PA – Central Athletic League | Archive | October, 2017

LOWER GWYNEDD >> Jake Ruane had the time and the touch, and as a result Haverford’s passing attack came winging back into form.

“Last week, Radnor shut down our passing attack,” Ruane said of last week’s 10-0 victory, “so we wanted to get back to throwing the ball like we know we can. I just wanted to get back feeling comfortable. The line protected well and the receivers got open.”

Ruane threw four touchdown passes and added a rushing TD as well in a 42-14 victory over Lansdale Catholic in a non-league battle at Wissahickon.

“Our guys were beating theirs,” said Ruane, who hit a pair of 50-plus yard touchdown throws.

Ruane’s legs opened the scoring, his 69-yard run around the right side making it 7-0 in the first quarter for Haverford (8-1, 6-1 Central League). The Fords blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt by LC, Paul Denman scooped up the loose ball and lateraled the ball to Jordan Mosley, who took it the remaining 60 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 Haverford lead. The Crusaders (2-6, 2-3 PCL Blue) cut the margin in half with an 11-play drive, capped by Matt Casee’s two-yard run.

But then Ruane’s arm began to take over. The junior fired a slant to Ryan Odgers, good for a 15-yard score and a 21-7 Ford advantage. An interception by Mosley set up a deep bomb by Ruane — 53 yards down the right sideline to a streaking Carington Hooks, as Haverford widened the margin to 28-7 at the break. The Fords began the second half with an eight-play drive, finished off when Ruane rolled right and found Kevin DePrince running along the back of the end zone, the 22-yard connection making it 35-7.

LC quarterback Michael Dutkiewicz broke free for a 25-yard TD run but then the Fords capped the scoring when Ruane hit another deep one, 59 yards to Hooks. Ruane finished 8-of-12 for 218 yards and four touchdowns, Hooks caught five balls for 143 yards and a pair of scores, and Haverford also piled up 233 yards on the ground, including a game-high 111 by Ruane. The Fords had four pass plays go for 20 yards or more.

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Lansdale Catholic’s bench watches Haverford’s Jordan Mosley sprint for a touchdown during their game on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. (Bob Raines/Digital First Media)

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SPRINGFIELD >> There is nothing exciting about the way Springfield prepares for a big game. Maybe it’s the personalities of seniors Ja’Den McKenzie, Dan Pennestri and Justin Shields that impact the rest of the team. They take a business-like approach to playing football.

They will admit, now is not the time to sit back and enjoy how awesome their 2017 season has been to this point. Now is not the time to gloat or fool around. With an 8-0 record, the Cougars are tied for first in the Central League, they’re the No. 2 team in Delaware County and the top squad in the District 1 Class 5A playoff standings. But none of that matters … for now.

Please excuse these Cougars if they haven’t put too much emphasis on the importance of Friday night’s showdown against undefeated Garnet Valley, which is the No. 1 team in the county. Oh, it’s the biggest game of the season in Delaware County, and the winner earns at least a share of the Central League title, with one week to play in the regular season. But the Cougars aren’t really paying attention to the hype. They call each team on their schedule, “the faceless opponent.” And that’s not a jab at the guys standing on the other sideline.

“We just go on to the next day and treat it like any other game,” said Pennestri, an offensive and defensive tackle. “Every game is important, but we practice the same every week, you know? There’s no difference.”

“It’s the next game on the schedule, the next game where we want to try to be,” said Shields, an All-Delco defensive lineman. “We don’t change anything, we just stay focused.”

Friday night, the Cougars (8-0, 7-0) and Jaguars (8-0, 7-0) clash in what should be an epic battle to determine bragging rights in the Central League. Garnet Valley is averaging 319 rushing yards per game, while Springfield’s defense has limited opposing rushers to 95 yards. Something has to give between the two titans. One explanation for Springfield’s success is its senior leadership and sense of brotherhood.

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From left, Springfield’s Ja’Den McKenzie, Dan Pennestri and Justin Shields after practice Wednesday, Oct. 18.

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by Eddie Levin October 19, 2017

Whitemarsh >> For the second consecutive year, Harriton junior Sophia Sassoli found herself in position to clinch the PIAA District One Class AAA championship on the same court she played on one year ago at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. Similar to last season, the two players playing on the courts next to her Wednesday afternoon had finished their matches expediently to give the Rams a 2-0 lead. Holding a 3-2 lead in her match, Sassoli wanted to take care of business so she could cheer on her teammates.
Also similar to last season, her opponent was not about to let down easily. This year’s opponent, Conestoga’s Cassidy Landau, knew the situation and was not about to let her team down.
Tracking down just about every potential winner Sassoli hit, Landau did everything she could to extend the match. As the two battled on every point with points lasting with as many as 20 or more rallies, it was the No. 2 doubles match between Harriton’s Shaina Ginsberg and Erika Lutz and Conestoga’s Nina Herman and Coco Kambayashi that decided the match, with Ginsberg and Lutz earning the final point needed to give Harriton its second consecutive PIAA District One Class AAA championship.
“When I saw the No. 2 and No. 3 singles courts come off, I knew we were down 2-0, and I had to do everything possible to extend the match,” said Landau, whose match ended just after Harriton clinched the title. “Sophia is really good and I tried my best.”
“Cassidy played really well today,” said Sassoli. “She hit a solid ball and every time I thought I hit a winner she would get it back. She did a good job. After seeing Connie (Richards) at No. 3 singles and Saige (Roshkoff) at No. 2 singles come off, it was tough to focus because I just wanted to finish so I could cheer on my teammates. I knew I had to re-focus but she made it tough and played great. Props to her.”
With Sassoli taking glances at the other courts, she began to feel the match would come down to her with both doubles courts appearing like they were headed to three sets. After Harriton won the first sets on both doubles courts, the Conestoga duos refused to quit, jumping out to early second set leads.

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Lower Merion >> For a high school soccer fan, you could not ask for anything better. The top two teams in the Central League — Conestoga and Lower Merion — squaring off in the final regular-season league contest with the league title on the line. With neither team having a blemish on their Central League record, the match featured two teams with a balanced offensive attack anchored by a strong defensive third. When the final horn sounded, it was Conestoga taking advantage of two throw-ins to emerge with the hard-fought 2-0 win and its fourth consecutive Central League title.

“We realize every time we play Lower Merion it will be a tough match,” said Conestoga head coach Dave Zimmerman. “They have proven themselves to be a good team year after year and this year is no different. They have a narrow field that [Lower Merion head coach] Nico Severini uses to his advantage. I was just pleased that our team executed our game plan we discussed.”

“It means a lot to get the win today,” said Conestoga senior defender Michael McCarthy. “It’s not very often you get the top two teams in the Central League to play the last league game of the season. It’s something special that we will always remember.”

“Today was an even game that could have gone either way,” said Severini. “They executed two throw-ins on us, which was the difference. Today’s match featured two good teams playing an important match, and it was fun to see good soccer from both squads. Conestoga is a solid team that deserved to win.”

With the match still scoreless after both teams had early opportunities, the Pioneers took advantage of a throw in when senior forward Nino Mauro came in on the weak side, following the play in case it came far post. With Rodrigo Martinez in perfect position to deflect the header, the ball skipped under his foot toward the far post, where an unguarded Mauro happened to be to tap the ball into the net for the first goal of the match with 16:57 remaining.

“It’s always been our objective to run towards the far post in case the ball ended up getting through the crease,” said Mauro. “I saw an opportunity and was fortunate to capitalize.”

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The senior forward broke the school record for goals scored in a single season with a game-winner on Senior Night Oct. 12. She also holds the Harriton girls’ soccer career goals record (47 as of Monday Oct. 16). A second team All-Central League selection the past two years, she also received second team All-Main Line honors last fall. As a sophomore, she scored a key goal in the Rams’ first district win. She has committed to Drexel University for soccer.

Fun facts – Morgan Rees

Favorite TV show: Criminal Minds.

Favorite movie: The Goonies.

Favorite athlete: Mallory Pugh.

Favorite pre-game pump-up songs: Wins & Losses by Meek Mill, War Ready by Vince Staples.

Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles.

Favorite place to visit: “Any type of beach, when it’s warm.”

Favorite pre-game meal: “Pretty much any type of food.”

Favorite color: Blue.

Person I most admire, and why: “My friend Addie because after all she’s been through she still my best friend that I know and love and is still as strong as ever.”

Family members: parents Bill and Amy, brothers Connor (13) and Aaron (7).

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NETHER PROVIDENCE >> As the Upper Darby sideline pleaded its case, four officials converged together. A few yards away, a yellow flag ominously laid on the field for the Royals, effectively serving as a wet blanket to the great play that would have sealed the game. Upper Darby quarterback Josh Gouch had just bobbled the snap, regained it, danced through a maze of bodies at the line of scrimmage before engaging a would-be tackler. Gouch then spied Na’Sir Greer on the outside and zipped a bubble screen to him, Greer racing 28 yards to the Strath Haven 5-yard line.

The flag came out for an illegal forward pass, thus inciting the Royals’ rebuttal that it was a good lateral. Moments later, the referees picked up the flag, Quaran Davis dashed into the end zone on the next play and Upper Darby had iced its 21-7 Central League win over the Panthers. A lot of drama in a brief moment, sure, but one of the Royals’ bread-and-butter plays came through when they needed it to.

“It’s a run-pass option, and after I got to the line, I saw (a defender) commit and I saw the other linebacker commit, so I thought, ‘might as well just throw it to my receiver,’” said Gouch, who ran for 115 of his game-high 147 yards in the second half. “It’s difficult for defenses to cover it, and that’s why we run it. It’s one of my favorite plays.”

Gouch gave the visitors a lead they’d never relinquish when he took a quarterback sweep 23 yards for a touchdown on 4th-and-5. Davis finished the night with 99 yards on 19 carries as the Royals committed to the ground game in the second half to wear down a smaller Panthers side.

“They wore us down in the second half and we kind of beat ourselves and got out of our gaps. When we get tired, we lose focus,” Strath Haven linebacker Ryan Morris said. “(Gouch) was able to get outside. He’s a great quarterback and he can really run. You’ve got to account for everybody because he can throw it and run it. Everybody on that field can get the ball. You’ve got to have your eye on everybody.”

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Upper Darby quarterback Joshua Gouch, right, avoids the pressure from Strath Haven linebacker Ethan Belville. Gouch ran for 147 yards in the Royals’ 21-7 win Friday. (Digital First Media/Rick Kauffman)

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NEWTOWN SQUARE >> Even in the most special of football seasons, and Springfield keeps digging deeper into one, there will be moments of intense challenge. Philip Shovlin and his fellow Cougars defensive backs were prepared for one Friday night. Aware they would be visiting Marple Newtown and quarterback Anthony Paoletti, Delaware County’s all-time leading passer, Springfield was ready to do what it does best: Swarm in the secondary.

“That’s what we are,” Shovlin said. “We’re ball hawks.”

Building an early lead, then bracing for the Marple Newtown challenge, the Cougars made three of their four interceptions after halftime, including one by Shovlin with 4:31 left to effectively complete a 42-19 victory. By then, Shovlin’s two touchdown runs had begun to help Springfield move to 8-0 overall and 7-0 in the Central League.

“I believe we are the best secondary in Delaware County,” Shovlin said. “They started pounding the ball on us in the second half. We just got a little too comfortable at halftime. But we’re a fourth-quarter team.”

The Cougars established early control, taking a 13-0 lead in the first quarter. After Max DiFonzo blocked a punt to put Springfield in business at the M-N 26, Frank Durham caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Jack Psenicska. Later in the quarter, Ja’Den McKenzie scored the first of his two touchdowns on a six-yard run. The Tigers responded with a 25-yard Luke Ciavardelli field goal in the second, but two Shovlin touchdown blasts in the final 7:54 of the half helped give Springfield 27-3 halftime comfort.

That’s when Marple Newtown responded, relying heavily on the strong running of Marlon Weathers to soften the Cougars, then scoring on Weathers’ seven-yard reception from Paoletti. When Aaron Diamond snagged a two-point conversion pass from Paoletti, the Tigers were within 27-11.

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Springfield running back Philip Shovlin makes a move against Marple Newtown linebacker Luke Jelus during a game at Marple Newtown.. (Special to the Times / ERIC HARTLINE)

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UPPER PROVIDENCE >> Avery Lederer has put in a pair of tough weekends and come away with plenty of success at Rose Tree Park. The Penncrest senior won the Delaware County Cross Country Championships individual title on Rose Tree’s 5K course last weekend, then returned and ran to victory in the Central League Championships Saturday afternoon. Lederer helped the Lions, who had an 11-0 record during the regular season, complete their championship run by outscoring Haverford, 56-78, in the team competition Saturday. Lower Merion placed third with 85 points.

“Our season is half over now,” Penncrest coach George Munro said, thinking of the District 1 Championships at Lehigh University Oct. 27 and the PIAA Championships in Hershey Nov. 4.

“We have time to look ahead to districts, and then — hopefully — to states. Avery has been unbelievable all season, and (sophomore) Patrick Theveny ran great today. We had a sophomore (Jalen Chin) we moved up to varsity today and he was our No. 5 runner.”

Lederer (16:13) beat Ridley’s Zack Forney (16:25) and sophomore Mike Donnelly of Haverford (16:31) in the battle for the individual title. Theveny was fourth, less than one second behind Donnelly. Justin Senackerib (sixth), Andrew Woolery (22nd), and Chin (23rd) were Penncrest’s other top finishers. Senior Peter Armour, who placed 10th, was the No. 1 runner for Strath Haven, which took fourth place in the team standings. Justin Malley was 19th and Cole Wirth took 20th place for the Panthers.

“I never relaxed,” Lederer said of his race strategy. “After the two-mile hill, I kept up a hard effort to the finish. We have time to prepare (for districts), and we want to make sure we’re rested but still tuned up.”

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UPPER PROVIDENCE >> Dominique Shultz has been a model of consistency for Conestoga’s girls cross country team this year. The senior, who helped the Pioneers to an 11-0 record in regular-season league meets, claimed her second consecutive individual championship and ’Stoga captured the team title at the Central League Championships at Rose Tree Park Saturday afternoon. Conestoga compiled 52 points to claim first place ahead of Strath Haven (65) and Lower Merion (76). Shultz’s winning time was 19 minutes, 28 seconds. Junior Michelle Qin of Harriton was second (19:49), followed by Taylor Barkdoll of Strath Haven (19:57), Lower Merion’s Sarah Hurst, and Jamie Green of Ridley.

Freshman Anna Twomey (9th), junior Emily DeSantis (11th), senior Nia Goodard (12th), and sophomore Shana Chung (19th) rounded out Conestoga’s top five.

“We were lucky today with the weather,” Shultz said. “I know I’ve learned to use the hills to my advantage. All of us wanted to win here today.”

Shultz is headed to the United States Military Academy. She was fifth at Centrals as a sophomore before winning the title last year.

“She’s done so well since the season started,” Conestoga coach Rick Hawkins said. “This is a good time for this team to be coming together. It’s been great the way they’ve been supporting each other.”

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The Haverford High School Sports Hall of Fame will honor its 19^th induction class at its award dinner Sunday, Nov. 19 at Llanerch Country Club in Havertown.

This year’s inductees are:

• Michael Bright (1996) –  Football and basketball
• Brian R. Ellixson (2007) – Football, wrestling and track
• Sinead Farrelly (2006) – Soccer
• Helena Hermann (Bragg) (1992) – Field Hockey, basketball and lacrosse
• Bruce W. Hulse (1970) – Cross Country, basketball and track
• Paul Lamparski (1974) – Football and lacrosse
• Nancy Morrison (Keiper) (1954) – Field Hockey, basketball and tennis
• Laurie Tortorelli (DeLuca) (1998) – Field Hockey, basketball and lacrosse
• Kim Verrecchio (1987) – Golf

Social hour will begin at 4 p.m. followed by the induction dinner at 5 p.m.  This year’s inductees will also be introduced at the Haverford High – Upper Darby Thanksgiving Day Homecoming football game on Thursday, Nov. 23.  This year’s game will be at Haverford High School beginning at 10:45 a.m.

The Haverford High Coach Induction will be Jay Williams, who was a highly successful track and cross country coach at Haverford High for more than 40 years (38 seasons cross country, 38 indoor track and 42 outdoor track).  As head coach of the boys’ cross country team, his record was 164-18 – winning six Central League Championships; runner-up seven seasons; and placed in the top three in Central League standings in 17 of 18 seasons.  Two of his cross country teams placed in the top 10 at states and he had 16 runners advance to states individually.  As an assistant track coach, Williams specialized in distance events. Between the girls and boys, he was instrumental in helping the teams win three Central League Championships.

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