Patriots struggle with Phantom opener

What a difference a year makes. Last year, you can make the argument that the “Route 29 series” between the Phoenixville Phantoms and the Great Valley Patriots should be re-named the Rout 29 series.

Last year, Great Valley eviscerated the Phoenixville Phantoms 54-0 in the opener. Great Valley went 12-2, and won the District 1 AAA championship, while Phoenixville stumbled to a 1-9 record under first year coach Evan Breisblatt.

This year looks like it will be much different. The Patriots won the opener with the Phantoms by a score of 28-19. The score was not indicative of the improvement of Phoenixville, as it was much closer than 28-19.

At the start, it seemed like it would be more of the same, as Patriot cornerback Mark DeRobertis intercepted Troy Rossman’s pass and scampered 24 yards to start the scoring. On Great Valley’s first offensive possession, Robert Geiss hit Ryan Hubley (not the same Hubley that graduated from Oxford) on a 7 yard pass.

The route 29 rivalry was on, or as Lee Corso would say “not so fast my friend”. Matt Palubinsky put Phoenixville on the scoreboard on a 3 yard run out of the Wildcat formation. The Phantoms moved the ball again, and a 30 yard Biron Ramirez field goal cut Great Valley’s lead to 14-10. The Patriots lead would be deflated to 14-13, as Ramirez hit another field goal from 25 yards out.

In the final quarter, Great Valley scored two more touchdowns, both on big plays (a 36 yard screen pass from Geiss to Nick Cionci, and a 39 yard run from DeRobertis). Undaunted, the Phantoms would not go away, as Nasir Green hauled in a 52 yard scoring pass from Rossman. Great Valley recovered the onsides kick, and ran out the clock.

After the game, Phoenixville coach Evan Breisblatt encouraged his kids to keep their heads held high. We played hard, but we just beat ourselves. The mistakes we made are correctable. We moved the ball on them. They’re the District 1 AAA champions until someone knocks them out.

Great Valley coach Dan Ellis stated that they got unraveled a bit mid game. They made mistakes that a younger team makes.

Robert Geiss threw for 212 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mark DeRobertis ran for 139 yards and had a score on offense and defense. Ryan Hubley added 81 total yards. For Phoenixville, Troy Rossman threw for 181 yards and a score. Matt Palubinsky ran for 54 yards. Jonavin County added 41 on the ground. Matt Garcia had 91 yards receiving, and 114 total yards.