Plymouth Whitemarsh brings underdog mentality to District 1-5A semifinals

WHITEMARSH >> Last season’s District 1-5A quarterfinal between Plymouth Whitemarsh and Upper Dublin was one of the games of the year. With both teams having underclassmen at key positions, including junior quarterbacks on each side, it was natural to think about a rematch in 2022.

Here we are, this time in the district semifinals. Despite Plymouth Whitemarsh winning last year’s game, 42-36 in overtime, the fourth-seeded Colonials are heading to No. 1 Upper Dublin at 7 p.m. Friday night with something to prove.

“We’ve been looking forward to it all year,” PW senior quarterback Aiden O’Brien said after a quarterfinal win against Chester last week. “They’re the one seed, favorite, everyone’s got them winning the district, winning states. We’re going to go in there like underdogs just like last year.”

The Suburban One League American Conference champion Colonials enter the game with a 10-2 record and winners of nine straight. The SOL Continental champion Cardinals are 12-0.

Plymouth Whitemarsh won its playoff opener, 41-0, over Sun Valley before beating Chester, 30-12, in the quarterfinals. Upper Dublin beat Academy Park and Great Valley by matching 35-0 scores.

“Looking forward to it,” PW senior linebacker and running back Tommy Hannon said of this week’s matchup. “They’re undefeated, right? We plan to come in and change that. We’re looking forward to it.”

Plymouth Whitemarsh and Upper Dublin, separated by less than seven miles, were longtime rivals in the SOL American before a realignment sent the Cardinals to the SOL Continental in 2020.

“These guys are right next door,” PW head coach Dan Chang said. “We’re very familiar with one another. I think it’s hopefully going to be a great game. They’re a great team. They’re firing on all cylinders. We should be ready to go.”

Last year’s quarterfinal showcased the talent of quarterbacks O’Brien and Upper Dublin’s Colin O’Sullivan.

Upper Dublin trailed 28-14 with less than 10 minutes left in the game. O’Sullivan led three straight touchdown drives, going 8-for-13 for 109 yards and a passing touchdown, plus a rushing score, in the final quarter to take a 36-28 lead with 1:59 remaining.

PW and O’Brien responded with a seven-play touchdown drive in 1:46 to tie the game. O’Brien went 3-for-3 for 54 yards and converted a 4th-and-7 with his legs on the game-tying possession. Hannon ran for a six-yard touchdown and O’Brien scored the two-point conversion to make it 36-36.

Upper Dublin got the ball first in overtime and failed to score. Hannon gave PW the win with a one-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-goal.

Other key players who are back from last year are PW’s Luke Winterbottom, who scored two touchdowns that night, and Upper Dublin’s Nyfise McIntyre, who ran for 81 yards and a touchdown, and Griffin Pensabene, who caught five passes for 62 yards and a score.

The winner Friday will advance to the District 1-5A championship game against either No. 2 Strath Haven or No. 3 West Chester Rustin Friday Nov. 25.