Gentile’s Royal sendoff ends in overtime celebration

UPPER DARBY — Rich Gentile walked down the steps to Memorial Field behind Upper Darby High prior to his team’s 7-0 overtime victory against Springfield the same way he has for the last 37 years. With an unwavering look on his face, he greeted friends and family as he descended to a place that has been his second home.

Taking into account he’s a graduate (Class of ’78) of the school, this field has been a haven for him. The players he has coached feel wherever he was, that was their haven.

Former and current players alike watched as Gentile patrolled the sideline for one final home game. Players like Kevin Thomas, who played running back for the Royals from 1985-88 when Gentile was the position coach, and George Caroulis, who played quarterback for Gentile from 1998-99 and was a captain at West Chester in 2003. They sat in the bleachers to watch their former coach, who meant more to them than anything they accomplished on the field.

“He kept me under his wing,” Thomas said. “That’s why I’m here today. He taught me about giving back. That’s why I come talk to the kids every year.”

Thomas gives a lecture to the team each season because Gentile is still such a big part of his life. The longtime coach doesn’t like to talk about himself but former players and the fan base wanted to talk about him.

“It’s kind of hard for me to put it into words because I’m not that kind of guy,” Gentile said. “To be very honest, I received a lot of texts from ex-players and phone calls that were really nice then you add the plaque that they gave me.”

After Gentile was presented with a plaque for his years of service to the school, the attention turned to the field and the Royals (5-5, 5-3 Central League) gave him a memorable victory.

After a scoreless four quarters which resulted in eight punts, a missed field goal and two turnovers, Upper Darby and Springfield went to overtime. Royals quarterback Corey Robinson took the first snap of the extra period off right tackle for a 10-yard touchdown. The Cougars took over and moved the ball to the 3-yard line. The Royals defense clamped down and forced a fumble by Cougars fullback Tyler McCoach. Josh Denis knocked it loose and Desean Anderson secured the win with the recovery.

Defensive tackle Julien Laventure, who has a sack and three tackles for loss, was also in on that final play and was elated to win one more for Gentile.

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Rich Gentile has coached his last home football game at Upper Darby. But the longtime Royals leader has one more chance to oversee the team, Thanksgiving morning at Haverford High.