RADNOR — Senior Anthony Myers scorched Radnor’s defense for 245 yards rushing and all four Strath Haven touchdowns, leading the Panthers to a 26-13 win over the Raiders at Prevost Field.
Strath Haven’s offensive line, led by senior left tackle Justin Fremont, opened holes for Myers all night against a talented Radnor defensive line.
“This week we worked real hard, our coaches told us that they have a good line,’ Fremont said. “But we have a better one, We’re not going to stop until the whistle blows and the ball’s on the ground.’
Fremont said he made a pledge to Myers before the game that he was going to help make this night special for his running back. Obviously, Fremont and his teammates in the trenches delivered.
“I told him before the game that this was going to be his night,’ the 6-foot-3, 285 pounder said. “I told him I was feeling it, and I was going to block until he got all his touchdowns.’
Myers confirmed that his offensive line wanted him to have a big night and let him know about it.
“These guys told me before the game, they told me they were going to block for me and lay it all on the table,’ Myers said. “This was our last regular season game and we wanted to play well.’
Strath Haven’s Alex Bratsis also was productive, rushing 12 times for 89 yards.
Even with Myers’ performance, Radnor was poised to put itself in position for the win halfway through the fourth quarter.
The Raiders took the opening drive of the second half and went 70 yards on 12 plays, mostly behind the running of quarterback Chris Leighton and blocking of center Alex Andersen, and scored on a three-yard plunge by Leighton.
The touchdown brought the Raiders within five points, 19-13.
Radnor’s defense looked like it had found a way to slow down Myers, who scored three first half touchdowns. The Raiders stopped Strath Haven’s first drive of the second half, taking over on downs at the their own 37-yard line at the start of the fourth quarter.
Leighton then led his team to the Strath Haven 29-yard line. He and the Raiders looked confident.
But Leighton’s second-down pass over the middle was tipped at about the 20-yard line and landed in the hands of Panthers defensive back Colin Waitzman. Five plays later, Myers broke free for a back-breaking 65-yard touchdown run at the 5:59 mark that effectively sealed the outcome.
Strath Haven coach Kevin Clancy said the interception changed what could have been a different outcome.
“It could have been a whole different thing,’ Clancy said. “But Paul Somaru gets a piece of it and Waitzman — who is a backup player — made a great reception. He is a senior, it was a senior play and a team win.’
Leighton rushed 20 times for 84 yards and a touchdown to lead Radnor.
He also threw 14-yard touchdown pass to Brian McKeon to go with two interceptions.
Radnor coach Tom Ryan talked about Myers’ performance and his second straight heartbreaking loss.
“He’s a tremendous football player,’ said Ryan, whose team lost to Penncrest last week 7-6. “And obviously coach Clancy is one of the best coaches in the state, if not the best. It’s a great program…we just started off slow tonight and then we played a very good second half on both sides of the ball. Our defense stepped up, we just have to learn how to finish games. It’s a process. We’re excited about next week (against Lower Merion), it will be a fun game.
“Our season with wins and losses, they are what they are, but we’ve gotten better. And that’s all I can ask.’
Last night’s game between Radnor and Strath Haven was between two teams winding down disappointing seasons.
The difference is the Raiders started out 3-1 and have now lost six games in row.
Strath Haven started out 1-6 but has now won three in a row.
Clancy did not want to take any credit for the turnaround.
“I’m just proud of the kids hanging in there,’ Clancy said. “Coaches don’t turn around seasons, players do. It was senior leadership, the seniors hung in there.’
