Delco Football Notebook: Penn Wood finally gets to light ’em up
For the time in school history, Penn Wood will host its home football games under the lights.
The Patriots program was awarded a $3,000 grant from the National Football League Foundation, which enabled the William Penn School District to invest in temporary portable lights.
Coach Nick Lincoln said the lights are a three-month commitment, so from now until the end of the 2016 campaign, the Patriots will play their remaining home games Friday evenings at Kerr Field.
The lights will also be available to other Penn Wood fall sports clubs. The first night game at Kerr Field will take place Thursday when the girls and boys soccer teams host Chichester at 6 and 7:30 p.m., respectively.
Friday night the Patriots will welcome back Olympic shot putter and All-Delco Darrell Hill, who will participate in a ceremonial coin toss prior to the team’s Del Val League football game against Glen Mills.
“We are excited, the kids are excited,” coach Nick Lincoln said. “It’ll be a great time.”
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It’s a requirement for every student at Bonner & Prendergast to serve 10 community service hours per year.
Members of the football program spent last Thursday volunteering at the St. Francis Country House nursing home in Darby. The experience was an enjoyable one for coach Jack Muldoon’s players.
“Matt Barr, who is our defensive coordinator, thought it was important for them to do it. They sat for three hours and just talked, and one kid was even showing card tricks,” Muldoon said. “The elderly there don’t get many visitors, so they enjoy when someone comes over and talks to them. So, I was really happy that they did it and when they came back, they all said that they were glad they did it.”
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The Haverford School (3-1) got back on track last Saturday with a 48-28 victory over previously undefeated Penn Wood. The Fords had led, 45-6, in the third quarter.
Coach Mike Murphy was especially glad with the effort by his front seven, players such as linemen Asim Richards and Colin Hurlbrink, who made life tough for the Patriots at the line of scrimmage.
Twyman, the Fords’ star running back, has seen more action at linebacker due to Chris Kober’s injury. Last year, Kober was a standout at linebacker alongside his brother and All-Delco, Mickey. Last Saturday, Twyman had a pass deflection and was in on several tackles.
“I feel our defensive line is one of the strengths of this team,” Murphy said after the game. “Those guys really ratcheted up this week. Also, it doesn’t help that we’re still without our starting middle linebacker in Chris Kober, so the two guys out there today Mallik Twyman and Ish Morrison, kind of filled that role.”
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It’s not rare for high school kickers to get pulled into football on a whim. That’s what happened this summer to Ridley’s Kyran Baker, who is a varsity soccer player.
Again… it’s nothing unique, but interesting because in his first few months as the kicker on a 5-0 team, Baker has been excellent in points-after attempts. He has drilled each of his last 18 and has missed only once all season.
“We get him one day a week,” coach Dave Wood said earlier this season. “And I’m fine with that. I know he’ll be ready.”
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This weekend marks the beginning of the Del Val League schedule.
It’s conceivable that at least four of the six teams — Academy Park, Glen Mills, Interboro, Penn Wood — can win the title.
Entering Week 5, three Del Val squads were undefeated. Academy Park improved to 5-0 with a 47-0 trouncing of Cheltenham, while Penn Wood and Interboro tasted defeat for the first time.
Meanwhile, Glen Mills (3-2) rolled Caesar Rodney (Del.) and Chester (2-3) lost a 48-39 shootout at Reading.
Brimming with talent, the Del Val is in great shape this year.
“I think the league is very open this year,” Penn Wood coach Nick Lincoln said. “Academy Park is doing good as usual, Interboro is Interboro. Glen Mills is coming on. I think it can be anybody’s to win. We hope to be one of those teams.”
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Moving The Chains >> If you’re looking for a game of the week in Delco, it’s Ridley (5-0) at home against Springfield (5-0) Friday night…Marple Newtown junior quarterback Anthony Paoletti is on pace to break the county’s career passing record, which has been held by Tigers coach Chris Gicking for 21 years. With 3,060 yards in 11/2 varsity seasons, Paoletti is 2,837 yards away from tying Gicking’s record… Interboro’s 27-0 defeat to Penn Charter last week was the Bucs’ worst shutout loss in four years (Episcopal Academy, 41-0)…After a 30-6 shellacking of Caesar Rodney (Del.) last week, Glen Mills is riding a three-game winning streak for the first time since 2014… Cardinal O’Hara is on a bye week. The Lions will host Lansdale Catholic next Friday night … In its four wins, Garnet Valley is averaging 48.8 points per game.
To contact Matt Smith, email msmith@delcotimes.com or follow him on Twitter @DTMattSmith
