Prochniak brothers keep Strath Haven stingy, earn another game together
NETHER PROVIDENCE — For Strath Haven junior linebacker Aiden Prochniak, playing next to older brother John in the middle of the Panthers defense has made this season a memorable one.
It’s the first time the Prochniak brothers have played side-by-side since their days with the Rose Tree Colts.
“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” Aiden Prochniak said.
The Prochniaks will play at least one more game together after the fifth-seeded Panthers held off 12th-seeded Upper Merion, 21-6, Friday night at George L. King Field in the opening round of the District 1 Class 5A playoffs.
John and Aiden Prochniak anchored a solid defensive effort to send the Panthers (8-2) into next week’s quarterfinals against fourth-seeded Kennett, a 26-0 victor over No. 13 Chichester.
With the Prochniak brothers leading the way, the Panthers held the Vikings to 56 yards rushing and 102 yards of total offense in the second half. Upper Merion had 149 yards on the ground and 157 yards of total offense in the second half.
John Prochniak also ran for 152 yards, which included a 52-yard scamper in the fourth quarter that set up the second of two quarterback sneaks by Jack Ryder, who also threw a touchdown pass.
“I did not want to see my brother or any of the seniors hang up their pads,” said Aiden Prochniak, who tipped a pass and sacked quarterback Dale Clayton on Upper Merion’s final play of the game. “They need another game.”
That was in doubt for three quarters as the teams went into the final period locked in a scoreless deadlock. The Vikings moved the ball effectively in the first half, but could not punch it in. Anthony Swenda fumbled at the Strath Haven 13-yard-line on Upper Merion’s first possession.
Aiden Prochniak forced Clayton into a fourth-down incompletion at the Strath Haven 15 the next time the Vikings had the ball.
“That’s kind of been the story of the season,” Upper Merion coach Victor Brown said. “In many games, we play our opponents and ourselves, whether it’s turnovers or penalties, we’ve managed to get ourselves off schedule to the long-distance situations. When we stay out of long-distance situations we’re fine.”
Upper Merion held Strath Haven’s offense in check until the Panthers finally took the lead on the first of two quarterback sneaks by Ryder with 9:40 to play in the game. The Vikings answered with a 43-yard kickoff return by Taiyan Looban and a 24-yard TD run from Swenda to cut the deficit to six. Brown went for two and John Prochniak was there to stop Looban and keep the Panthers’ lead intact.
“We weren’t ready to go home,” John Prochniak said. “We knew they were a great team, but we also knew that if we wanted it more we would come out with the win.”
Strath Haven scored on its next two possessions to seal the victory. Ryder threw a 21-yard scoring strike to Jaris Adams on fourth down. The Panthers were 3-for-4 on fourth-down conversions. Ryder scored again from a yard out with 3:56 to play to put the game out of reach.
“Coach (Kevin) Clancy gave a great short speech (at halftime),” Ryder said. “He said that we have to go out and finish this. We’re not ending our season tonight. We’re going to go out there and win the football game and that’s what we did.”
The win gave the Prochniak brothers at least one more chance to play side-by-side.
“I love my brother and the more I can play with him, the happier I am,” John Prochniak said. “You only get so many opportunities to play with your siblings and it’s such an honor to play with him, especially when he plays that well. He was amazing.”
