Delco Football Preview: 10 Games to watch

Bonner-Prendergast at Haverford School (Sept. 2): An intriguing early-season, cross-conference measuring stick. It’s the opener for the Fords, with the Inter-Ac starting a week later, while the Friars continue to sort out how to replace a storied class that included star running back Mason Peterson.

Ridley at Garnet Valley (Sept. 16): For now, the path to a Central League title runs through Moe DeFrank Stadium. You may recall Ridley led GV at intermission last year before the Jags erupted for 37 second-half points in a 65-37 win. Could this be an end to a four-year run at the summit for the Jags?

Springfield at Garnet Valley (Sept. 23): The last Central League team to beat Garnet Valley was the Cougars in 2017, a 14-7 decision in Concord. The current crop of seniors would’ve watched that as seventh-graders. Tough follow to Ridley for the Jags.

Radnor at Haverford (Sept. 23): The demands to make the Class 6A playoffs are onerous for Haverford, as it found out last year in scraping in as the 16th seed. If seasoned QB Tommy Wright is going to lead the Fords back to the postseason, they can’t slip up against a quality team like Radnor.

Chichester at Interboro (Oct. 7): Don’t sleep on either team. The Bucs improved greatly down the stretch last year, have almost every contributor back and could make some noise in Class 4A. Chichester has a deep senior class and took huge strides last year under coach Ed Buck.

Bonner-Prendergast at Neumann Goretti (Oct. 8): Sustaining success in the Catholic League is hard. Yet the Friars have had three straight winning seasons, including nine-win campaigns each of the last two full seasons, under Jack Muldoon. With Archbishop Ryan and Cardinal O’Hara joining them in Class 4A, they’ll face a battle to reach districts, and the Class 3A Saints stand in the way of their Catholic League Blue hopes.

Ridley at Conestoga (Oct. 14): The teams played a pair of rip-roarers last year, the Green Raiders winning by one point in Week 10 to get home-field advantage and claim a 42-23 win in the 6A district playoff opener. Let’s see if last year’s familiarity breeds any contempt.

Strath Haven at Marple Newtown (Oct. 28): The teams met last year in the first round of the District 1 Class 5A playoffs, and their matchup in Week 10 could presage another postseason meeting. Marple, with its deep class of 2023, may take some time to grow, while Strath Haven should have plenty of answers as to who replaces some talented backfield grads.

Academy Park at Chester (Oct. 29): A Del Val title could be on the line in the Week 10 matchup. The teams have held sway over the league in recent years. AP has the scheduling quirk of Chichester in Week 4, then two nonleague games. Chester gets a trip to Downingtown West before home dates with Chi and AP.

Haverford School at Episcopal Academy (Nov. 12): Obviously. Last year’s win by the Fords closed their season on the high note that eluded the Churchmen, who finished with two straight losses. EA faces the same challenge this year of going from Malvern Prep to their rivalry game.