PA – Central Athletic League | Archive | September, 2016

UPPER DARBY >> Once the topic of conversation turned to Anthony Paoletti, the junior quarterback started rolling his eyes. His head cocked back. Yup, he was being talked about again. Paoletti might not like it, but when he throws for a school-record 375 yards and five touchdowns, there’s little he can do to stop it. That performance led Marple Newtown to a 37-12 beatdown of Upper Darby in Central League action Friday. Marple Newtown coach Chris Gicking had the school record for passing yards in a game with 360, set back in 1995. He called the plays for the guy who broke it. He didn’t seem to mind.

“I don’t think words can really describe Anthony — he’s awesome,” Gicking said. “He’s just everything you’d want in a quarterback. Leadership, throwing — you name it. You could go on and on. It’s just great to have him leading the team.”

The Tigers, now 5-0 overall and 4-0 in league play, also received five receptions, 180 yards and two scores from Dash Dulgerian. Marple Newtown had 446 yards of total offense while the Royals (1-4, 1-3) didn’t score on the Tigers’ first-team defense. Midway through the season, they’re undefeated… again. The stats may be impressive offensively (Paoletti’s output was 10th-best in Delaware County history), but these Tigers are the complete package.

“The defense has been playing great,” Gicking said. “The kids are just playing really hard and listening to everything we’re saying. I’m just proud, proud of the whole team. Total team win, and that’s a good football team there.”

But it all came back to Paoletti. His first touchdown pass, a 22-yard lob to Dulgerian, was perfectly placed near the right pylon. His fourth, a 60-yard bomb to Cameron Mathes, hit the receiver in stride up the sideline. But it was the third one, to Dulgerian for 77 yards, that stole the show.

Fending off a blitz, Paoletti stepped up in the pocket and fired a strike 25 yards downfield, right in the hands to a covered Dulgerian. He turned and raced the rest of the way to make it 21-0.

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RIDLEY TWP. >> Given a night to exhale and a morning to relax, chances are Ridley High football coach Dave Wood will be back at it again by Saturday afternoon. By then, he will be demanding flawless football again.

“Coach Wood is on us all the time about it,” Green Raiders linebacker Sean Crowley said. “He wants us to be perfect. Even in practice. We go over everything, over and over and over again.

“We go over it until it is perfect.”

With that solid if not necessarily exclusive philosophy, the Green Raiders came about as close as possible Friday to meeting Wood’s demand. In a 42-0 victory over visiting Penncrest, Ridley made no turnovers, needed to punt only once, played with three-way precision (special teams very much included) and remained, yes, perfect, improving to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the Central League.

Quarterback Cade Stratton rushed for 89 yards, passed for 13 and scored two touchdowns. Malik Young, Ociele Miller and Tahj McCafferty added a rushing touchdown apiece. And in as perfect a play as the Raiders would execute in the game, Brock Anderson returned a punt 92 yards for a touchdown.

“We finally put an effort together in all three phases,” Wood said. “That’s what we get. We’ve got a pretty explosive football team on offense, defense and the kicking game. If we can eliminate those mistakes we had these last couple of weeks, that’s the performance we are going to have.”

Anxious to entertain a Phil Marion Field crowd for the first time since the season opener and after three road games, the Raiders attacked early, with Stratton completing a nine-play drive with a 20-yard keeper for a score. After the Lions didn’t respond, Wood rolled two punt returners onto the field, Anderson and Young, virtually ensuring a return.

Anderson made the plan work, picking the punt up on one bounce at his own eight and following 10 green shirts to the other end zone.

“I knew it was a little short, so I kind of waited on it,” Anderson said. “I didn’t think I was going to catch it. And it took a good bounce right into my hands. Once I caught the ball, I made some moves and my punt-return team was absolutely amazing. We work at it every day, seven days a week at our practice. And they made amazing blocks and allowed me to get the hole to get to the end zone.”

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HAVERFORD >> Before Haverford High’s Central League game with Strath Haven at A.G. Cornog Stadium Friday night, Randy Grossman addressed the team. Despite the words of inspiration from the former Haverford All-Delco, who earned four Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Fords didn’t have a good first half. At halftime, Haverford head coach Joe Gallagher had more than a few words with his players. When Fords junior Travis Weiss muffed the second-half kickoff, things didn’t look like they would get a whole lot better for the home team.

That’s when Weiss let his legs do all his talking. He retreated to the three-yard line, picked up the ball and started up the field. When he stopped running, he was handing the ball to the officials after a 97-yard return touchdown that helped point Haverford toward a 23-17 victory, its third win in a row. Jordan Mosley, who had seven catches for 185 yards, added an 87-yard scoring reception on the Fords’ second play from scrimmage of the second half.

“I got a little worried when the ball got behind me,” Weiss said. “I just went back and picked it up. Then I saw an opening and ran right through it. At halftime, the coaches told us we had to play harder.”

Some of the reason for that message was the way Strath Haven came out and tried to take over the game in the opening quarter.

“They were tough, but we knew to expect that,” Gallagher said.

Strath Haven (2-3, 2-2) controlled the ball for the first four minutes of the game and got a 31-yard field goal from Emmet Young. Two plays later, Jake Fisher picked off a Jake Ruane pass, putting the Panthers eight yards from the goal line. Panthers quarterback Evan Atsaves covered the last yard on third down, and Young’s conversion kick had Haven ahead, 10-0, with 6:44 left in the first quarter. Ruane (15-for-24, 238 yards) came back with six consecutive completions to get the Fords (3-2 overall, 3-1 Central League) inside the Haven 10. After a third-down misfire, Gallagher sent Sean Cannon out for a 20-yard field goal attempt, which was good.

Luke McCallion claimed a Strath Haven fumble three minutes before halftime, and Ruane’s 31-yard completion to Mosley set up Mike Romanofsky’s scoring run that made the halftime score 10-10.

While Grossman and his high school and Temple University teammate Steve Joachim were taking part in the halftime ceremony, in which Grossman presented a Wilson Gold Football to Haverford superintendent of schools Maureen Reusche and principal Pete Donaghy as part of an NFL program which salutes the high schools of Super Bowl participants, Gallagher and his coaches were trying to figure out a way to get their team ready for the second half.

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HAVERFORD >> Nick DiIorio is the biggest of Haverford High’s starting defensive linemen, even if he’s as lean as a Slim Jim.

“Let me give you the physical stats,” coach Joe Gallagher said after practice Wednesday, turning the pages of Haverford’s program book. “He’s the big guy at 6-2, 205. And this is notable because of the way they’re playing.”

DiIorio is the engine. The lone returning starter on the D-line from last season’s Central League championship squad, DiIorio has made the others around him better. Rookie varsity starters Kevin Odgers (5-9, 185), Tyler Kimble (6-2, 190) and Pat Boyle (5-8, 190) have flourished along with DiIorio, the veteran of the bunch.

“We’re not overwhelming anybody with gigantic size,” Gallagher said. “But they’re solid kids in that 180-190 (pound) range. Not gigantic, but they’re very quick and they’re very strong, I’ll give them that. And that’s really the key, the quickness and the strength.”

DiIorio’s play has earned rave reviews. In his 24th season at Haverford, Gallagher called DiIorio one of the best he’s coached. That’s high praise.

“He’s playing as good as any defensive lineman has ever played for me. Period,” Gallagher said. Coming into the year, DiIorio focused on becoming a faster and more efficient defensive player.

“I tried to get quicker off the ball, in general. I also wanted to work on my pass rush and get to the quarterback a little bit quicker,” he said. “I definitely think I have quickness to my advantage, and I try to use that as much as possible.”

DiIorio has registered a handful of sacks and tackles for a loss for the Fords (2-2), who look for their third straight win Friday night when they host Strath Haven (2-2).   Since their surprising season-opening setback at Chester, DiIorio and the Haverford defense have allowed just seven points in their last three contests. Those seven points were given up in the fourth quarter against Ridley in Week 2.

“There’s definitely been a big change. It starts at practice, where we realized that we’ve got to step it up,” DiIorio said. “The Ridley game (in Week 2, a 7-0 loss), we only let up the seven points, the one touchdown, and that was (late) in the game. We realized that we want to give up less every game. The last two weeks, with the shutouts (over Conestoga and Penncrest), that’s because we’ve been really working hard in practice and taking it one game at a time.”

Gallagher knew it would take time for his offense, under sophomore quarterback Jake Ruane, to hit its stride. Sure enough, Ruane and the Fords offense have been impressive over the last two weeks.

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NETHER PROVIDENCE >> As she readied to face Conestoga Thursday night, Strath Haven junior Carly Perlman had a clear objective in mind: Prove she can withstand the heat of the Central League as a starting goalkeeper. As she walked off George L. King Field, few in attendance would’ve believed that was ever in doubt. The first-year starter was outstanding, making 14 saves and manning the area with authority as the teams played an enthralling and contentious 1-1 stalemate.

With Haven on the back foot for long stretches, Perlman was the last line of defense. She executed the task with nearly flawless precision. Head coach Gino Miraglia has vacillated between Perlman and talented freshman Claire Wolgast, letting both have a crack at replacing All-Delco three-year starter Katie Fisher. Perlman’s opus provided a compelling argument to grab hold of the No. 1 keeper’s gloves.

“I think coming into this game, I had the mentality that this was my chance to really prove myself,” she said. “I’m either going to shut them out or not let them win, and that’s exactly what happened.”

“It was amazing,” defender Liz DeCarlo said. “I’ve never seen shots like that being saved. It was awesome. It’s a new goalie this year, so we’re getting it together, and she just really pulled it off.”

Conestoga (6-0-2, 4-0-1) undoubtedly owned the better of play, but all they it to show for a deluge of 26 shots was Nia Scott’s goal just before halftime. The rest was frustration, mostly meted out by Perlman and a pair of crossbar rattlings — courtesy of Madie French in the first half and Caitlin Donovan with 90 seconds to play in the first overtime. The annoyance was aggravated by a pair of Conestoga midfielders, Katelyn Perz and Emily Wertz, who left and did not return with apparent leg injuries in a physical, simmering affair.

The final sequence of the game illustrated Conestoga’s duality of creativity and frustration. Caitlyn Ellerbeck floated a tantalizing free kick from the left wing that found Donovan, the freshman who set up Scott’s goal, at the far post. She largely whiffed on an open header, nodding down into a tangle of legs that culminated with Perlman assertively pouncing on the ball to wind out the clock.

“We put in a lot of effort, and we were there,” Scott said. “We had so many shots. And we just didn’t finish today. But we know we can finish those in other games. Tons of games, we finish all those shots.”

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HAVERFORD >> Amelia Durfee’s face breaks into a wide smile when the conversation Tuesday steers toward her former club teammate and close friend. For 80 minutes at Haverford High, Durfee and Radnor’s Maura Holst battled in the engine room of midfield. And when Durfee’s Fords prevailed, 1-0, in a Central League affair, the little dose of good-natured bragging rights added some fun to the result.

The foundation of Annalena O’Reilly’s goal in the seventh minute that proved the decider and of so much of the Fords’ success was their midfield pressure, inducing turnovers, denying the ever-dangerous Holst possession near goal, forcing mistakes that the Fords’ speedy forward line could pounce on. That balance was shifted not just by Durfee bringing the “A” game in the final meeting between the seniors, but in having a little extra information in the effort to minimize the talented Fordham commit Holst.

“Definitely keeping her in front of you, and always watching the ball,” Durfee said. “And do not watch her feet.”

“I definitely think it helps,” Holst said of the familiarity. “Everyone develops tendencies from a young age, so it’s kind of good to have that extra bit of knowledge in your back pocket. Everyone has a toolbox of little things they can pull out, and having someone know that already is difficult for sure.”

Whatever the individual relationships, the Fords enlarged the advantage with superior collective play, pressing the Radnor defense and midfield wisely and in unison to dominate the balance of play. That’s what occurred in the seventh, when Durfee recovered a loose pass deep in midfield and fed Sadie Gold, who slipped a through ball behind the defense that O’Reilly latched onto, rounded goalkeeper Alexa Solomon and buried into the net.

“The ball was played overtop, so I just made a diagonal run and touched it around the keeper,” O’Reilly said. “I try to get wide and look for a diagonal ball across. That’s our main focus usually at practices.”

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The Harriton senior captain has been a key factor in the Rams’ fine start this year, and shot two-under-par 33 at Springfield earlier this month. Last fall, he placed eighth at the Central League Tournament, earning second team all-league honors and qualifying for individual Districts, and was a key player in the Rams qualifying for team Districts. Harriton golf coach Brian Dobak said, “Where Nick really shines is in his great leadership ability – he’s exactly what you’re looking for when you’re assembling any team together. He rallies people together. He’s respectful of opposing players and coaches, as well as his teammates. He builds up others around him and helps them improve. He understands the importance of integrity. Nick is an example of exactly what I want my underclassman and future golfers to understand – the process of improvement that is possible with hard work, and the importance of leadership not just in sports but in life and business.”

Fun facts – Nick Wert

Favorite book: American Gods, by Neil Gaiman.

Favorite author: Neil Gaiman.

Favorite TV show: Game of Thrones.

Favorite movie: Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Favorite athlete: Steve Yzerman.

Favorite pre-match pump-up song: I Can’t Stop-Flux Pavillion.

Favorite teams: Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers.

Favorite place to visit: Nantucket Island.

Favorite pre-game meal: Bagel with cream cheese and turkey.

Favorite color: Green.

Person I most admire: “Steve Yzerman, his leadership on the Detroit Red Wings back-to-back Stanley Cup victories and his composure as a leader gives me a model not only as a captain but as a person as well.”

Birth date: Nov. 25, 1998 in Bryn Mawr.

Family members: Parents John and Sherry, brothers Mike (age 30) and Chris (26).

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RADNOR >> It’s the sort of game that may frustrate Chris Britton and the Springfield coaching staff when they review the film this weekend.

Yes, the Cougars won Friday night at Radnor, 24-6, to stay undefeated for the season. Sure, there was plenty to be happy about.

The defense, led by linemen Derek Strain, Kevin Deal, Justin Shields and Dan Pennestri, was nasty. So, too, was linebacker Dwayne Snipes. The front seven swooned in the backfield to disrupt the Raiders. Joe Kennedy accounted for two Springfield touchdowns, an 89-yard return on the opening kick of the game and a 30-yard reception in the second quarter. Make no mistake, there were many positives.

“It was a big win,” Strain said. “I thought we had a rough first half, but we picked it up and started to come together as a team in the second half.”

Springfield’s defense limited Radnor to 142 yards of total offense. Radnor didn’t score until the waning seconds of regulation, when sophomore quarterback Sean Mullarkey connected with wide receiver Jack Henry over the middle of the field for a 29-yard touchdown. It spoiled the Cougars’ bid for a shutout, but big whoop.

“I think we were reading the plays,” said Strain, who had at least two sacks and also forced a fumble. “The second half, we were doing a lot better. We started to see what they like to do. They started to run up the middle a lot, so we got used to do that and we were able to get to them quickly.”

So, chalk one up for the Springfield defense, which had allowed 170 yards per game entering the night, good for fifth-best in Delco. Also, the 7.7 points scored against was second in the county.

Kennedy and Greg Tamaccio recorded interceptions. Overall, the defense did its job again Friday night.

But Springfield still has work to do on the other side of the ball. The Cougars (4-0, 3-0) totaled 152 yards. Johnny Fanelli was sharp (11 of 19, 110 yards), but the ground attack was indisposed. Radnor’s defensive front matched Springfield’s in that regard, as the Raiders held the Cougars to 42 yards on 20 carries. Springfield’s leading rusher Ja’Den McKenzie gained just 18 yards on six carries. Fanelli had a game-high 22 yards rushing for Springfield.

The Cougars know they won’t get away with a similar offensive performance against the likes of Ridley and Garnet Valley, who lurk on the horizon.

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Springfield’s Joe Kennedy catches a John Fanelli pass along the sideline as Radnor’s Tucker Ballbach closes in. (Digital First Media/Anne Neborak)

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MIDDLETOWN >> A star emerged for Haverford High Friday night, and he may just have restored the Fords’ Central League hopes in the process. Jordan Mosley caught nine passes for 213 yards and three scores as Haverford routed Penncrest 28-0.

“I don’t want to look too far into the future. We’re going to be where we want to be,” said Mosley, who enjoyed his first multi-touchdown game on varsity. “We could do some big things.”

Against the Lions, it was the junior wide-out who was doing big things. In the second quarter he caught a short slant, spun off his defender almost immediately and raced 48 yards to the end zone to put the Fords up 14-0.

“I just wanted to score,” said Mosley with a shrug. “I had the end zone in mind, you know.”

That appeared to be his mindset all night. He caught a 29-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Mosley would have had a 52-yard pick-six as well, had a teammate not taken an ill-advised block-in-the-back penalty. No matter, Mosely finished the drive with 21-yard score.

“I mean the quarterback got me the ball, and I did whatever,” said Mosley. “He had faith in me, and I delivered.”

And yet the mistakes that plagued Haverford’s 1-2 start to the season were still there. Even Mosley wasn’t immune. With a 7-0 lead, he bulled his way into the Penncrest secondary, looking to cross the goal line after a 22-yard gain. Instead, Mosley coughed up the ball, and the Lions recovered.

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LOWER MERION >> You could hear the chatter in the huddle, especially on defense, as Garnet Valley rolled over Lower Merion, 63-21, in Central League football action Saturday at Arnold Field.

There was a lot of talk, mostly about maintaining discipline. The Jaguars did not want to jump the gun against a Lower Merion offense that waits until the last possible second to snap the ball. The Aces were so patient that they were hit with four delay-of-game penalties. The Jags, though, were equally patient.

“We had to maintain our keys and watch the ball,” senior defensive tackle Joe Thomas said. “That’s all we talked about all week.”

It worked. Garnet Valley was not drawn offside once.

“We were very disciplined up front,” Garnet Valley coach Mike Ricci said. “I thought our defense played great. Lower Merion has a lot of good skill players and it was important to control the line of scrimmage against them.”

Garnet Valley (3-1 overall, 2-1 Central League) moved the Aces (0-4, 0-3) to throw the ball 27 times. While that did result in three touchdowns and nearly 200 yards, it also led to five interceptions. It would have been six but a penalty against the Jags wiped out that pick.

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Garnet Valley’s Jason Rose performs a stretch-and-catch maneuver for an interception while secondary mate John Delea has a front-row seat in the Jaguars’ rout of Lower Merion Saturday. (Digital First Media/Anne Neborak)

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