Football Friday Five games to Watch: Winless Haverford, Interboro, Springfield hungry for victories
It’s Week 3 of the football season and several teams are searching for their first win.
Haverford has played one of the toughest schedules among Delaware County teams, but has suffered hard-luck losses to Archbishop Carroll and Garnet Valley, who are ranked seventh and first, respectively, in the Daily Times Super 7. Haverford looks to get on track at home against Penncrest (1-1).
Interboro needs to improve its defense in order to have any shot at a winning campaign. Strath Haven scored 44 points against the Bucs in Week 1, while Oxford exploded for 77 last Friday. Interboro hits the road to play 0-2 Archbishop Ryan.
Springfield has scored 14 points in losses to Penn Wood and Ridley. The Cougars aim for their first win when they travel to 2-0 Radnor.
Here are the games to watch this weekend:
Friday
Ridley at Strath Haven, 7
Ridley and Strath Haven are two of four teams in the Central League with 2-0 records.
Dylan Staley ran for two scores and eclipsed the 100-yard plateau for the second straight game in the Green Raiders’ 22-6 rout of Springfield. Ridley’s defense forced three interceptions.
The Panthers rolled to a 56-0 win over Penncrest and are outscoring the opposition 98-14 after two weeks. Senior John Prochniak has three rushing TDs in each of the first two games.
Strath Haven is looking for its first victory against Ridley since the 2005 season.
Springfield at Radnor, 7
It has been a struggle for the Cougars (0-2), who have averaged 136.5 yards of total offense in their first two games. Rushers are averaging a paltry 1.8 yards per carry. In last Friday’s 22-6 loss to Ridley, first-year starting quarterback Kevin Rechner completed 16 of 37 attempts for 120 yards and a touchdown.
The Raiders are 2-0 for the third consecutive season. Quarterback Sam DiLella has been excellent, throwing for a county-high 449 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions. In last week’s 43-0 drubbing of Harriton, DiLella was 11 of 13 for 275 yards and four TDs.
Father Judge at Cardinal O’Hara, 7
The Lions (1-0) began the 2019 campaign with a 17-13 decision over Hudson (N.J.) Catholic. Senior tailback Keed Kpoto ran for 113 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Cole Sprague completed 6 of 11 attempts for 83 yards and a score.
The Crusaders (0-2) are coming off a 36-24 setback to Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. Quarterback Aiden Dooley threw for 220 yards and wide receiver Damier Johnson made two catches for 99 yards.
Penn Wood at Northeast, 7
The Vikings (2-0) obliterated The Haverford School, 36-0, behind a defense that registered nine caused turnovers, five interceptions and three touchdowns. Jon Luke-Peaker ran for a team-high 74 yards and QB Zhair Wheeler connected on a pair of TD passes.
All-Delco QB Desman Johnson threw for two TDs and ran for a pair to lead the Patriots (2-0) to a 38-35 win over Pennsbury last week.
Saturday
Arch. Carroll at Haverford School, 1
The Fords (0-1) look to turn the page on a forgettable season opener. In a 36-0 defeat to Northeast, the Fords committed nine turnovers and allowed a pair of interception returns for touchdowns. About the only bright spot was running back Mekhi Ajose-Williamson, who ran for 60 yards on 20 carries.
The Patriots (1-1) tasted defeat for the first time 2019, falling to Seton Hall (N.J.), 42-20. Russell Minor-Shaw had a big day at quarterback, completing 17 of 27 attempts for 188 yards. He also amassed 153 yards on the ground with a pair of touchdowns.
