Defense gets in on Ruane’s act in Haverford’s shutout of Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — Having a record-setting quarterback has many advantages. As Haverford High defensive back Trey Blair will attest, the offense isn’t the only unit that benefits from having a quarterback as proficient as senior Jake Ruane, the leading passer in program history.
“I mean, playing against Jake has probably been the hardest thing I’ve had to do,” Blair said. “No offense to any quarterbacks in our league but going against Jake in practice makes it so much easier in games.”
That was evident on Friday, when Blair and the Haverford defense made life miserable for Springfield quarterback Jack Psenicska in a 20-0 victory over the Cougars. The Fords (8-1 overall, 6-1 Central League) intercepted Psenicska four times, all at critical moments of the game — three on fourth down and two in the Fords’ end zone with Springfield driving.
“It’s coaching, all the work we put in,” said Justin Burgess, who came up with both end-zone interceptions. “Great practices and technique.”
Wint gets his second touchdown of the night from three yards out. Haverford leads Springfield, 20-0, in the third quarter pic.twitter.com/TcH8OiRgcV
— Dillon Friday (@noclassfriday) October 20, 2018
It wasn’t just the pass defense. The Fords limited Springfield to 173 total yards of total offense. For nearly three quarters, the Cougars’ longest play from scrimmage came on a 23-yard Frank Bullock run off a fake punt. They managed just 52 yards on the ground. Haverford’s offense commands most of the headlines and rightfully so. The defense has been pretty good, too. Both units feed off each other.
“We have a lot of two-way guys,” Ruane said. “So when they make stops on (defense), it gives them confidence on offense.”
But it starts with Ruane, who completed 15 of 21 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown. After the Fords forced a punt on Springfield’s opening drive, Ruane led Haverford down the field. He went 6-for-6 for 70 yards, hitting four receivers along the way. On third-and-three from the 18, Ruane found Ryan Odgers for 15 yards. Chasen Wint plunged in for six on the next play.
The Cougars (6-3, 5-3) answered with their best drive of the night, helped along by the Bullock scamper on fourth down. They got as close as the Fords’ 3. But on fourth down, Psenicska tried to force a throw to the corner of the end zone. Burgess read it and picked it off.
“Honestly, it’s the same thing every time,” Burgess said. “All I had to do was stay on the ball and focus.”
On fourth down, Sean Reynolds comes up with the interception and returns it to midfield. Haverford’s fourth pick of the night pic.twitter.com/svgOrDhGSb
— Dillon Friday (@noclassfriday) October 20, 2018
It was more of the same from there: Ruane added four more completions to make for an even 10-for-10 start. The last one of that stretch was a beauty over the middle to Shane Mosley, who ran in for a 33-yard touchdown.
“I’m really just more comfortable, and I trust my guys,” said Ruane, who also had 98 rushing. “I trust my lines. I just have to make the throw.”
Blair picked off Psenicska on Springfield’s next possession. And the 13-0 halftime score felt much greater.
“They’ve got so many good athletes all over the field,” Springfield linebacker Patrick Clemens said. “They’ve got a great line. And they scheme well. I give it up to the coaches. They really put their best players in the best situations.”
With a two-score lead, Haverford took to the ground. Ruane picked up chunks of yards on zone reads and Wint, as he did in the first quarter, finished off the one scoring drive of the third with a three-yard touchdown.
The shutout was punctuated with a sack from Elihu Bey, an interception from Sean Reynolds and, finally, one more fourth-down end-zone pick from Burgess. As good as Ruane is, the Fords are a complete team.
“It’s not just the defense,” Blair said. “It’s the offense and the defense playing as a whole.”
The result leaves both teams in odd positions. Springfield has lost three of four and needs to right the ship as the district playoffs approach.
“I think we’re going to start fixing things up,” Clemens said. “It really starts from the inside out. We need a little more leadership from our seniors, and we’re going to start getting that.”
Haverford, on the other hand, can still claim a share of the league title with a win against Ridley next Friday and a victory over rival Upper Darby on Thanksgiving. The Fords also need the Royals to upset Garnet Valley. Haverford, should they take care of business, will be Upper Darby fans.
“I want them to win,” Blair said. “I want them to win by 50.”
