CONCORD >> Garnet Valley has fully embraced underdog role. That almost sounds strange to say. After all, the Jaguars are the gold standard of Delaware County football and a perennial Central League favorite.
“We like that role, too,” senior linebacker Charlie Coslett said.
You bet the 10th-seeded Jags are loving this trip to the District 1 Class 6A semifinals. After two consecutive road wins over No. 7 Central Bucks South and No. 3 Neshaminy, the Jags (10-2) meet their greatest foe to date Friday night at second-seeded Perkiomen Valley (12-0). Garnet Valley is making its first appearance in a district semifinal since 2011.
“It doesn’t affect us too much,” said Coslett, who’s having a monster season as he leads the club with 62 tackles. “We like to say that each place we go to is another pitstop on the road to states.”
They are cool with being the road warriors. “We feel like it’s us against the world,” said Denny Nealon, a senior defensive back.
It’s funny how high school football works. Not long ago, there was concern as to whether the Jaguars would even qualify for the district playoffs. They had lost two of their first six games, heartbreakers to Ridley and Haverford, which essentially knocked them out of the Central League title picture. But since the Sept. 30 setback to Haverford, the Jags have reeled off six straight victories and are playing their best football of the year.
“I don’t think there was any doubt. Our losses in the past were a case of us just beating ourselves,” said senior quarterback Nick Juliano, who has earned rave reviews for his management of the Jags’ complex triple-option attack. “The unique threat of our offense, I think, is key. It can be a problem for some of those teams we’ve faced that are so used to seeing the spread or a pro-style offense.”
Over the course of their winning streak, the Jags have outscored the opposition, 203-76, while their offense is averaging 305 yards per game. The driving force has been the ground game, led by Jacob Buttermore, Matthew Lassik, Danny Guy, Austin Patton and Juliano.
“Growing up you learn that this is the offense at Garnet Valley, this is how it’s done here,” Juliano said. “So when I came into the job I knew I would pretty much be another running back and a quarterback if we need it.”
Buttermore is arguably the most dangerous player in Delaware County. He set the school’s single-season scoring record and leads the team with 875 yards rushing. He has 17 total touchdowns, including 12 via the run and three by kick or punt return. Buttermore, though, isn’t at all concerned with his personal accomplishments.
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