Jihad Cave, Kaleel Mclaughlin help Upper Darby hold off Marple Newtown

NEWTOWN SQUARE — The signals were coming daily, the thuds defining every football practice at Upper Darby High. One night, the Royals believed, their defense would show the ability to be one of the best in the Central League.

Friday was that night, a 7-6 victory over Marple Newtown the end result. And a late drive suppression was the proof.

Limiting the Tigers to 114 total yards and denying an offensive score, the Royals bumped their league record to 3-2 and, with precision and fury, hinted that there would be more to come.

“We all talk about playing hard,” said safety Jihad Cave, who successfully ruled the passing lanes and, in his role as a leader, kept the defense steady. “And we work hard in practice. Tonight, everybody flew right to the ball. It wasn’t one person making the tackle, it was everybody making the tackle.”

In on more tackles than most, defensive tackle Kaleel Mclaughlin was a night-long force, helping to limit the Tigers to 28 rushing yards on 29 attempts, four times assisting on sacks.

That effort was of particular value when Marple Newtown assumed possession at its own 24 with 2:05 to play. With quarterback Dave Bertoline finding Bryan Bogan with a 21-yard pass, a pass-interference boost and a Brett Wolski reception, the Tigers would advance to the Upper Darby 43 with a minute remaining. But responding to the test, the Royals forced a four-and-out to snap a two-game losing streak.

“At that point, I had to get my defense together,” Cave said. “I told them, ‘Keep your eyes on the backfield. No eyes on the QB. Worry about your man.’”

It was the kind of leadership Royals coach Dave Barr had come to expect from his senior safety.

“He is our leader,” Barr said. “He got us lined up the whole night and did everything we needed him to do.”

While also solid on defense, the Tigers were stung early when Montez Ellis uncorked a 56-yard sprint along the right sideline to put Upper Darby at the 10. That put Lavar Jackson in position to drag at least six defenders across the goal line for a six-yard TD run.

Bility Abraham added the PAT, which quickly proved to be vital, as Bryan Box returned the ensuing kickoff 91 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown. The two-point conversion pass failing, the Royals spent the rest of the night preserving the one-point lead.

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