Haverford defense finds a Weh to make final stand over Upper Darby
UPPER DARBY — Haverford’s C.J. Weh has one job on passing plays.
“It’s my job to go where the quarterback goes and try and get him to the ground,” the senior defensive lineman said.
But on the final play of his final game as a Ford Thursday, Weh decided to do something differently.
“He was rolling away from me toward the sideline and I knew I would never make it to him,” Weh said. “So in the moment I thought I would drop back into the end zone to help the guys who are out there.”
And then he did something he has never done before at any level of organized football. He intercepted a pass.
In this instance, it was the game-deciding play in a thrilling 14-13 win for the Fords at rival Upper Darby in their traditional Thanksgiving clash. It was the ninth consecutive victory for Haverford in the storied rivalry, which the Fords lead 48-43-6.
Upper Darby had just scored a touchdown with 12 seconds remaining on a one-yard plunge by quarterback Kevin Kerwood. Ever the gambler, coach Rich Gentile decided to go for two and the win rather than kick an extra point and head to overtime.
“I felt like it was the right decision,” said Gentile, who has been thinking about this for the past year. “In last year’s game we were down 14-7 and we were driving and I thought then, if we score we’ll go for two. We didn’t score in that one, but I was thinking the same thing this time. We were moving the ball pretty well and I thought we could make the three yards we needed to win the game.”
And he was right. His team had just completed a 16-play, 81-yard drive, that lasted 7:38. Kerwood and Kareem McAdams were chewing up the Haverford defense, and the play Gentile called was a good one. Kerwood rolled to his left and just before he reached the sideline threw back to the middle of the end zone where receiver Shawn McCullough was wide open.
Thing is, no one expected Weh to flash into that open area. Not even Weh’s coach.
“That’s an unbelievable play by C.J.,” Haverford coach Joe Gallagher said. “It’s a perfect example of our team mantra. We talk about everyone holding on to the same rope and doing what needs to be done to help the team. C.J. was definitely holding the rope there. That’s a great play by a great kid.”
And it wasn’t just any old interception. Weh made a lunging, one-handed grab, to stave off Upper Darby’s big at victory.
“It’s really bittersweet for me,” said Weh. “The interception, on Thanksgiving, against Upper Darby, that ‘s just amazing. But I’m really going to miss this. This group. This team. This game. But it’s great to go out with a win.”
The Fords (9-3, 7-2 Central League) scored first on a 16-yard touchdown run by Chasen Wint just two minutes before halftime in what was a defensive struggle between the teams in the first half. But Upper Darby bounced back quickly, and following a 38-yard run by Kerwood, tied the score with 32 seconds to go before halftime when Kerwood hit McCullough with a 17-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at the half.
The Royals (7-5, 5-4) shut down high-powered Haverford quarterback Jake Ruane in the first half, intercepting him once and limiting him to zero completions.
But Ruane and the Haverford offense started to click in the second half as Ruane was 7-for-9 for 66 yards after the break. He put the Fords back on top 14-7 with a 1-yard touchdown run with 7:50 to play in the contest.
“We definitely struggled in the first half, but we made some adjustments at halftime and were really able to attack the weak spots in their defense and get moving,” Ruane said. “We had a good game plan coming in and we stuck with it and just made small changes to get it going.”
Upper Darby leaned on McAdams on the final drive. He finished with 28 carries for 103 yards; 44 yards came on the last drive.
“The silver lining is that he’ll be back for us next year,” Gentile said. “Him and Kerwood. So even though we didn’t get this one today, we have a bright future for sure.”
