Methacton plays the long game, beats Harriton for Kennedy’s first win

August 28, 2021

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FAIRVIEW VILLAGE >> It may have been the longest first-win game of Brian Kennedy’s coaching career.

Kennedy’s debut with the Methacton program — its non-league opener with Harriton — started 7 p.m. Friday but was halted by weather issues with 1:28 left in the first half. The game resumed 5 p.m. Saturday and was completed an hour later … a total 23 hours from start to finish.

But the prolonged affair ended with the Warriors handling their non-league guests, 38-8. As for how the win ranks in longevity …

“You’d have to check the archives on that,” he said. “It took more time than I’d hoped.”

PHOTO GALLERY: Methacton-Harriton Football 8.28.21

It’s obvious neither he, nor his players and coaches, minded how the winning outcome was secured. Methacton built a 21-8 lead by the time of Friday’s suspension, added to it with 4:15 left in the third quarter, then tacked on another touchdown and field goal in the fourth.

It made for a promising start to the 2021 season, one year removed from a 4-3 finish that was the Warriors’ best since 2014. And it gave Kennedy a positive outlook for the coming campaign.

“It helps to have good kids,” Kennedy, who takes over from three-year grid boss Dave Lotier, said. “When you’re ahead, it’s easy to keep the momentum. There was no letdown. They took care of business.”

Methacton’s Connor Kazel (57) sacks Harriton quarterback Logan Rothberg (10) to force a fumble on Saturday. (Owen McCue – MediaNews Group)

While Tyler Weil-Kasper was taking care of business in the running game — he finished the entire game with 163 yards and two first-half touchdowns — Dan Brandi had a firm hand on the till of the passing game. The senior signal-caller went 3-for-7 for 101 yards and one touchdown through the air, then scored on runs of five and two yards in Saturday’s session. His TD runs upped the Warriors’ lead to 35-8 early in the fourth quarter, with Tyler Ready capping their scoring by booting a 25-yard field goal inside the game’s seven minute mark.

Brandi padded the Warriors’ Friday scoring with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jake Chapman at the 4:50 mark of the second quarter … less than 3-1/2 minutes before the weather forced suspension of the proceedings.

“We answered the quarterback question, who’s going to lead program,” Kennedy said. “He (Brandi) is ready to take the marquee role.”

Brandi answered the leadership question, getting his teammates in the proper mindset for the game’s second part.

“I came back and told them it was a nothing-nothing game,” he said. “They had the same energy they brought out last night. They played hard.”

On the Harriton side, head coach Justin Mellor noted one positive aspect of the game’s suspension.

“We had first-half film, and we were able to look at it,” he said.

Methacton’s Dan Brandi passes the ball Saturday against Harriton. (Owen McCue – MediaNews Group)

The situation also gave Mellor and his staff time to address the injury loss of Josh Smith, a multi-versatile senior who handles the Rams’ kicking and punting chores in addition to his two-way status as a running back and linebacker.

“We had some ideas,” Mellor said. “We came back with some things we didn’t quite use.”

Harriton’s best possession of the second phase saw it go eight plays to the Methacton 18 before losing the ball on downs. By then, only a couple minutes remained and the Warriors had their insurmountable point total toward Kennedy’s first victory.

Defensively, Methacton got a boost from Giancarlo DeFillipis’ two interceptions and sacks by Connor Kazel (two), Tommy Dickinson, Jackson Chase and Vincent Iackson. Kazel’s one sack in the third quarter caused quarterback Logan Rothberg to cough up the ball, with Josh Cancro making the recovery.

DeFillipis’ second “pick,” three plays after Brandi’s second rushing TD, set the locals up for Ready’s field goal.

“The interceptions caused a definite momentum shift,” Brandi said. “Carlo was great. We like having him back there.”

Rothberg had a hand in the Rams’ lone score, throwing an eight-yard TD pass to Kyle Barnes before running for the two-point conversion. A strong 9-for-12 for 63 yards Friday, he finished the game 18-for-25 for 172 yards with the two DeFillipis interceptions.

“We have a lot of guys in their first years playing football,” Mellor noted, “but they put out a nice effort.”

In Kennedy’s estimation, Methacton answered one important question he had coming in.

“I feel now we’ve established ourselves as being physical,” he said. “They’ve worked three weeks under tough situations. The kids battled.”

NOTES >> Kennedy described an injury issue with Michael Blakemore, the Pioneer Athletic Conference’s returning interception leader, as a “wait and see” matter. … Along with his field goal, Ready had five conversion kicks for a total of eight points. … Brandi on the team’s mindset this season: “we’re keeping the same looks as last year. We have playmakers we want to get the ball to; and with Dickinson on the line, we get a push up front.”