[tps_title]Haverford Fords [/tps_title]
PETE BANNAN-DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Haverford High School quarterback Jake Ruane is taken down n the first half against Garnet Valley Friday Sept. 30, 2016 at Cornog Field in Havertown. The Fords won in overtime 34-28.
Fords must learn on fly to compete in Central League
HAVERFORD >> Minutes before the 2015 Haverford High football season came to an end, Haverford quarterback Jack Donaghy stood in the end zone after an exciting scoring run against Thanksgiving Day rival Upper Darby.
The home team had earned its first Central League championship in 20 years, and those who were at Haverford that morning went away with memories that will last a long time. 
“The most exciting high school football game I’ve ever been involved in,” Haverford head coach Joe Gallagher said.
High praise from a man who, as a senior at defunct St. James nearly 45 years ago, played in a thrilling Catholic League playoff contest in which the Bulldogs earned a two-point decision over Bishop Kenrick before a packed house at Villanova Stadium. That St. James squad went 12-0 and is considered by many the best high school football team to have played in Delaware County.
As Gallagher and his 2017 Fords team began work in preparation for the upcoming season, the veteran coach didn’t see a lot of familiar faces. He did see a group of players determined to do all they can to hang another Central League title banner in Juenger Gymnasium.
“We’ll be depending on a lot of newcomers as far as varsity starters this year,” Gallagher said. “We do have people who saw time on that 2015 team or who have been JV starters.
“They’re stepping up to the challenge of being varsity starters for the first time.”
The Fords qualified for the Class 6A district playoffs last fall, but this group has made it a point to dedicate the preseason work to making sure the 2017 season doesn’t have the kind of disappointing start the 2016 campaign did.
“We lost our opener at Chester, and that hurt for a long time because it was a game we should have won,” Gallagher said. “This year we’re opening with Chester again and it’s the first game on our field with the new turf they put down this summer.
“It’s also the (Delco Athletes Hall of Fame) Kickoff Classic. We want to get off to a good start.”
The following week, Central League play begins, and the Fords will be on another new playing surface — at Ridley’s Phil Marion Field.
“Our new starters on defense are good players,” Gallagher said. “They’ve won football games as freshmen and JV players, and now it’s their turn to win games as varsity football players. And they’re excited about playing.”
The key returning defenders are backs Jordan Mosley and Jack Klee and lineman Pat Boyle. Mosley made the 2016 All-Delco team as a receiver (52 catches for 956 yards and 11 touchdowns), but will play defense when he gets to the University of Maryland next year.
Heading up the offense will be junior quarterback Jake Ruane, who completed 159 of 275 passes for 2,119 yards and 16 touchdowns during his sophomore season. Klee also will be running with the football when the Fords go on offense.
“I was a little nervous about taking over (as a starter) last year,” Ruane said. “As the season went on, things got a lot better.”
Among the new starters who have impressed Gallagher have been seniors Carrington Hooks (WR/DB), Matt Young (OL/DL), Tommy Fredericks (OL/DL), Travis Weiss (RB) and Tim Campli (OL/DL).
Sean Leyden (OL/LB), Kevin DePrince (WR/DB), and Paul Denman (OL/DL) are juniors ready to move up on the varsity, and Trey Blair (RB/DB) and Shane Mosley (DB) are sophomores who will be getting their share of playing time.
“We’ve made the playoffs when I was a sophomore and a junior,” said Klee, whose younger brother, Brian, will be a wide receiver and linebacker for the Fords. “It’s something we definitely want to do as seniors.”
Ruane, who also plays basketball, echoed Klee’s sentiments about this Haverford team’s goals.
“Right now, everyone is thinking only about the Chester game,” he said. “But for the season we want to have a winning record, win the Central League, make the playoffs and beat Upper Darby (Thanksgiving Day).”
Bright memories
Haverford assistant coach Mike Bright was a member of the Fords’ 1995 team, which won Joe Gallagher’s first Central League championship as head coach. “It’s hard to believe this is (Gallagher’s) 25th season as head coach here,” Bright said. “I’ve seen him from both sides, as my coach and as one of his coaches. It’s been something I’ve really enjoyed.”
Gallagher began coaching as an assistant at his alma mater, St. James in Chester, after his playing days at the University of Tennessee. He also was an assistant at Cardinal O’Hara, Conestoga and Williamson Trade School.
By Harry Chaykun; For Pa Prep Live
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