Delco Football Friday: Inter-Ac slate starts with four unbeatens
There are no shortage of championship contenders in the Inter-Ac League.
Four of the six teams went undefeated in nonleague competition in the buildup to the first weekend of the league campaign. Daily Times No. 2 Episcopal Academy is 5-0, and Haverford School is 3-2. Malvern Prep has stumbled out of the gates with a 1-4 record, but the reigning champion Friars played a treacherous nonleague slate.
Episcopal and Haverford open on the road Saturday against Penn Charter and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, respectively. Those games are among the ones to watch.
Friday
Upper Darby at Garnet Valley, 7
The Royals (3-4) overcame a two-touchdown deficit to beat Radnor in thrilling fashion, 27-20, and snapped a three-game slide. Junior quarterback Corey Robinson ran for three touchdowns, and Dymire Bradham came up with an interception and win-sealing tackle on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line.
The Central League-leading Jaguars (6-1) haven’t been tested since a 35-28 win over Haverford back in Week 2 and have tallied 119 points over their last two games. Senior Lance Schwartz has anchored the offensive line, which has paved the way for a Garnet Valley rushing attack that is averaging 327 yards per game, tops in Delco.
Saturday
Bonner-Prendergast at Arch. Carroll, 1
The Friars (5-1) earned their third straight win with a 46-7 rout of Conwell-Egan. Senior linebackers Charles Ingram, Jared Nesbitt and Oscar Uduma and senior strong safety Ian Edwards lead a defensive unit that is allowing 62.3 rushing yards per game.
The Patriots (4-3) celebrate their homecoming on the heels of last week’s 64-20 blowout loss to Neumann-Goretti. Junior Malachi Hansen caught a touchdown pass and returned a kick to paydirt, but the Patriots defense allowed 569 yards from scrimmage.
Haverford School at Springside Chestnut Hill, 2:30
The Fords (3-2) scored as many points as they allowed (135) in five nonleague games. They turned the ball over 16 times, which is unsightly, but nine of those giveaways came in a season-opening loss to Northeast High. Defensively, the Fords are allowing 302.6 yards per game.
But there is room for growth. Haverford isn’t considered a championship favorite, but back-to-back blowout wins against Father Judge and Gilman School have the Fords moving in the right direction. Senior quarterback Dante Perri has thrown for 619 yards and five touchdowns.
Behind senior wide receiver Ke’Shawn Williams, the Blue Devils (5-0) are averaging 40.6 points per contest. Williams, who last year set the Inter-Ac League record for most receiving yards in a season (1,016), has snagged 18 passes for 417 yards and seven touchdowns, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Episcopal Academy at Penn Charter, 2
The Churchmen (5-0) are perfect after five games for the first time since 2013. Their success starts with dual-threat quarterback Maurcus McDaniel, who has been one of the top players in Delco. McDaniel ranks second in the county in quarterback rating (156.84) and fourth in rushing yardage (613). He has completed nearly 65 percent of his pass attempts (44-for-68) for 574 yards and seven touchdowns against only one interception.
EA is allowing only 10.8 points per game, which is the lowest points-against average among Inter-Ac schools. McDaniel and Matt Bush each eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in last week’s 21-7 win at Salesianum (Del.).
The Quakers (5-0) have bludgeoned opponents by a scoring margin of 219-63. Junior running back Matthew Marshall has amassed 588 yards and eight TDs, while Aaron Maione has caught six TD passes from senior signal caller Kyle Jones.
Haverford at Ridley, 7
It’s the game of the week in the county, two teams that are streaking and battling for positioning in the District 1 Class 6A tournament.
The Fords (5-2) have won five in a row. During their streak, they are outscoring the opposition 182-14, including a 24-0 blanking of a 6-1 Strath Haven team. Senior quarterback Trey Blair has flourished at quarterback, and C.J. Lane and Sean Reynolds have excelled on the defensive side for Haverford.
The Green Raiders (6-1) are averaging 39.8 points during their four-game winning streak. First-year QB Jack Grace ran for a season-high 177 yards, and running back Dylan Staley scored a rushing TD for a fourth straight game in last Friday’s 35-21 victory at Marple Newtown.
