Football Friday: ‘Miracle of Lamokin Street’ has shaken the Del Val
The “Miracle of Lamokin Street” has caused a ripple effect in the Del Val League.
Chester’s stunning win over Academy Park last Saturday has opened the door other teams to earn a share of the league title.
Penn Wood and Chichester, who meet Friday night at Kerr Field, are vying for a piece of the championship. If Penn Wood wins, the Patriots will take the Del Val for a third straight year, sharing it with Academy Park. Chi needs to beat Penn Wood and Interboro in a game tentatively rescheduled for Nov. 9.
Meanwhile, Academy Park can only wonder how it let it slip away. The Knights finished the Del Val portion of their schedule with a 3-1 record and end the regular season with a nonleague contest at Quakertown.
Friday
Bonner-Prendergast vs. West Catholic at Widener, 8
No matter what happens henceforth to the Friars (7-1), the 2019 campaign has been a remarkable success. After winning a combined four games in 2017-18, B-P has clinched its first winning season since 2014. Leading the way is a defensive unit that paces all Delco teams in yards allowed per game (127.3). In a 32-0 drubbing of O’Hara last week, junior quarterback Kyle Lazer completed 11 of 16 passes for 122 yards and a pair of TD throws to James Welde.
The Friars already booked their ticket to the District 12 Class 4A semifinal playoff game in two weeks. They will play the winner of Cardinal O’Hara (1-7) and Archbishop Carroll (4-5).
The Burrs (5-3) were the latest victim of Catholic League Blue Division champion Neumann-Goretti (9-0), which rolled to a 42-6 win a week ago. WC is led by dynamic Zaire Hart-Hawkins, who is among the top passers in the area with 1,173 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Garnet Valley at Ridley, 7
The Jaguars (8-1) clinched a share of the Central League championship with a 49-21 win over Strath Haven last week. GV amassed 490 yards rushing, including a 174-yard outburst by Greg Reynolds. Jake Morin added 82 yards and a pair of scores.
A win against Ridley would give the Jags their second straight outright title.
One week after a blowout loss to Haverford, the Green Raiders (7-2) pummeled Harriton, 61-14. Gavin Kingsborough had a scoring run and caught a 63-yard touchdown pass from Jack Grace.
This is Ridley’s third crack against the Central League’s best teams. In losses to Strath Haven (7-2) and Haverford (7-2), the Green Raiders were outscored 93-27.
Marple Newtown at Radnor, 7
The Tigers (6-3) were no match for Haverford in a 39-0 loss. The normally efficient MN offense was held to 78 total yards. And the defense had no answer for All-Delco Trey Blair, the Fords’ first-year starting quarterback who ran for 278 yards on only 11 carries.
The Raiders (5-4) rolled to their second straight victory behind an outstanding performance by quarterback Sam DiLella and wide receiver Jahmir Dixon. DiLella was 12-for-19 for 272 yards and four TDs in the 28-7 triumph over Conestoga. Dixon made five catches for 210 yards, a single-game school record. Dixon leads the county in receptions (32), receiving yards (78) and touchdown catches (13).
Marple and Radnor are battling for a first-round home game in the District 1 Class 5A playoffs. The Tigers are ranked eighth and the Raiders are 10th.
Malvern Prep at Episcopal Academy, 7
The Churchmen (7-0), who are the No. 1 team in the Super 7, earned a thrilling 35-34 victory at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. Star quarterback Maurcus McDaniel ran for the game-winning touchdown and two-point conversion with 22 seconds to play. Read more about EA’s success in today’s football notebook.
After playing a nonleague schedule against the likes of state powerhouses Imhotep Charter and La Salle, the Friars are 2-0 in the Inter-Ac and remain the team to beat. They were on the top end of a 49-44 shootout with Penn Charter last week. Quarterback Lonnie White Jr. ran for three rushing TDs in the win.
