Delco Football Notebook: Interboro heats up as Del Val schedule looms
Thanks to a 19-17 triumph over Penn Charter last week, Interboro is 3-1 for the first time since 2012, the year the Bucs captured their first District One Class AAA title.
The Bucs offense has been predicated on an offensive line that is creating plenty of space for running backs Chris Hummel, Chris Thomas and Lamar Shaw.
Interboro’s potent rushing attack has averaged 212.5 yards per game, which ranks among the best in Delco. Steve Royer, Quentin Frangeli, Brandon Tynes, Mike McMillan and Cameron Brooks have been excellent all season in the trenches.
Danny Mea has passed every test in his first year as the Bucs’ No. 1 quarterback. While he’s thrown for 240 yards and two scores, Mea has managed the Bucs’ run-first offense with confidence. Mea follows in the tradition of Interboro QBs who play both ways, performing very well at linebacker for a defense that has limited the opposition to 10 points per game.
The Bucs play Caravel Academy, a traditional Delaware state power, before they open Del Val League competition next week at home against Glen Mills.
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Marple Newtown’s torrid start shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Despite the graduation of running back Adrian Sapnas, who rushed for a school-record 2,094 yards and 24 touchdowns last season, the Tigers returned a solid core of starters mixed in with a batch of first-year varsity players who have excelled under the tutelage of second-year coach Chris Gicking.
As a program, the Tigers were ready to take the next step.
The Tigers are operating their up-tempo, spread offense with precision. Sapnas has been replaced with a three-pronged rushing attack featuring Jack Fallows, a hard downhill runner, Marlon Weathers and the explosive Abel Hoff, who is truly one of the great all-around offensive talents in the county. En route to the program’s first 4-0 record since 2007, the Tigers are averaging 130 rushing yards and 25.8 points per game.
Meanwhile, the two-quarterback system that Gicking is employing has yielded positive results. Sophomore signal callers Anthony Paoletti and Bobby Siderio have combined for 641 yards and eight touchdowns through the air.
The offensive line has been buoyed by Luke Lozowicki while the Tigers are receiving strong play on defense by linebacker Gino DiCamillo and linemen Noah Turner and Kyle Kelly, while Hoff and Carmen Christiana have flourished in the defensive secondary. The Tigers haven’t allowed more than 14 points in a game this season.
Marple Newtown figures to be a heavy favorite Friday night when it hosts Lower Merion (1-3), which is a much-improved team despite a 55-0 defeat to Garnet Valley last week. If the Tigers emerge victorious, they’ll be 5-0 for the first time since 1977. Consequently, that was the same year the Tigers finished 10-1 on the way to their most recent Central League championship.
The Tigers currently have one of the easiest schedules remaining in the Central League, based on won-loss record. Of their remaining six opponents, only Garnet Valley boasts a winning mark.
One of the top running backs in the county hopes to get back on the field soon.
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Penn Wood’s Tayvon Ruley was noticeably absent in the Patriots’ surprising blowout loss to Archbishop Carroll last Friday. Ruley, the county’s leading rusher with 464 yards entering last weekend, was sidelined due to injury.
His absence could explain the Patriots’ struggles running the ball. The Patriots netted minus-13 yards on 20 carries. In the three games prior, the Patriots averaged 186 yards on the ground.
The Patriots will need Ruley’s talents if they hope to contend with Super 7 No. 1 Haverford School (4-0) Saturday afternoon.
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Sun Valley can easily be sitting at 2-2 instead of 0-4 as it prepares for a date with reigning District One Class AAA champion Great Valley. The Vanguards dropped a one-point decision to Upper Merion in Week 3 and suffered a 23-21 setback to Oxford last Friday thanks to a late field goal.
During this particularly frustrating two-game span, the Vanguards have been effective running the ball, averaging better than 5.5 yards per carry. Jon Kester has paved the way for Sun Valley’s rushers, registering 403 yards and three TDs in the first four weeks. Logan Markley and Bobby Koons have anchored the offensive line and quarterback Gabe Boccella has earned high grades for his management of the offense.
Three Delco teams are taking a respite from action this week.
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Chichester (3-1), Glen Mills (1-3) and Episcopal Academy (4-0) all have bye weeks. The Eagles are coming off a 55-15 slaying of Nativity BVM, the Battlin’ Bulls look to recharge following a 44-22 defeat to Caesar Rodney (Del.), and the Churchmen rest up after a hard-fought, 23-18 victory against Hill School.
Moving the Chains >> One week after rushing for 129 yards in a loss to Radnor, Springfield’s Kyle Long accrued 129 yards receiving and two touchdown catches in a 35-0 victory over Strath Haven … Upper Darby’s Brandon Morton and Academy Park’s Jawan Collins are making the most of their catches. Morton flaunts 24.4 yards per reception, while Collins boasts a 23.3 average … Haverford’s Jack Donaghy and Paoletti are the only active starting quarterbacks who have not thrown an interception (minimum 30 attempts).
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To contact Matt Smith, email msmith@delcotimes.com or follow him on Twitter @DTMattSmith.
Matt Smith’s Football Super 7
- Haverford School (3-0)
- Academy Park (4-0)
- Garnet Valley (3-1)
- Episcopal Academy (4-0)
- Upper Darby (3-1)
- Haverford (3-1)
- Ridley (2-2)
