Football: Marple’s Josh McMenamin’s winning field goal something to tell the soccer team about

NETHER PROVIDENCE — Marple Newtown’s Josh McMenamin had never kicked a football before last year. That changed the moment head coach Chris Gicking showed up at his front door.

“A bunch of guys on the team – (David) Bertoline, (Jake) McGowan, (Brian) Box and McMenamin – all live in my neighborhood,” Gicking said. “We all went to Josh’s house one day and I said to him, ‘You’re kicking.’ He said that he never kicked before. I said, ‘You’re kicking.’”

McMenamin plays midfield for the Tigers soccer team. Gicking wanted him on his squad and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“So, we basically told him he’s kicking,” Gicking said. “Josh is a great story, a great kid and he comes from a great family. We are happy he’s with us.”

McMenamin drilled a 34-yard field goal as time expired to give Marple Newtown a 23-20 win over Strath Haven Friday in a battle of Central League heavyweights. McMenamin’s kick would have been good from 45 yards, as he had plenty of room to spare.

“My teammates all supported me and I was confident,” McMenamin said. “We dealt with adversity all game, but we were able to come back. And I was able to come out and do what I do.”

And now the Tigers (7-1, 5-1) are mere percentage points behind the Panthers (7-1, 6-1) for first place in the Central League. That will sort itself out in two weeks when the regular season concludes. Marple Newtown has two league games remaining and Strath Haven has one. Garnet Valley and Springfield have one loss in the conference, too. Marple hosts Garnet Valley next week in what will be another can’t-miss Central League showdown.

As for Friday’s game, it was likely the best in Delaware County this year. The Tigers trailed 20-6 at halftime, then began the second half on a 15-play drive that resulted in zero points. But the tide seemed to turn when running back James Fisher fumbled deep inside Strath Haven territory with two minutes to go in the third quarter. The Tigers recovered the loose ball, then converted a fourth-and-1 before Dom DiLuzio rumbled into the end zone from three yards out, cutting Haven’s lead to seven points with 11:54 left in the fourth quarter.

“We all knew how big this game was. Before the game I told the guys, ‘You’re going to face adversity, you’re going to get pushed backwards. But it’s all about how you respond.’ And we responded at halftime,” said quarterback David Bertoline, who was 18-for-29 for 215 yards and two touchdown passes. “We had two or three drives that ended in the red zone. But we knew we could march, so we had the confidence. I knew all week what we could do. I wasn’t scared of these guys. I was nervous, but I wasn’t scared. We are very even … and that is a tough team.”

Marple’s defensive front, including Jason Bennett and Jake McGowan, held Haven’s potent ground attack to 42 yards in the second half. Led by Fisher, Shane Green and Marco Kaufman the Panthers had a field day running the ball in the first half (176 yards on 26 carries).

Gicking credited his coaching staff, including defensive coordinator Richie Gentile, the former longtime boss at Upper Darby who for many years ran a similar version of Strath Haven coach Kevin Clancy’s Wing-T offense.

“Our defensive coaches are amazing,” Bertoline said. “They really know where to put guys so they can make plays.”

After DiLuzio’s rushing score the Panthers went three-and-out and then shanked a punt, which set the Tigers up with wonderful field position. On second down from the Haven 15-yard line, Bertoline connected with Paul DeFruscio in the back of the end zone. It was a spectacular pass and catch. McMenamin then kicked the extra point to tie the score at 20 with 6:45 to play.

“He just knows where to be,” Bertoline said of DeFruscio, who had six catches for 49 yards. “I trust him and he trusts me.”

Strath Haven moved the ball to the Marple 25 on its next drive. On fourth down Fisher ran up the middle for six yards, two shy of the first-down marker. Bertoline and the Marple offense went back to work. Brian Box ripped off an 11-yard run and Joey Yukenavitch caught a 19-yard pass. Box then ran for 12 yards and Bertoline scrambled for 10 to put the Tigers at Haven’s 15 with 20 seconds to go. Moments later McMenamin hit the kick of his life.

He was looking forward to meeting up with his soccer teammates over the weekend.

“They’ll hear it from me tomorrow and they’ll see (the kick) tonight,” McMenamin said with a wide smile.

Earlier, Fisher sprinted 34 yards to give the Panthers a lead. Green added a two-yard TD run to make it 13-0. The Tigers got on the board early in the second quarter when Bertoline connected with Trey Saviour in the end zone.