This column originally ran in the Oct. 26 edition of The Mercury.

All the football fanatics in Boyertown and Bucktown are already talking about Friday night’s game between Boyertown and Owen J. Roberts. Just imagine what must be going through the minds of those Bears and Wildcats…

Both teams, as most know by now, are armed offensively with size and quickness on the line and speed behind it … a whole lot of talent that can put up big, big numbers on the scoreboard. Both teams, as most know by now, have proven they have the ability to disarm anyone defensively with size and quickness on the line and speed behind it … a whole lot of talent that can minimize those other numbers on the scoreboard (and sometimes keep them at zero, too). Both teams have made a habit of holding onto the football, too … and when the opposition doesn’t, they sure have had a way of getting it back.

All that sure gives everyone a lot to talk about.

The fact the Bears and Wildcats are one-two in the Pioneer Athletic Conference standings can sure add to any conversation, too. The Bears, remember, are unbeaten at 6-0 — not to mention 8-0 overall for the first time in the 71-year history of their program. The Wildcats, remember, are 5-1 (6-2 overall) and have looked unbeatable during a five-week run in which they’ve outscored their opponents by an average of 30 points.

Enough?

Not really, because PAC-10 leadership (or possible championship) aside, there’s also the issue of securing a spot in the District 1-AAAA playoffs.

Boyertown is currently tied for fifth in the points standings – up one spot from a week ago thanks to that 20-0 shutout of Spring-Ford. A win Friday night would clinch a spot in the 16-team bracket, and another win next week against visiting Methacton would clinch a home game in the opening round. Owen J. Roberts is currently 14th – up three very big spots from a week ago thanks to the 42-20 pummeling of Pope John Paul II. A win Friday night, in all likelihood, would mean another noticeable jump up the standings, and a win next week at Perkiomen Valley – which has lost by one point and two points in the rivals’ last two meetings – would clinch a spot in the opening round.

In other words, this Friday’s game is big, like really big … huge, if you will.

Yes, there are next week’s games and those Thanksgiving issues to be decided before all’s said and done. But this game – like everyone is saying – will go a long way in determining who gets into the postseason and where they play, and who gets their hands on that PAC-10 championship trophy.

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If the Wildcats get into the playoffs, they would be just the second area program and second PAC-10 program to get into district playoffs three successive seasons. Daniel Boone has been a District 3-AAA qualifier the last four seasons, while Lansdale Catholic set the standard in the PAC-10 by appearing in five straight (1994-98) and four straight (2004-07) before moving down into the Philadelphia Catholic League.

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Spring-Ford’s drive for a spot in the District 1-AAAA playoffs crashed with the loss to Boyertown. The Rams, who slipped from a tie for the 14th spot down to No. 18 this week, aren’t that far out of the 16th and final spot. But they certainly must beat bitter-rival Perkiomen Valley this week and Pottstown next week – and get some help from around the district to knock those just above them, namely Henderson and Penn Wood – to claim their program’s first postseason berth. … And up in District 3, Daniel Boone not only lost for the first time this season but lost sole possession of the Inter-County League Section One lead and dropped from third to sixth in the AAAA power ratings. It would take a lot of Twilight Zone-like events to deny Daniel Boone a spot in the postseason, but a loss this week to Conrad Weiser (7-1) – which is No. 3 in the district’s AAA ratings – or a loss next week to bitter rival Exeter (4-4) could cost the Blazers a home game in the opening round.

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Pottsgrove, which needs a lot of help to get a share of what would be a third straight PAC-10 title, can become that second (or third) PAC-10 team to make the postseason three consecutive seasons with wins this week at Upper Perkiomen and next week at home against Phoenixville. The Falcons are currently No. 3 in the District 1-AAA points standings behind Strath Haven and Upper Moreland, which widened its lead a bit over the weekend with a 14-13 thriller over Suburban One American Conference rival Upper Dublin. While the consensus favors Pottsgrove the next two weeks, neither may be as easy some say. Upper Perkiomen quarterback Casey Perlstein is creating havoc running the ball and throwing it to turf-burner Ronnie Gillespie, and Phoenixville has been nothing but a pest for the Falcons the last three years. … Upper Perkiomen, incidentally, is No. 7 in the eight-team AAA bracket right now. The Indians travel to Pope John Paul after entertaining the Falcons this weekend.

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Two of the area’s best football players last year – if not the last two or three years – have been putting together great seasons at Valley Forge Military Academy. St. Pius X graduate Josh Rogers, an All PAC-10 and all-state selection who led the entire league and was among the state leaders in sacks a year ago, and Pottsgrove graduate Preston Hamlette, also an All PAC-10 and all-state selection who anchored the Falcons’ drive to a pair of league titles and a district championship, are creating havoc on VFMA’s defense. In last week’s 34-27 win over Friendship Collegiate (Washington, D.C.), Rogers had two tackles for losses and eight overall, forced a fumble and recovered another. Hamlette had a team-high 15 tackles and a fumble recovery. Their efforts kept VFMA unbeaten through six games, and they hope to make it seven in a row on Saturday at Maryland Academy of Technology.