Haverford’s Wright gets chance to show his stuff in win over Harriton
LOWER MERION — Haverford won its fifth consecutive game Friday night, defeating Harriton, 35-0, on the road. In doing so, the Fords (4-1 Central League, 5-2 overall) kept their foot on the gas as they approach a crucial two-week stretch. Haverford will next take on Ridley, then Marple Newtown in an effort to chase down first-place Garnet Valley.
The Fords’ win streak has been impressive. They have outscored their opponents, 183-14, after an 0-2 start. Friday was an opportunity to share the wealth while giving depth players reps before the playoff push begins.
With key starters like wide receiver Shane Mosley and running-back Chasen Wint in street clothes, the offense didn’t miss a beat. Quarterback Trey Blair cruised through one half of work, finishing 4-for-4 for 63 yards through the air and rushing for 56 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams (1-5, 1-6).
But the real standout was junior running-back Jimmy Wright. In his first varsity start, Wright gained 113 yards on 13 carries and found the end zone three times.
“I was a little nervous at first,” Wright said. “But once I got hit, I was fine.”
Trey Blair caps a methodical drive with the keeper. 7-0 Haverford pic.twitter.com/Y1hNf6l6Wa
— Dillon Friday (@noclassfriday) October 4, 2019
Wright got 35 of his yards to help set up Haverford with a first-and-goal on the Fords’ opening drive. Blair, following a 19-yard hookup with Sean Reynolds, took a keeper in for a 7-0 lead. After Haverford recovered a Rams fumble, it was Wright’s turn to find the end zone. He cashed in on a fourth-and-two handoff from 11 yards out.
Blair’s second touchdown was as impressive as it looked casual. He dropped back, looked downfield, then broke from the pocket, weaving his way through the secondary on his way to a 48-yard score.
Wright added two more touchdowns to complete a methodical opening two quarters for the Fords’ offense; five drives (minus two kneel-downs in the last minute) for five scores. Haverford converted 12 first downs and had just one negative play.
Sandwiched between four tough opponents, Springfield and Strath Haven the past two weeks, Ridley and Marple Newtown yet to come, this could have been a letdown game for the Fords. It was anything but that.
“We learn to play one way, and that’s how we play,” Wright said. “Tough and hard.”
That was true on both sides of the ball. The Haverford defense sacked the Harriton quarterbacks (Will Brannau and Logan Rothberg) four times in the first half before giving way to the backups. Kevin Gillespie got that party going by dropping Brannau 11 yards behind the line of scrimmage on the Rams’ first drive.
“Every single play, we go 100 percent to the ball,” Gillespie said. “We look to play ourselves. We try to get better every week.”
A senior, he knows how important these games can be, if not in testing the Fords, then in showing what kind of depth they have. They’ll need everybody in October and beyond.
“I think it’s great,” Gillespie said. “The young kids stepped up.”
Wright in particular relished the extra load. He has a 100-yard, three-touchdown game to his name. And that’s something he’ll take with him.
“I love it,” Wright added. “It gave me an opportunity to show what I have.”
