Football: Even with injury, Milligan able to lend a hand to Haven

NETHER PROVIDENCE — Strath Haven senior Sam Milligan’s primary focus in Friday’s Central League contest with Conestoga was find a way to contribute.

It didn’t matter that the quarterback of last year’s District 1 Class 5A championship team wasn’t quite ready to lead the offense under center. Sporting a bulky cast on his right arm, Milligan is a couple of weeks away from throwing a football again.

But he can make his presence felt on defense.

After suffering an injury in the Panthers’ season opener and missing last week’s game altogether, Milligan was cleared to return Thursday. He made a big impact in Haven’s 25-0 rout of the Pioneers at George L. King Field.

“It’s a lot of coaching,” said Milligan in his temporary role as a one-way player. “The coaches, they’re able to get you ready to be in the right spots. I knew where I had to be today. The coaches really drilled it into me and that’s all it is. You get in the right spot and you try to make a play.”

Milligan made two plays to end Conestoga drives. Off a deflection, he was able to secure his first interception inside Strath Haven territory in the second quarter.

Conestoga quarterback Peter Costigan tested Milligan on a deep ball in the fourth quarter, but Milligan outran the receiver and hauled in the pass. It was a very athletic interception for the three-sport athlete and the third takeaway of the night for the Haven defense.

The cast is a bit cumbersome, but Milligan showed that all he needs is one arm to make a pick.

“I get a lot of weird looks,” he said, laughing.

Milligan’s performance as a defensive back was crucial. The Panthers lost top defensive back Aidan Sutherland, who tied for the team lead in interceptions last season, due to an apparent leg injury in the first half.

“When Aidan went down, he stepped up for us and got two picks,” running back/linebacker Austin Conner said. “That was awesome.”

Strath Haven stuck to what it does best on the offensive side of the ball.

The Panthers (3-0, 1-0 Central League) called 59 run plays and zero passes. The offensive line of Cole Miller, Jackson Geremia, Carter Law, Will Leuthold and Billy Brown and tight end Ben Farabaugh dominated the Pioneers (2-1, 1-1) at the point of attack all night long.

Senior Anthony Crawford amassed 188 yards on 27 carries and scored two touchdowns. Bob Fooskas finished with 113 yards and a TD, while Conner rushed for 44 yards on eight totes.

“I’m going to block, I’m going to run. I’ll do whatever is needed,” Conner said. “As long as we win the game, I’m happy.”

Through three games Strath Haven has outscored the opposition, 102-19.

Jake Kitchin earned the start under center for the second straight week in place of Milligan. He threw for a touchdown in three attempts last week against Kensington.

Conestoga (2-1, 1-1) managed to run just 22 plays on offense, a testament to Strath Haven’s control of the clock. For instance, the Panthers used more than seven minutes of game clock on a 13-play drive to begin the second half.

“In the second half we just started to eat away and we made the necessary adjustments,” Milligan said. “It’s important to us that, once we get to the second half, we do what we know how to do.”

Conestoga’s run game was nonexistent. It had some success when Costigan (5-for-15, 64 yards) was able to hit for big gainers through the air.

Its one significant drive of the night ended when the Haven defense, led by Fooskas, Crawford and Conner at linebacker, stopped Costigan short of a first down on a fourth-down sneak with five seconds left in the second quarter.