Football: Upper Darby’s Rimel sets record; Farrell, Haverford get win

UPPER DARBY >> Memories of last year’s 91-point shootout faded in the first quarter of the 2016 installment of the Haverford High-Upper Darby Thanksgiving Day rivalry, when the teams exchanged punts on the first four drives and combined for zero first downs. Defense, at least temporarily, was back again after a taking a season off. Fords linebacker Jack Farrell couldn’t have been happier. The senior All-Delco inspired a 35-21 victory that made it seven in a row for Haverford (7-5 overall, 6-3 Central League) against Upper Darby (5-7, 4-5). If last year’s squad took the identity of its record-setting quarterback Jack Donaghy, this season’s team followed in the footsteps of Farrell: tough, resilient, smart.

“He leaves here as the all-time leading tackler. He’ll be a two-time All-Delco,” said Fords coach Joe Gallagher of Farrell’s legacy. “He’s one of the best football players I’ve coached. Quite simply.”

“He’s special,” said Kareem Bernard. “He’s special.”

On the defensive side, Farrell led a group that held a high-flying Royals offense without a first down until the 6:29 mark of the second quarter. That conversion came via an offsides penalty against the visitors. By the time halftime rolled around, Upper Darby had accumulated just 28 yards of total offense. Still, the Royals broke the early deadlock with Obadiah Asare’s 34-yard fumble recovery, giving them a seven-point lead. Haverford bounced back from consecutive three-and-outs and that fumble-recovery touchdown to race out to a 21-7 lead.

“You know what, I think we were a little rusty,” said Gallagher. “Three weeks is a long time without playing a game. But we seemed to shake it off. We got it together.”

Haverford’s Jake Ruane floated a deep ball that Jordan Mosley came down with in the end zone to knot the game at seven to close the first quarter. Ruane finished the season with 2,119 passing yards, the 14th-best single-season total in county history. The Fords then took advantage of favorable field position to double-up the hosts. John Klee’s five-yard scamper capped a short drive sparked by Bernard’s running. Bernard made sure to get into the end zone himself before the half was over. A jet sweep with 3:31 left did the trick as Bernard broke left and split the Royals’ secondary for six.

“He ignited us,” said Gallagher. “Kareem Bernard really ignited us. Clearly.”

But Upper Darby responded after the break, as any team with Nate Rimel at quarterback would.

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