Streaking Garnet Valley faces test from Haverford
Here are five Delco football games to watch this weekend.
Friday
Garnet Valley (4-1) at Haverford (4-1), 7 p.m.
The Jaguars defeated Springfield, 34-18, to win their fourth consecutive game. Leading the way was Jacob Buttermore, who has been a multi-dimensional threat for the Jags all season. A junior receiver and kicking specialist, Buttermore hauled in a pair of Matt Hamby passes for 64 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 85 yards and a score and converted four of his five point-after kicks.
Meanwhile, GV’s rush defense as allowed 1.1 yards per carry over the last four weeks.
Haverford cruised to a 47-20 victory over Strath Haven. Senior quarterback Jack Donaghy threw for 256 yards and four touchdowns while Kareem Bernard rushed for a season-high 96 yards and a TD. The Fords, too, have reeled off four straight victories.
This is a rematch of last year’s wild game at Moe DeFrank Stadium that saw the host Jaguars rally in the fourth quarter to win, 44-41. Tom Cleary caught a touchdown pass from Steve Flanagan with 29 seconds to go to lift the Jags to a must-win on the second to last weekend of the regular season.
Marple Newtown (5-0) at Springfield (2-3), 7 p.m.
The Tigers handed Lower Merion a 40-0 defeat last Saturday and are 5-0 for the first time since 1977. Sophomore Anthony Paoletti was 20-of-33 with 219 yards and three touchdown passes. Receivers Abel Hoff and Marcus Weathers combined for 14 catches, 166 yards and three TDs. MN’s defense, buoyed by Gino DiCamillo and Noah Turner, limited the visiting Aces to 63 yards of total offense.
The Cougars are in do-or-die mode after last week’s loss to Garnet Valley, their third in four weeks. Brandon DiChacchio threw for 133 yards and a touchdown, but the Cougars struggled to move the ball against the Jaguars (53 yards on 21 carries).
Glen Mills (1-3) at Interboro (4-1), 7:30 p.m.
This weekend marks the opening of Del Val League play and this is the time of the year when the Battlin’ Bulls start to put things together. Coming off a much-needed bye, Glen Mills looks to get back on track behind quarterback Javon Thomas and running back Quadir Gibson, who has rushed for 235 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games.
The Bucs are riding a four-game winning streak after a 23-6 rout of Caravel (Del.). Chris Thomas matched his season high in rushing with 93 yards and a touchdown, while Chris Hummel sparked Interboro’s special-teams unit with a 68-yard punt return to pay dirt.
Saturday
Academy Park (5-0) at Penn Wood (1-4), 1 p.m.
The Knights take their five-game unbeaten streak into Kerr Field for a Del Val League clash with the Patriots, who are reeling after their fourth straight loss.
Led by a stout defense that took two fumble returns for touchdowns, the Knights downed Cardinal O’Hara last week, 43-0. Jermaine Wesley rushed for 80 yards and two scores while wide receiver Jawan Collins hauled in two touchdown passes from quarterback Taylor Moors. Defensively, the Knights gave up more than 100 yards rushing for the first time all year (108).
The Patriots dropped a 41-6 decision to the county’s No. 1 team, The Haverford School (4-0). Senior qtailback Tayvon Ruley rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown in the losing cause.
Archbishop Ryan (2-3) at Bonner-Prendergast (2-3), 3 p.m.
The Friars notched their second consecutive win with a 7-6 decision over Archbishop Carroll last Saturday. To call it a defensive struggle would be an understatement as the Catholic League AAA rivals combined for just 269 yards of total offense. Shaun Douglas’ touchdown pass to Joe Hartley-Vittoria was the difference.
Archbishop Ryan was shelled by longtime Catholic League AAA juggernaut Archbishop Wood, 41-0. Ryan and Bonner are meeting in a rematch of last season’s league semifinal.
