Strath Haven shows signs of glory times in win over Conestoga

NETHER PROVIDENCE — Some members of the 2018 Strath Haven football team had not been born when the 1999 and 2000 Panthers were crowned state champions.

Those title teams could get the football up and down the field often, and they also were known for their strong defensive units.

“We want our identity to be that we can move the football, but we also want to be a good defensive team,” senior defensive end Ethan Belville said after this version of the Panthers had limited visiting Conestoga to 18 yards in the first half and 114 yards of total offense in a 17-7 Central League victory over the Pioneers Friday night.

One fourth-quarter play typified what Belville was talking about. Playing on the right side of the defensive line, he raced from one sideline to the other in pursuit of ’Stoga quarterback Chris McGovern before pulling him down for a five-yard loss as the Panthers (3-1, 3-0) tried to keep the Pioneers off the scoreboard.

Four plays later, after a McGovern to Brady Carpenter completion put the ball inside the Panthers’ 5, Liam Kirk (55 of his 81 rushing yards in the second half) banged over the goal line from four yards away for the Pioneers’ lone touchdown.

Kirk is the grandson of Jim Casey, who played tackle at Monsignor Bonner  and the University of Pennsylvania.

“I talk to my Pop-Pop about football a lot,” Kirk said. “And I’m sure we’ll talk about this game. But now that it’s over, we know we have to keep our heads on straight and make sure we’re ready when we play Penncrest next week.”

Conestoga (0-4, 0-3) didn’t run its first play from scrimmage until the first quarter was six minutes old. Strath Haven covered 63 yards in 12 plays, with the first 11 on the ground before Jake Fisher got together with sophomore Evan Blake for an 18-yard scoring reception.

Seven of the carries on the scoring drive were by senior Zack Hussein, who finished with 148 yards on 31 rushing attempts.

A Fisher to Belville completion for 28 yards put the Panthers in field goal range as the first half was drawing to a close. As Emmet Young’s 37-yard kick was splitting the uprights, the clock read 0:00, signaling the halftime break.

Jake Dunning covered a Conestoga fumble to the SH 37, then Hussein ripped off runs of 24 and 19 yards before Fisher got the last yard for six more Panthers points.

“Our offensive line has been doing a great job,” Hussein said. “Coach (Kevin) Clancy emphasizes how the little things can be so important, whether it’s footwork or things like that. And they’ve done what they had to do on their blocking assignments.”

Sam Burk, Chris Tagliaterra, Matt Doughty and Ryan Krouse were among the key Haven blockers, and Krouse got off punts of 47 and 35 yards.

“We knew what we had to do tonight was to stop their running game,” Belville said. “We just go out there on defense and keep flying around.

“Now we’ve got to keep our momentum going and keep doing what we know we can do out there.”