Academy Park-Springfield highlights opening of District One playoffs
Eight Delaware County football teams have qualified for the District One postseason.
Academy Park earned the No. 1 seed in District One Class AAA after finishing the regular season with a 10-0 record for the first time since 1982. The Knights host No. 8 Springfield (6-4), which was a district finalist last year. After beginning the year with a 2-4 record, the Cougars enter the playoffs on a four-game winning streak.
Academy Park is vying for its second district championship in three years. The Knights and the Cougars previously met in the district quarterfinals in 2011.
The Knights have outscored their opponents, 322-47, and haven’t lost a game at home since Oct. 25, 2013.
“Our recent success helps and our seniors are used to this. They were here in 2013,” Academy Park coach Jason Vosheski said Friday night following his team’s 7-6 win over Interboro for the Del Val League title. “Regardless of who we play in the playoffs, whoever it is, they’re still a good football team. They’re in the playoffs for a reason.”
Elsewhere in Class AAA, Interboro (8-2) is the No. 5 seed and will travel to fourth-seeded and reigning District One champion Great Valley. The Bucs had won eight consecutive games before their Week 10 loss to Academy Park.
Marple Newtown (8-2) is the No. 6 seed and will hit the road to play perennial District One Class AAA qualifier and third-seeded Pottsgrove (7-3).
In the Class AAAA tournament, Haverford (9-1), Upper Darby (9-1) and Garnet Valley (7-3) qualified for the District One Class AAAA tournament. Garnet Valley, the 13th seed, travels to third-seeded Upper Dublin (10-0) in the opening round.
No. 7 Haverford hosts 10th-seeded Perkiomen Valley (9-1). No. 6 Upper Darby will host No. 11 Council Rock North (7-3) and quarterback Brandon McIlwain, who is bound for the University of South Carolina. McIlwain is considered the sixth-ranked quarterback recruit in the nation, according to ESPN.com.
Haverford and Upper Darby still have business to settle for the Central League championship, and are tentatively scheduled to play that game Thanksgiving morning at Haverford.
In Class A, reigning District One/12 Sub-Regional champion Delco Christian is the No. 1 seed. The Bicentennial League champion plays host to fourth-seeded Calvary Christian in a rematch of a 34-7 Delco Christian victory Oct. 17.
