PA – Central Athletic League | Archive | August, 2017

Rosemont >> The Harriton High School girls’ tennis team is in a position it has not been in since the start of the 2010 season – defending PIAA state champions. “It’s an interesting position to be in,” said senior co-captain Emma Anisman, who is projected to play either third or fourth doubles. “Just like our seniors did last season, we want to make sure the most important key is fostering team spirit and trying to have fun. That is what playing high school tennis is all about and we want to make sure everyone feels like they are part of a team.”
After suffering an early season loss to league rival Conestoga last season, which would end up giving the Pioneers the Central League crown, co-captains Sonia Groeneveld, Izzy Lushbough and Kit Meiler made sure to let the team know there were two other titles well within the team’s grasp.
Following the captain’s lead, the Rams stayed the course eventually defeating West Chester Henderson in the PIAA District One Class AAA final before sending shockwaves through Hershey defeating North Allegheny, who was riding a 44 match win streak, to capture their first title since moving up to Class AAA in 2012.

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The Conestoga boys’ soccer team will be in search of another state championship in 2017. The Pioneers beat Parkland, Hempfield, and Northern Allegheny before they eventually took down Elizabethtown, 1-0, in the 2016 PIAA Class 4A title game. It was Conestoga’s first state championship since 2011. The Pioneers finished with a 25-1 overall record and won the Central League title for the third straight year. Their only loss was to West Chester Henderson in the District 1 final. Conestoga has another talented team under the direction of David Zimmerman, who was named coach of the year by the Inquirer last season. Senior captains Nick Jennings (2016 all-American) and Mike McCarthy will guide an experienced group that includes senior forward Chris Donovan, senior midfielder Rodrigo Martinez, senior forward Logan Schwartz, and junior goalkeeper Luke Smith.

The Pioneers lost defender Gabe Harms (Ohio State), striker Mason Miller (Colgate), midfielder Blaise Milanek (Lehigh), and defender Will Klein (Haverford College) to graduation. “This year’s team features a talented senior class with a wealth of on-field experience from the state championship win in 2016,” said Zimmerman. Led by Jennings and McCarthy, the Pioneers figure to contend for the Central League crown and have the potential to make another deep playoff run.

Radnor is set for another successful season after losing to Gettysburg in the PIAA Class 3A state quarterfinals. The Raiders went 13-7-3 overall and beat Holy Ghost Prep in the District 1 title game. Senior forward Ryan Peter, senior defender Philip Gilbert, junior midfielder/defender Ben Verbofsky, and junior goalkeeper Henry Cooke will look to make an impact for Radnor this season. The Raiders will be without forward Jack Miller (not playing), goalkeeper Ben Toomey (not playing), midfielder Andrew Boujoukos (Ithaca College), defender Cal Congleton (not playing), and defender Phil Regan (not playing).

“We will look to keep the ball a little more in possession, all the while trying to generate a good amount of chances in the attacking third,” said head coach Joe Caruolo. “We will have to defend set pieces vigorously this year, but this coachable group will look to make some noise in the Central League and District Playoffs.”

Chris Donovan highlights Conestoga’s group of seniors heading into the upcoming season.

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SPRINGFIELD >> For a moment during the third quarter, there was confusion. All of a sudden, No. 24 was taking carries in the Springfield backfield. On the Cougars roster, No. 24 is Jake Bush, a junior varsity reserve. This was not him. It was the guy one would expect to carry the ball — Ja’Den McKenzie. His familiar No. 13 jersey had ripped a few plays earlier. So, he switched uniforms and returned to the field.

That little moment of intrigue was one amid an impressive season-opening performance from McKenzie and the Cougars, who took care of Glen Mills 28-8 Friday in nonleague action. “It’s a nice thing to have,” said Springfield coach Chris Britton of his star running back. “Mr. Ripped — he’s more worried about his number.”

McKenzie rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns (for the record, he had 109 yards has No. 13 and 51 as No. 24). He also returned a fumble 96 yards for another score. It was a fitting performance.

His first touchdown came on the game’s first play from scrimmage on a 57-yard burst. His final carry of the night was a six-yard scamper in the fourth quarter that put the contest away.

“I just saw big, green grass in front of me,” explained McKenzie of his first-quarter run. “So I just took off, I had to go.”

Jack Psenicska, making his first start at quarterback, threw for 165 yards and one touchdown. He found super athlete Kyle Long — making his return to football after a year off — five times for 95 yards. The most impressive connection was a 31-yard score in the second quarter.

Long ran right up the seam, and in stride caught the ball over his shoulder and his crossed the goal line.

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CONCORD >> For as much as Garnet Valley football might seem like a “new school” program with its state of the art scoreboard, turf, and in-stadium experience, the Jaguars are still an old school team at heart.

With a rushing attack that racked up 261 yards on 41 carries, Garnet Valley sprinted away from West Chester Rustin for a 19-7 victory that displayed exactly why there is still a place among the area elites for a team that is reliant on the rush.

“I’m most happy with our energy, our enthusiasm, and the physical way we played tonight,” Jaguars coach Mike Ricci said. “We were a little sloppy, but I like the fact that when we had to make plays, we made them.”
Matthew Lassik battered Rustin for 169 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown to decimate the Golden Knights defense.

“It was a great atmosphere and I’m thankful for the guys up front, because they really opened it up for me,” Lassik said. “We’ve got a lot of good running backs and I know that if I’m winded or if I’m hurt there is someone there who can do just as good a job.”

When Garnet Valley needed a confidence boost in the first half, it was Lassik who stepped up. After tight end Jon Ricci hauled in a 14-yard pass on third down to sustain a drive, Lassik capitalized with a 40-yard scoring run and 7-0 Garnet Valley lead.

Jon Ricci, however, was not to be outdone. The 6-3, 215 pound tight end proved to be a bad matchup for the Rustin defense and snared a 19-yard scoring pass from Ryan Hamby just before halftime to give Garnet Valley a 13-0 lead.

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HAVERFORD TWP. >> For Haverford coach Joe Gallagher, the start of his 25th season at the helm of Haverford started off much better than his 24th.

First off, the temperature was a good 30 degrees cooler. Secondly, he was pleasantly surprised when the school had a ceremony to honor his quarter century of service prior to the season opener at A.G. Cornog stadium.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, his Fords kicked off the 2017 campaign with a measure of revenge in gaining a 40-6 victory over Chester.

It was the Clippers who spoiled the start of Haverford’s season a year ago, swamping them in the oppressive heat and humidity of a late August afternoon. That Haverford team was led by a sophomore quarterback making his first varsity start.

“I can tell you I was really nervous going into that game,” said Jake Ruane.

What a difference a year makes.

“He had a great year last year, but now he knows the offense cold,” Gallagher said. “I give him a lot of credit. He’s come a long way and he’s only going to get better.”

Ruane has a lot of poise, a lot of talent, and is the heartbeat of the Fords’ offense, which could be pretty special this season.

He threw three touchdown passes and ran for a fourth, amassing 139 yards passing. He was only 9-for-19, but there were a few drops in there, a touchdown that was erroneously called incomplete, and an interception when his receiver slipped.

“I have a lot of confidence, but not just in myself,” Ruane said. “I trust all my receivers. We’re really close off the field. I know I can just put it out there and they’re going to make plays.”

A player who could open some eyes for the Fords with his electric speed is running back Travis Weiss, who opened the second half with an 80-yard kickoff return and finished with 125 all-purpose yards.

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First Team Offense

Second Team Offense

RB, Ja’Den McKenzie, Springfield-Delco, 6-1, 195, Sr.

WR, Dash Dulgerian, Marple Newtown, 5-11, 200, Sr.

PK, Jack Coary, Springfield-Delco, 6-1, 185, Sr.

Second Team Defense

P, Reilly Fillman, Marple Newtown, 6-0, 180, Sr.

Third Team Defense

L, Derrick Korboi, Upper Darby, 6-0, 280, Sr.

L, Justin Shields, Springfield-Delco, 5-11, 230, Sr.

Haverford’s Jordan Mosley.

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Marple Newtown, Ridley and Springfield shared the Central League title in 2016. Garnet Valley finished one game back and Haverford was two games behind in the championship race.

The Tigers and Cougars, along with Strath Haven and Radnor, qualified for the District 1 Class 5A playoffs in the first year of the six-classification format. Ridley, Garnet Valley and Haverford reached the 6A tournament.

So don’t be surprised if the championship race comes down to the wire again, and involves multiple teams.

The question is, which teams will that be?

Well, let’s start with Garnet Valley. Mike Ricci has built quite a juggernaut in Concord and has one of the teams to beat in the league again.

Garnet Valley, ranked No. 5 in the PA Prep Live preseason Top 20, has three offensive linemen (center Tommy Mahoney and guards Jake Erley and Ryan Shomo) and two running backs (Matt Lassik and Danny Guy) returning from a team that went 12-2 overall and made a magical run to the District 1 Class 6A championship game, where it lost to North Penn.

Lassik and Guy combined for more than a third of Garnet Valley’s school-record 3,886 rushing yards a year ago. Lassik had 879 yards and 12 TDs on 141 carries, which included a 35-carry, 244-yard, four-TD performance in GV’s 44-27 win over third-seeded Upper Perkiomen in the district semis. Guy had 439 yards and five scores.

Springfield, ranked No. 14 in the PA Prep Live preseason Top 20, should be right there, too. Many believe the Cougars arrived a year ahead of schedule when they reached the District 1 Class 5A final last year. Head coach Chris Britton has a number of returnees including his entire defensive line from a team which went 12-2 overall and 8-1 in the league.

All-Delco Justin Shields leads that defensive line, which includes fellow seniors Derek Strain, Dan Pennestri and Kevin Deal. The Cougars pitched three shutouts last season and Garnet Valley and Academy Park were the only teams to top the 20-point mark against Springfield.

The Cougars have some weapons back on offense, too. Ja’Den McKenzie ran for 1,280 yards and 13 touchdowns en route to second team All-Delco honors. Philip Shovlin had 534 yards and four scores on 123 attempts. He earned All-Delco honors in track.

Garnet Valley quarterback Ryan Hamby rushes with the ball during a recent practice.

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