We’ve only been at it for three weeks Friday Football Madness schedule, and our teams have already covered nearly 70 schools. This week’s Game of the Week took us to Delco, where two great teams squared off — the Strath Haven Panthers hosted the Garnet Valley Jaguars. Both teams entered Friday’s game undefeated at 4-0.
The Panthers student section was decked out in purple in honor of Suicide Prevention Month. Students wearing purple were admitted free. Strath Haven athletic director Lynelle Mosley emphasized the importance of mental health in their school community.
“[Mental health] is always a priority. We have student services that provide all those resources for us. Our coaches make sure they are watching our students and our principles, it’s a big deal,” Mosley said.
And when CBS News asked Philadelphia who would win, she confidently replied, “Go Panthers!”
The home team, Strath Haven, was led by head coach Kevin Clancy, the most successful coach in Delaware County, who has been at the helm for the past three decades.
Garnet Valley went into Friday’s game looking to avenge last year’s loss to Haven, both teams undefeated and tied for first place in the Central League.
The Panthers entered the second half with a 14-7 lead over the Jaguars. On the opening drive of the half, Strath Haven’s offense, led by senior quarterback Caden Schuster, relied on a grueling running game. Fullback Shane Green was a tough force to bring down, while running back James Fisher zipped past defenders.
The Panthers marched methodically down the field, mounting a drive that consumed half of the third quarter, ending with a touchdown by Fisher.
Speaking of marching, both teams’ marching bands put on impressive performances during Friday night’s game. Strath Haven’s band took the field with a remarkable show, covering the field from end zone to end zone after Garnet Valley’s pep band roused the crowd and showed off their school spirit.
Garnet Valley’s offense struggled to find a rhythm against the Panthers defense, but quarterback Luke O’Donoghue put in a valiant effort, connecting with fullback Paxton Hunt for a touchdown to keep the Jaguars in the game.
Strath Haven’s classic, hard-hitting “three yards and a cloud of dust” style proved tough to stop. But this time it wasn’t just three yards, it was 50 yards, as Fisher stepped into the open field and ran down the sideline for a long touchdown. He later sealed the game with a 66-yard touchdown run to give the Panthers a 35-14 victory.
Haven moves to 5-0 on the season. Stay tuned to our social media accounts for the next Friday Football Frenzy Game of the Week.
