PA – Central Athletic League | Archive | November, 2020

NETHER PROVIDENCE — Senior quarterback Jack Ryder joked about the touchdown that got away Friday night in Strath Haven’s 27-7 victory over Springfield.

Ryder was supposed to keep the ball for a yard, maybe two, to pick up a first down on fourth-and-short late in the fourth quarter. Haven was on its way to the win and looked to get a fresh set of downs and run out the clock.

But something unexpected happened: Ryder found daylight. He kept running until he stumbled near the 10-yard line and was brought down shy of the goal line. Ryder’s run went for 45 yards.

“Originally, we take the A-gap right up the center on the sneak, but they were mixing up their blitzes and I ended up taking the B-gap on (a previous play). So, the next time they blitzed B-gap and I was, like, ‘Oh my god, I’m wide open,’ and I was falling down at first, but then I saw some grass and started running.

“Unfortunately, the Daniel Jones trip at the end caught me.”

Eagles fans will remember back on Oct. 22 when Jones, the quarterback for the New York Giants, failed to score a touchdown when he tripped over nothing and fell to the ground around the 20-yard line. Ryder’s run wasn’t nearly as comical and he was probably being a bit hard on himself.

“I could have made it,” he said, laughing. “I took a peek back and that was probably not a good idea.”

As for other Strath Haven runs, there weren’t many mistakes.

Ryder and the Panthers (3-1) produced 300 yards rushing on 50 carries in a dominating victory over Springfield (2-2). It marked Haven’s second straight win. Next week the Panthers host Penncrest in the Media Bowl. If not for the an excruciating defeat at Marple Newtown a couple weeks ago, Haven would be sitting atop the Central League’s Class 5A division going into the final weekend of the regular season. But the reality is the Panthers can do no better than second place after Marple clinched the No. 1 spot in 5A Friday night.

“I think we really took it upon ourselves just to practice a little bit harder, really focus on watching film and just making ourselves better,” Ryder said. “As a team, we had to make adjustments. Obviously, that was a heartbreaking loss at Marple and I’d do anything to go back and replay that one, but we’ve done a good job the last two weeks.”

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Strath Haven quarterback Jack Ryder, center, goes in for the

Panthers’ first touchdown on a sneak play against Radnor.

(Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)

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TREDYFFRIN — After facing a strong first-half challenge from host Conestoga, Haverford bounced back for a 27-14 win at Teamer Field Friday evening.

Haverford hosts Garnet Valley next week in a game that will determine the No. 1 team in Central League Class 6A division. The winner will play the following week for the Central League championship against the top seed from the Class 5A division.

The Fords (4-0) had outscored their first three opponents 108-3 but found the going tougher against the Pioneers, as Conestoga battled the visitors to a 14-14 tie at halftime.

In the first seven minutes after halftime, Haverford stopped Conestoga cold on two consecutive possessions, and scored two touchdowns to take a lead it would never relinquished.

“When Conestoga came out in the first half, you could tell how badly they wanted the game, to beat us,” Haverford coach Joe Gallagher said. “I think if we were a lesser team we wouldn’t have rallied after halftime like we did. I told our players that I was really proud of the way they responded after facing adversity for the first time this season.”

Haverford jumped out to an early 14-0 lead before the Pioneers came back with two second-quarter touchdowns.

Midway through the first quarter, the Fords put together a nine-play, 54-yard touchdown drive. The final play was an 11-yard TD pass from sophomore quarterback Thomas Wright to a wide-open Christopher Dempsey down the middle.

Midway through the second quarter, Haverford linebacker Casey Gilroy picked off a pass at the Conestoga 35, and with nothing but daylight in front of him, ran it in for a score to give the visitors a 14-0 lead with 6:53 left before halftime.

Conestoga came right back on the next possession with a touchdown, the first allowed by Haverford this season. On 3rd-and-2, quarterback Michael Costigan proved resourceful, scrambling on a broken play and running for a 49-yard touchdown.

Late in the second quarter, Conestoga recovered a Haverford fumble at the Fords’ 33. Costigan hit running back James Condi and receivers Albert Marshall and Patrick Reilly for short passes before finishing the drive with a seven-yard dash. A successful two-point conversion followed, Costigan finding receiver Peter Detwiler, to tie the score at 14-14 with 54 seconds to go before halftime.

Conestoga received the second-half kickoff, but the Fords forced a three-and-out, then put together an 8-play, 55-yard TD drive. Wright led the way with the short passing game, hitting Will Higson on a seven-yard TD to make it 20-14.

Three plays later, Haverford cornerback Thomas Caruso intercepted Costigan and returned it to the 42. The Fords gave the ball to running back Jimmy Wright five consecutive times, the fifth a 16-yard TD to the right side, to make it 27-14.

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Jimmy Wright, pictured last week running circles around Ridley’s defense, rushed for 205 yards in Haverford’s

27-14 victory at Conestoga Friday. (SUBMITTED PHOTO – PAUL BOGOSIAN)

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NEWTOWN SQUARE — Joe Paoletti had a game for the ages Friday to keep Marple Newtown unbeaten and deliver coach Chris Gicking his 50th career victory.

Paoletti threw a touchdown pass, returned an interception for a score and nearly tallied on a quarterback keeper to lead the Tigers to a 21-14 success over Radnor in a bruising Central League game that wasn’t decided until late in the fourth quarter.

Paoletti set the tone with a pick-six of Raiders counterpart JP Moreland barely three minutes into the game. He sealed the decision with an interception at the 3-yard line of the Tigers with 3:39 remaining.

“This was actually my first game playing corner,” Paoletti said. “It was second down and long, and I saw it all the way. The second ball was tipped and I just kept my eyes on it.”

The game was tied at the half, two touchdowns apiece.

Moreland, a lefty, lofted a bomb down the left side to Jahmir Dixon, who reached the 2-yard line. That set up the first of two scoring runs by Raiders senior Scott Belveal.

Paoletti followed with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Eric McKee, but the Raiders, with 3:18 left, collected a fumbled punt. Belveal bolted 46 yards on a trap play to tie the game at 14.

“Gavin Holtz opened the hole real nice,” Belveal said. “I was able to skirt right through and get to the sideline and make it happen. We gave it our all. They just outplayed us tonight.”

It looked like the Tigers (4-0) would take the lead again when kicker Jimmy O’Brien lined up a 24-yard field goal attempt late in the third quarter. The Raiders stopped their hosts on what had been first-and-goal at the 5. But the kick was wide and Radnor was pushing the ball up the field when the quarter ended.

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Marple Newtown quarterback Joe Paoletti avoids the tackle of Radnor’s

Jahmir Dixon in the third quarter Friday night at Marple.

(Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)

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CONCORD — Since time immemorial, or at least since Mike Ricci first fashioned Garnet Valley into perennial Central League contenders more than a decade ago, the scouting report against the Jaguars started with one thought: Pack the box, ready for the run.

That sentiment is still true. And GV quarterbacks have tested the 10-in-the-box wisdom with success before. But four games into 2020, the Jaguars might have the most balanced attack ever under Ricci.

Friday’s 44-0 demolition of Ridley had the usual Garnet Valley embellishments: Rushing touchdowns from three Jaguars, 301 yards on the ground, clock-suffocating control of possession.

For the fourth straight game, however, the Jags scored two touchdowns through the air. Just when you think you have a handle on some of the veers and traps and pitches, this year’s attack can take flight.

“Every year, we could throw the ball, but we **** people with the run so we stick with that,” quarterback Kevin McGarrey said. “This year, we just have so many athletes, we can’t pass up on the opportunity to throw the ball all around the field. … Everyone is capable of making big plays, and it’s worked out great for us.”

The Jaguars (4-0) took a 32-0 lead into halftime Friday with more yards through the air (158) than on the ground (146). That would re-balance after the break. But big-play capability in the passing game complements the omnipresent threat of the passel of backs breaking tackles at the second level and heading to the house. That’s how a team gets to outscore opponents by a 200-12 margin this season.

McGarrey has seven passing touchdowns. He started Friday with a 50-yard bomb to Ndozi Okolo on the third play from scrimmage, which got them to first-and-goal for Brian Bradley to dash in from the 3-yard line.

“It was a great way to start,” McGarrey said. “I knew (Okolo) was going to go up and get that. He’s a great playmaker and goes up and gets everything and works hard at practice. … Great route-runner; it’s great to start a game like that.”

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Garnet Valley quarterback Kevin McGarrey tries to avoid a Ridley

tackler in the first quarter Friday night. (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)

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The Strath Haven girls cross country team added another trophy to its  lofty pile Saturday, scoring 42 points to best Haverford for the Central League title at Rose Tree Park.

Led by Maggie Forbes, who finished fourth in 20 minutes, 49.50 seconds, the Panthers took four of the top 10 spots and six of the top 13 to lock up the title. Second was Haverford with 58 points, followed by Garnet Valley (81).

The individual championship went to Sarah Hurst of Lower Merion, who covered the course in 19:48.20, seven seconds ahead of Haverford’s Maura Timoney. Winnie Incorvaia of Garnet Valley was fourth.

The Fords’ Nicole Rodriguez and Shannon Barycki finished fifth and eighth, respectively. Garnet Valley’s Ashleigh Lustgarten placed sixth.

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LOWER MERION — Upper Darby senior Stephen Goetz wanted to win Saturday’s game for himself and his teammates, but most of all, he wanted it for his head coach.

Dave Barr, the first-year head coach of the Royals, has endured a tough week. His father was ill in the hospital for several days before returning home Saturday.

After three straight losses to start 2020, Barr remained in search of his first victory as the boss of the Royals. The Aces and Royals were two of three winless teams in the Central League, but the Royals are no longer part of the club.

Goetz’s sack of Lower Merion quarterback Jack Lledo on fourth down late in the fourth quarter sealed UD’s emotional 28-14 victory.

Barr thanked his players and expressed to them just how important the win was to him from a personal level.

“It all came down to that last defensive play and it felt really good to get the sack,” said Goetz, a starting linebacker. “With Coach Barr’s dad in the hospital, we were fired up today. We wanted to win the football game. I’m happy that he got his first win, finally. It feels really good.”

Defensive coordinator Brad Gilbert had senior captain Darryl Farmer present Barr with the game ball. Barr said he would give it to his pop.

“These kids have been through a lot this year and it’s great they are able to enjoy this win together,” Barr said. “You know, with the virus and having to do class online and having to walk to school for practice – and not having locker rooms – everything is so different. For them to have this outlet, I am so grateful for our school officials and administration that stuck with us … it’s like, let’s keep giving the kids this chance because they could easily decide not to.

“Every day we see it as a gift and they have the outlet, the coaches have the outlet and I have the outlet … and we all need it. … They deserve it and they work hard.”

This was a defensive game for the Royals, who forced turnovers. Goetz had two of his team’s four fumble recoveries. Pat Kerwood and Moleek Jones registered key sacks in the fourth quarter.

“This win feels good because it’s for Coach Barr,” said Farmer, who ran for a touchdown and had a sack in the first quarter. “Our mindset was, no matter who we play, let’s just get him one. Especially this week, it was tough for us. We played real good today. We’ve been up there but, like, the past couple games we’ve had too many mental mistakes.”

The defense’s performance allowed the Royals’ offense to work with a short field on multiple occasions. UD scored three touchdowns in the second half, including a pair of one-yard sneaks by sophomore quarterback Donte Shaw.

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Upper Darby head coach Dave Barr monitors practice on the turf at Memorial field.

(Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)

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HAVERFORD — No matter what happened Saturday, the time remaining in Haverford senior Phil Udo-Inyang’s high school soccer career is measured in days. The mission for the forward is to extend the count at any chance he gets.

So when the Fords, the sixth seed in the Central League playoffs, entered halftime against No. 11 Springfield scoreless despite dominating play, Udo-Inyang wasn’t worried. But he was focused, on making sure the matinee at A.E. Cornog Field wouldn’t become a swansong.

“We knew we were the better team, we just had to finish our chances,” Udo-Inyang said. “So we came out in the second half stronger, looking to get a goal and go from there.”

The forward made good on that promise, scoring twice within a minute, then assisting on Brady Ring’s goal as the Fords ran out to a 3-0 win.

Haverford advances to Tuesday’s quarterfinals and a date with No. 3 Lower Merion.

It’s a time for Udo-Inyang to reflect. He talked with coach Dave Cassanelli this week about the inflection point in his career, when he was cut from the Fords’ freshman team. With time to reshape his priorities, Udo-Inyang took stock. What emerged is a three-year starter and, as a senior, one of the league’s top dangermen.

“I got cut from the freshman team, and that moment kind of woke me up and gave me a different mindset, going into the next three years ahead of me,” Udo-Inyang said. “That turned on the switch and I started working hard. Sophomore year, they noticed me and gave me that chances, and it just took off from there.”

Udo-Inyang started as a sophomore at outside back for a team that made the District 1 Class 4A playoffs. He’s moved further up the pitch, his attacking sensibilities shining. Born in Nigeria, his game has a flair characteristic of the soccer-mad nation, and his ability to read the game and open space for himself and teammates, on the ball and off, operates a level higher than most.

Saturday, when the Fords peppered Springfield with 22 shots, it seemed inconceivable that Udo-Inyang hadn’t scored by halftime. But by the time the second-half clock read 37:15, he’d rectified that, times two.

Springfield earned its first corner of the game 1:40 into the second half, but that only offered Udo-Inyang space. Center back Duncan Riegler head-manned the counterattack, feeding to Mason Baylis on the right wing. Before the Cougars’ defense could recover, Udo-Inyang flashed across the face of his defender, met the low cross near the penalty spot and, with goalie Rory Travers scrambling to his right, deftly placed the shot back to Travers’ left.

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Haverford’s Phil Udo-Inyang dribbles ahead of Garnet Valley’s Drew

Northey in a game last season. Udo-Inyang scored twice and had an

assist in a win Saturday over Springfield. (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)

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HAVERTOWN — The scoreless streak ended at nine quarters but that didn’t diminish the precise work unbeaten Haverford did Friday night in a 33-3 Central League win over previously undefeated Ridley.

The Fords made big plays in all phases, senior Casey Gilroy catching a 14-yard scoring pass and ringing up a pick-six, and Jimmy Wright rushing for 165 yards on 22 carries, including a 65-yard scoring run.

The Fords (3-0) downed a punt at the 1-yard line of the Green Raiders, kept them out of the end zone on three shots from the 11-yard line and added to the eye-opening numbers they’ve put into the books in this pandemic-delayed season. They’ve outscored the opposition, 108-3.

“The best way to describe it is this game was won on Tuesday and Wednesday,” Fords coach Joe Gallagher said. “We had probably our two best practices since the season started and that’s why we started like we did. We’re very focused. We have a goal. We want to win the Central League and you have to go through Ridley to be able to do that. That’s a good team we just played. They have a lot of pride. They have a great tradition. They were 2-0 just like us. But our kids really stepped up. That’s why the practices were so good. We have a lot of respect for Ridley.”

The Fords took the lead on the game’s first possession, fullback Will Higson going the final yard after Wright turned the corner on a 29-yard run thanks to a devastating seal block by senior lineman Ryan Buckton.

It was 12-0 just six seconds into the second quarter when Gilroy hauled in a pass from Thomas Wright and used his size and strength to break a handful of tackles for a 14-yard touchdown.

The only issue at that point was the PAT operation, as Ryan Wellington missed his first attempt and had the second one blocked.

Wright set up his four-yard touchdown run with five minutes to go in the first half with a 30-yard run.

The Green Raiders (2-1) marched to the 11 of Haverford in the last 27 seconds of the first half but the defense clogged the passing lanes, Wright batting down one of John Heller’s throws in the back of the end zone to bring out the field goal team.

Chris Vinci delivered a 30-yard field goal to cut the lead to 19-3 at the intermission.

Ridley coach Dave Wood switched to quarterback Shaun Kennedy in the second half.

“We put the senior in, we just weren’t getting anything done,” Wood said. “We had the ball to start the second half and we wanted to put the senior in and give him an opportunity to see if he could kick-start it. That’s a position we’re still evaluating. We ran the ball well at times. But the quarterback is the key in this offense. We have to be able to throw the ball.”

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Haverford running back Jimmy Wright runs past Ridley defenders Friday night in a 33-3 win for the Fords.

(Submitted Photo/Paul Bogosian)

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UPPER DARBY — In a season long or short, early or late or somewhere in the middle, no matter what the year or era, Mike Ricci knows the moment will arrive.

It will be then, and only then, that he knows what he has in his Garnet Valley football team.

“We’ll see what you do when you get hit in the mouth,” Ricci said Friday night. “We got hit in the mouth. And I love the way we responded.”

In a Central League collision of programs at different points in development, Ricci’s Jaguars outperformed Upper Darby, 46-6, improving to 3-0. For the first 30 minutes, though, at least by Ricci’s analysis, the Jags were not quite themselves against the winless Royals

For that, his halftime address came through clear, even though his protective mask.

“We knew they were going to be physical, and they were even more physical than we thought,” said quarterback Kevin McGarrey. “They did an incredible job on defense. They did a good job stopping our play calls. They knew what we were going to do. But I thought in the second half, after the coaches got on us a little bit, and rightfully so, we did a great job of responding.”

With Julien Laventure, Justin Leo and Jihad Cave, among others, swarming on defense, the Royals made the dangerous Garnet Valley offense work in the first half, and were victimized mostly by big plays.

A 38-yard pass from McGarrey to Brian Bradley, and a 13-yard McGarrey run, put Shane Reynolds in position for a seven-yard touchdown run with 3:05 left in the first quarter. When Upper Darby lost a fumble at its 17, Reynolds capitalized with a 10-yard scoring effort eight seconds into the second quarter.

McGarrey’s 29-yard scoring pass to Will Wrzesniewski with 6:20 left before halftime inflated a 20-0 lead that was a little less than comfortable.

That’s when Ricci made his challenge.

“I didn’t think our guys had our best first half because Upper Darby played so well,” Ricci said. “But I was thrilled with the way we came out in the second half and executed our offense.”

McGarrey capped the first drive of the second half with a 14-yard scoring pass to Matt Murkowski, and Reynolds soon followed with his third touchdown, a 27-yard blast. Shane Mulholland’s two-yard touchdown run and Zach Liberatore’s fourth successful PAT built the lead to 40-0.

Bradley mixed a 60-yard run into the Jags’ 304-yard rushing night. Making efficient use of his eight carries, Reynolds chipped in with 68.

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PETE BANNAN – MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE PHOTO Garnet Valley

quarterback Kevin McGarrey (1), congratulated by teammate Shane

Reynolds, right, amid a Jaguars win over Ridley last year, was on

top of his game again Friday night as the Jaguars took down Upper Darby.

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Lower Merion remains the only undefeated girls’ soccer team in the Central League after two big wins against strong Radnor and Conestoga teams in the past week.

The Aces (7-0) earned a 2-1 win against Conestoga Nov. 5. Lower Merion opened the scoring in the first half with a crossing pass from Roberta Moger to Hannah Blodget, who pushed the ball past the left fullback and slotted the goal past the Conestoga goalie.

“The first goal by Hannah was huge for us and our momentum,” said coach Kevin Ries.

The Aces pushed the lead to 2-0 off a corner by Moger that found the foot of Elly Slenksy, who easily slotted the ball into the far post.  Conestoga cut the lead in half with 15 minutes to play when Sophie Koziol converted a penalty kick, but the Aces’ defense shut them out the rest of the way despite two last-minute Pioneer corners. Center backs Ellie Ward and Lily Garton cleared many long balls in the final minutes.

Blodget said, “Our defense was decisive in breaking apart Conestoga’s counterattack, and our midfielders did a phenomenal job of dictating the game with consistent distribution and tenacity in winning turnovers.”

Ries said, “This year’s team knows what it takes to win close games, and  I am proud of the way they played tonight. The midfield of Elly Slensky, Ella Braufeld, Emma Burke and Kate Jackson were outstanding tonight.”

Two days earlier, the Aces defeated Radnor, 3-0. The Aces dominated most of the play during the first half, and before halftime Roberta Moger hit in a corner to the back post, where Hannah Blodget slotted it past the goalie. Lower Merion kept its 1-0 lead through halftime as senior goalie Audrey Brown made some crucial saves.

In the second half, sophomore Grace Downey took the ball down the left wing and rocketed a shot into the back post. Blodget finished the scoring with a shot from the top of the box to make it 3-0, assisted by Ella Braufeld.

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Lower Merion’s Roberta Moger (9) brings the ball

upfield in the Aces’ win against Conestoga.

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