Pigskin Prophet: Undefeated Garnet Valley and Springfield to square off

The season passed the halfway point last week. Seven weeks of play have been completed with six (or more ahead depending how deep into the playoffs various local teams go) yet to be played. Drama is building up on several fronts. To begin with, both Springfield and Garnet Valley kept their perfect Central League records (6-0) intact making for, appropriately enough, the perfect showdown this coming Friday night when the two teams square off at the Cougars’ home turf at Leamy Avenue Field. To add even more intrigue and suspense to this fascinating showdown both teams showed vulnerability this past weekend while escaping with victories.

Springfield trailed a resilient Upper Darby team by five points deep into the fourth quarter. It looked as if the rugged Royals were going to pull an upset of monumental proportions before a delirious crowd at Memorial Field. However, the Cougars rallied for a touchdown to pull out a thrilling 34-33 win.

While that drama was playing out in Drexel Hill Garnet Valley was very uneven in an error-prone 28-7 triumph over a 1-6 Penncrest club. Even though the Jaguars were never in any real trouble their erratic play was disconcerting, especially heading in to this crucial match up against their biggest competition for the Central League title.

Meanwhile, in other key contests, Haverford (5-2 overall; 4-1 Central League) clearly remains in both the Central League hunt as well as the PIAA playoff competition on the strength of its solid 21-0 victory over Radnor last week. Several of the crucial contributors to this win were players whom Gallagher singled out during his preseason analysis.

“Danny Boyce is a very capable player and Nick Costello is a player who will tear the league up. Jack Donaghy is going to be a special player,” noted the Ford coach.

Boyce and Costelllo snared several important catches from the steady arm of their quarterback Donaghy. The latter has just continued to improve since he broke in as the starting signal caller for Haverford his freshman year. The rock solid junior continues to lead and inspire the Fords. Just a whisper away from Haverford in the standings are the Ridley Green Raiders (5-2 overall; 4-2 league) who had to hold off a determined Strath Haven club, 20-14.

Friday, Oct. 17
Garnet Valley at Springfield, 7 p.m.