It’s playoff season in the PIAA and Delaware County’s best football teams are vying for the opportunity to win championships in District 1 and District 12.
Let’s begin in the Catholic League where a pair of Delaware County rivals will compete for the chance to play in next week’s District 12 final:
Cardinal O’Hara at Bonner & Prendergast, 5 >> The visiting Lions are one of the best feel-good teams in Delco football this fall. Second-year head coach Mike Ewing has brought the roar back to the Lions (7-3), who are enjoying their best season since 2018. Winners of four in a row, the Lions have received solid production from running backs Keon Powell (923 yards, 10 TDs) and Sidique Kamara (420 yards, four TDs). Khalil Epps, Logan Maloney and Ethan Schulcz have flourished in the receiving game, while second-year quarterback John Welde has thrown for 924 yards and nine touchdowns. On defense the Lions are buoyed by Zion Knox, who has a team-high 65 tackles and is tied with Hakim Allah for the team lead in sacks with 5.5. John Brown has had a solid year at linebacker.
The Friars (7-2) fell short in their bid for a second straight Catholic League Blue Division crown (Neumann & Goretti ran the table) but they are after what would be a third straight District 12 Class 4A title.
Avery Hankey leads a balanced rushing attack with 796 yards and four touchdowns. Isaiah Session, one of the best defensive players in Delco, has gained 324 yards with six TDs and Mick Johnson has contributed 375 yards and a pair of scores.
Bonner & Prendie bested O’Hara during the regular season, 13-7. Freshman quarterback Noel Campbell was a factor along with Jalil Hall and Mylachi Williams, the Friars’ superb edge rushers. Williams has recorded eight sacks in nine games. The winner of O’Hara and Bonner & Prendie will play either John Bartram or High School of the Future for the District 12 Class 4A title next week.
Prediction: Bonner & Prendie, 20-16.
In a District 1 Class 6A first-round game:
Owen J. Roberts at Garnet Valley, 7 >> The two-time defending district champion Jaguars (8-2) have endured more adversity this season than they have in the previous four combined. But they are a battle tested team built for the postseason grind, this time as the eighth seed.
A healthy Tyler Lassik at quarterback and in the defensive secondary has made a huge difference for the Jags. Lassik has passed for 666 yards and six TDs and has added 306 yards and three scores on the ground in roughly half a season of starts. Kai Lopez (414 yards) and Dante DeVuono (263 yards) have been reliable targets for Lassik. Nick Romaniello (75 tackles) is a standout linebacker for GV.
The No. 9 Wildcats (8-2) are piloted by dual threat quarterback Derek Hinrichs. Top running back Mekhi Graham suffered an injury early in last week’s 34-7 win over Pottsgrove and did not return. OJR has never been seeded as high as ninth in a District 1 Class 6A tournament.
The winner advances to the quarterfinal round to play either No. 16 Cheltenham or top-seeded Central Bucks West.
Prediction: Garnet Valley, 21-17
In District 1 Class 5A action:
Chichester at W.C. Rustin, 7 >> These two met Sept. 22 and it did not go well for the 12th-seeded Eagles (5-5). Chi quarterback Danny Kelly threw three interceptions and Rustin running back Chase Hatton ran for 127 yards and a pair of scores. The No. 5 Golden Knights (8-1) racked up 408 yards of offense, including 299 on the ground in a 49-9 victory.
The winner moves on to play either No. 13 Hatboro-Horsham or fourth-seeded Plymouth Whitemarsh in the quarterfinals.
Prediction: W.C. Rustin, 35-13.
Great Valley at Strath Haven, 7 >> The No. 2 Panthers (9-1) won the district title in 2021 and advanced to the semifinals a year ago. The Central League co-champions will continue to lean heavily on their three-headed monster at running back – James Fisher, Shane Green and Marco Kaufman.
The 15th-seeded Patriots (4-6) are very much the Panthers’ opposite on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback Braeden Melia has completed 134 of 260 passing attempts for 1,678 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s also thrown nine interceptions. Great Valley’s top pass catchers are Cole Callahan (31 catches for 341 yards) and Gavin Maslowski (25 for 267).
The winner will play either No. 10 Methacton or seventh-seeded Upper Dublin in the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Strath Haven, 28-10
W.C. Henderson at Springfield, 7 >> The No. 3 Cougars (9-1) are averaging 261 rushing yards per game behind Mike Turner, who eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in last week’s 63-14 win over Radnor, Nate Romano (717 yards) and Tanner Coll (286 yards). Romano, Ethan Marshall, Ryan Johnston and Mike Miller spearhead an extremely talented and physical defensive front seven. Gus Bryan is a savage on the offensive line.
Springfield is averaging 38.6 points per contest and has scored at least 42 points in six of its 10 games.
The No. 14 Warriors (4-6) won three of their last five games in the regular season. Among the teams they lost to were Chester, 36-14, and Sun Valley, 33-30.
Prediction: Springfield, 48-7.
Penncrest at Marple Newtown, 7 >> It must be a bummer for the No. 6 Tigers (8-2) and 11th-seeded Lions (5-5) to be playing each so soon after their last meeting. How soon? Seven days ago, with the Tigers coming out on top, 28-7. Brian Box led the way with 134 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Whereas the Tigers are perennial District 1 playoff qualifiers, the Lions have not qualified for the tournament since 2017. They have success when their offensive line controls the tempo and opens room for running backs Matt Malley and Matt Ferry.
The winners advances to the quarterfinals to play either Springfield or Henderson.
Prediction: Marple Newtown, 35-14
In the Inter-Ac League:
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy at Episcopal Academy, 7 >> We have entered the stretch drive of the Inter-Ac schedule and the Churchmen (4-4, 2-1) have won two in a row. They are playing their best ball of the season. It appears that no one is on the level of Malvern, whose only loss has been to perennial top state contender Imhotep. But EA still has plenty to look forward to, including next week’s big rivalry showdown with Haverford School.
Senior quarterback Na’Rome Rayborn completed 12 of 18 passing attempts for 233 yards and four TDs in last week’s 42-7 trouncing of Germantown Academy. Rayborn also ran for 120 yards. Gabe Ketchum (five tackles) and Jahmir Brown (3.5 tackles, one interception) excelled on defense.
The Blue Devils (7-1) were dealt a 42-14 loss to Haverford School last week, their first setback of the year.
Prediction: Episcopal, 35-28.
Saturday’s schedule includes:
Upper Moreland at Chester, 1 >> The No. 1 Clippers (9-1) are winners of nine in a row. Their offensive line is punishing, they have speed and athleticism throughout on defense (sophomore linebacker Jerell Palmer is a beast), and the offense has a grocery-sized list of capable playmakers. The Clippers have run the ball with authority this year, led by senior back Dayshon Jackson (1,339 yards, 10 TDs), but defenses must respect sophomore quarterback Jalen Harris (1,115 yards, 15 TDs) and the aerial attack. No, the Clippers have not passed with the volume and efficiency they had a year ago, but to sleep on Harris and his capable pass catchers including Connecticut-bound tight end Dom Toy (241 yards, four TDs) and wide receivers Daron Harris (32.9 yards per catch) and Emojh Barrett (25.0 ypc), would be a grave mistake.
Despite losing three of their previous four games the Bears (4-6) earned the 16th and final seed in the tournament. On Sept. 8 the Bears roughed up on Interboro, 25-0, so the teams have one common opponent (Chester steamrolled Interboro 52-0 a week later). Junior quarterback Alex Foley has thrown for more than 1,500 yards and 18 touchdowns.
The winner meets either No. 9 West Chester East or No. 8 Phoenixville in the quarterfinals next week.
Prediction: Chester, 32-7.
Penn Charter at Haverford School, 2 >> Matt Brosko’s 145-yard effort on the ground helped the Fords (4-4, 2-1 Inter-Ac) roll past Springside Chestnut Hill last week. Connor Scanlan threw touchdowns to Nicholas Krakovitz and Tanner Vogel.
The Quakers (3-4, 0-3) have managed to score only 25 points in their three league games. Ohifame Ijeboi is the team’s leading rusher (645 yards) and top pass catcher (eight catches for 147 yards).
Prediction: Haverford School, 34-21
Contact Matt Smith at msmith@delcotimes.com.
