, who finished 3-6 a year ago, missing out on the District 1-4A playoffs altogether.
“You’ve got to give credit to (PJP),” said Shelly. “That’s a championship program for so many reasons.
“We had one of our best season in recent history. We wish we could’ve played better tonight, but we can hold our heads high with what he accomplished.”
Their title defenses complete, PJP prepares to move into somewhat uncharted territory, as they take on District 2 champions Valley View in next week’s first round PIAA 4A state playoff game.
Last year, the Golden Panthers absorbed their lone loss in the first round of states, falling 21-13 to Bonner Prendergast of District 12 in a mistake-filled contest for both sides.
“I think it’s different in that we have experience in a state playoff game now,” said Braden Reed. “It felt like we were a little overwhelmed last time, and I think that experience will help us this time around.”
As members of the Class of 2025, do Reed and Frantz feel an added responsibility to add a state playoff win to the list of accomplishments.
“It’s got nothing to do with our class,” said Reed, “but with the team as a whole. It’s not just us out there, we have a bunch of great underclassmen.”
“As a program, we just want to keep growing,” said Frantz. “Moving forward, bringing in people who keep this thing successful.”
