Expectations have grown for Upper Perkiomen's football team. Returning to the district playoffs is the minimum of what the team expects to be, according to head coach Dan Heinrichs. The goal this season is to host a playoff game.

Junior Zach Adam, left, carries the ball during Upper Perk- iomen's Blue & Gold scrimmage on Aug. 14 at Keeny Stad- ium.

            The Indians, who return multiple starters from the team that posted a winning record last season, are thinking big in 2025. According to the coach, they also have the experience and desire to contend for the Pioneer Athletic Conference's Frontier Division crown.

            The Tribe opens its season at 7 p.m. Friday at Keeny Stadium against Boyertown. The team returns several players at pivotal positions, including Zach Adam, Maddux Diaz, Tice Hallman, Brody Lash, Logan O'Donnell, Zane Saeger, Grayson Sabo and Brody Weiss.

            Last season, its second under Heinrichs, the team posted a 6-5 record and earned a post-season berth for the first time since 2017. In the opening round of the District One Class 5A playoffs, it suffered a 31-7 loss to division rival Phoenixville.

            Now, Upper Perkiomen looks to earn its first home playoff game since 2004, a 26-point loss to Upper Merion. According to Heinrichs, the players possess the requisite talent and tools to get there.

            "It certainly won't be easy," he said.

            The offense boasts multiple returning starters, including O'Donnell at quarterback. The senior edged out Sabo during a summer camp competition.

           Heinrichs described O'Donnell – listed as 6-foot, 178 pounds – as a dual threat option. The coach expressed hope that the player's improved pre-snaps reads, combined with a simplified teaching approach, will open up the team's passing game.

            The offensive line features four returning starters. Seniors Tice Hallman and Diaz return at the left and right tackle spots. Both received all-conference honors last season. Junior Dylan Marshall will line up at left guard and classmate Cael Martin will play center.

            Carter Zola, the only newcomer, will start the season at right guard. The junior replaces classmate Gabe Good, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in May.

            The coach described two juniors, Zach Adam and Braeden O'Donnell, along with senior Kane Krier as reliable ball handlers. Benjamin Sands, John Renzi and Tucker Ruch are the top returning wide receivers.

            According to Heinrichs, Nathan Schramm and Ethan Scharneck provide the Indians with two solid pass-catching tight ends who can also block. He said the team played multiple two tight end sets during a scrimmage against Northampton last weekend.

            "It's a huge advantage to have two guys at that position who have good hands and are solid route runners," the coach said.

            On defense, the Tribe expects to utilize 13 or 14 players, most of whom played last season. Saeger, a defensive back, and Weiss, an inside linebacker, earned all-conference honors in 2024.

            "That depth could make us dangerous," the coach said.

            The Tribe's defensive line will start the season with an eight-man rotation. Murray Smith, a 6-foot, 300-pound senior, is expected to anchor the unit, according to Heinrichs.

            "He had a great offseason," the coach said.

            Sabo, a junior, is expected to start at defensive end. A trio of seniors, Dylan Bieber, Krier and Weiss, should get most of the playing time at linebacker. O'Donnell will also start in the defensive backfield.

            "I want the guys on defense to be reactive," said Heinrichs, who installed the defense three months ago. "We're going to face so many different offenses. It all comes down to tackling and execution."