Football: Fearless Garnet Valley erases four-score deficit to freeze out North Penn

CONCORD >> If revenge is a dish best served cold, it has rarely been colder, or felt better, than what played out at Morris DeFrank Stadium Friday night. On a frigid evening in the District 1 6A quarterfinals, No. 3 Garnet Valley rallied from a 28-point second-half deficit to defeat No. 6 North Penn, the team that ended the Jaguars’ miracle run in the district final a year ago, 36-35. The improbability hardly translates to prose.

“There’s nothing better,” said Ryan Gallagher, Garnet’s third-string quarterback, thrust into starting duty because of injuries to Ryan Hamby and Cole Palis.

Perhaps that’s how you describe it: In simple terms. It’s not like anyone who wasn’t there would believe it anyway. A sophomore quarterback, with help from seniors in the backfield and a formidable defense, orchestrated a four-touchdown comeback against the defending district champions, a Pennsylvania power. Nothing better. Nothing better indeed, although it was the opposite of that, from the home perspective, to start the third quarter. On the first play of the second half, Matthew Lassik fumbled, the Jaguars’ fourth turnover, and the Knights turned it into seven more points. Justis Henley curled wide, collected a pass from Steve DePaul and took a shot from a Garnet Valley defender as he sprinted into the end zone.

“It’s getting out of hand,” a North Penn lineman pleaded to the official standing nearby.

And it was. The Knights led, 35-7. Henley had four touchdowns and an interception. The Jaguars had no answers. The fans, freezing in the stands, may have wished for a running clock. But then a funny thing happened. After everything went against Garnet Valley through two and a half quarters, the hosts caught a break. Behind the hard running of Lassik and Danny Guy, the Jags marched inside the North Penn five, their first threat of scoring since Lassik cut the deficit to 14-7 in the second quarter. On third-and-goal from the two, though, Gallagher fumbled the snap. Without any hesitation, he scooped the ball and crossed the goal line.

“He’s not afraid to make a play,” Garnet Valley coach Mike Ricci said of his sophomore signal-caller.

Then it was the defense’s turn to step up. On fourth-and-1 from the Knights’ 32 — after North Penn called timeout, seemingly to bring on the punting unit — the Jags stuffed Khan Jamal at the line of scrimmage. By the end of the third quarter, still down 21 points, Garnet Valley had life with goal to go.

All **** broke loose from there (or maybe it froze over?) The Jags turned it over on downs at the five. The Knights fumbled possession away. Guy scored an eight-yard rush. The Knights fumbled the ensuing kickoff. Guy plunged in from the one.

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PETE BANNAN-DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Garnet Valley runningback Danny Guy , left, gets a hand of congratulations from teammate (26) Matthew Lassik after he scored against Central Bucks West. Guy had three touchdowns in the Jaguars 21-13 victory in the first round of District 1 Class 6A playoffs.