Deacon Williams explodes in breakout game, fuels Phoenixville past ...

PHOENIXVILLE >> Deacon Williams is beginning to make a name for himself in Phoenixville.

The junior running back had a breakout game last week, rushing for 86 yards and a touchdown. On Friday, Williams torched those numbers.

In a non-league matchup against Bishop Shanahan, Williams popped off for 196 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries, the coal in the furnace for a 35-7 win for the Phantoms.

“Credit goes to the O-line and coaching staff,” Williams said. “Our O-line, I mean, we dominated. The game starts in the trenches and we dominated.”

That offensive line – anchored by Danny Aselton, Jamie Gray, Andrew Kirk, T.J. Howard, Cameron English and Shane Callen – paved the way for 303 total yards on the ground for Phoenixville (2-0) on the night.

The very first offensive snap of the game set the tone, an 11-yard carry by Williams. Three first downs later, he punched in a 5-yard touchdown to go up 7-0 on the opening march.

Williams added a 17-yard rushing touchdown early in the third quarter, by which point the Phantoms led 21-7. His biggest play of the night came on a 74-yard run to the house in the fourth.

“The work I put in in the offseason, and the work our team puts in the offseason, it just helps a lot,” Williams said. “We were dominant running the ball from the jump. We stayed with that philosophy.”

The massive uptick in production from Williams came despite the departure of fullback Darius Watson, who departed the game due to injury. Watson, who had 302 rushing yards and five touchdowns last year, is expected back in the mix next week.

“He’ll be back (next week). I figured with what we’re doing, there’s no rush to bring him back,” Phoenixville coach Anthony Ciarlello said on Watson. “We have some guys who can fill in but without him, we’re not as strong.”

The first half of the game was tight. Phoenixville held a 7-0 lead through the first quarter after Williams’ initial touchdown, and Sam Moore (18 rushes, 101 yards) doubled up the Phantoms, 14-0 with a 4-yard run up the gut with 8:29 left before halftime.

It wasn’t until two minutes left in the second quarter that the Eagles (0-2) got on the board with a 5-yard punch-in from Patrick Gallagher (17 rushes, 73 yards), cutting the game to 14-7 heading into the break.

From the opening second-half series, the momentum stayed with Phoenixville the rest of the night. James Lear came up with an interception that set up the Phantoms just outside the red zone, leading to Williams’ second touchdown.

Another interception by Hayden Tenbroeck and a sack from Jackson Ford halted another two second-half drives for Bishop Shanahan. The Eagles converted one of five fourth downs, Phoenixville bending but not breaking when Bishop Shanahan moved the ball downfield.

“We just wanted a spark. Could we punt there? Yeah, but we have confidence in our kids and being as young as we are, we have to let them know we have confidence in them,” Eagles coach Paul Meyers said. “Going for it on fourth down, we have to do that. When we convert, it gives them the confidence.”

With 11 sophomores starting, Bishop Shanahan is a young squad. Gone are the 31 seniors that led the Eagles to the program’s second District 1 Class 4A championship and state semifinal appearance – the best finish in school history – in 2021.

“They’re young, but it’s a good mix,” Meyers said. “The seniors are great leaders. They’re picking those guys up and pulling them along.”

The Eagles alternated quarterbacks with seniors Landon Wright and Zach Ferraro. Ferraro was able to utilize Bishop Shanahan’s spread offense, throwing 8-of-14 for 75 yards. Wright was solid with his legs, picking up 35 yards on nine keepers.

“Landon started the year last year but got hurt and Zach filled in for him. They’re both good enough to play,” Meyers said. “It’s hard to put one of them on the bench and just have the other one stand there. We’re comfortable with them both.”

In his second start back under center since a season-ending collar bone injury, Ty Romance went 6-of-9 for 55 yards for Phoenixville. He threw a 5-yard touchdown reception to Ford to extend the Phantoms’ lead, 28-7 with 7:33 to go.

Phoenixville has now outscored its opponents 77-21 through the first two weeks of the 2023 season. The Phantoms also defeated Great Valley for the first time in 12 years on opening night.

But the biggest victory thus far might just be from within its own backfield, the discovery of a hidden gem to add to the Phantoms’ arsenal.

“With Sam, we know what he can do,” Ciarlello said. “And with what Deacon is showing us, plus when Darius gets back, I mean, I like how the offense looks.”

Phoenixville 35, Bishop Shanahan 7Bishop Shanahan 0 7 0 0 — 7Phoenixville 7 7 7 14 — 35SCORINGFirst quarterP – Williams 5 run (Jacobson kick), 5:44Second quarterP – Moore 4 run (Jacobson kick), 8:29BS – Gallagher 5 run (Debellis kick), 1:51Third quarterP – Williams 17 run (Jacobson kick), 9:23Fourth quarterP – Ford 5 pass from Romance (Jacobson kick), 7:33P – Williams 74 run (Jacobson kick), 2:36TEAM STATISTICSP BSFirst downs 17 10Rushes-Yards 37-303 31-123Passing yards 55 75Total yards 358 198Passes C-A-I 6-9-0 8-18-2Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-0Penalties-Yards 12-90 3-15Punts 3 0INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRushingBishop Shanahan — Gallagher 17-73, TD; Wright 9-35; Bracken 2-9; Barbadora 2-5; Ferraro 2-1.Phoenixville — Williams 16-196, 3TD; Moore 18-101, TD; Callen 1-8; Romance 2-(minus-2).PassingBishop Shanahan — Ferraro 8-14, 75 yards, INT; Wright 0-4, 0 yards, INT.Phoenixville — Romance 6-9, 55 yards, TD.ReceivingBishop Shanahan — Olivo 4-31; Gallagher 1-24; Venini 1-3; Civitella 2-17.Phoenixville — Lear 3-25; Tenbroeck 1-19; Williams 2-8; Mull 1-3.Sacks: P 1 (Ford).Interceptions: P 2 (Lear, Tenbroeck).