Delco Christian: My Job Just Got Really Hard

Delco traveled to Jenkintown PA today to play a game against the Drakes. And what a game we had. After a quarter and a half it looked like Delco was on the brink of making their first game, and their first BAL contest a runaway.

However, led by the defense of  Blaise Coggin who had two interceptions, one for a touchdown that started a nice little comeback run for the Drakes, the day got a lot more nerve-wracking. As was the case for most of the game, the tandem backs of Sam Tascone and Zac Moore for the Knights were able to tear the field apart. For as strong as Tascone was up the middle, Moore was even deadlier on the outsides, with two rushing touchdowns one for 71 yards and another for 36. However, the Knights defensive line showed both their small numbers, and in comparison, small stature being that in the second half, the keystone of the Drakes offense, Teddy Hudson, started to crush the 1-0 dreams of the Knights. One team’s miscues led to another’s victory as the Drakes inside the 25 were stonewalled by the Delco Christian defense. With 1:22 left in the fourth quarter and the ball on the Jenkintown 40, Delco Christian had a feasible chance for three points.  This would be squandered by two back to back penalties resulting in a loss of a combined 15 yards. Delco Christian survived the fourth and went into what I believe is the first overtime in Delco’s young history.

The Drakes elected to see what the boys in white could do. They may be regretting that decision because one pitch from Delco Christian quarterback Matt Hirshman to Zac Moore, the Knights bounced the ball outside and scored. Jenkintown did not go down quietly. On a rollout pass play Delco Christian defensive end freshman Alex Linton came up with what may have been the play of the game and sacked Drakes quarterback Pat Stillmun for a loss of eight. Teddy Hudson got them back to the original line of scrimmage as the 160 pounder got them to the ten again. The final play of the game however, was a fumbled snap recovered by Delco Christian. The game belonged to the Knights as they slayed the Drakes 28-21.

After the game, a composed, quiet, Coach Jim Favino said this to his team, “We don’t have the stars on our team, but you guys play the part you need to.” And for this Delco Christian team that operates out of an old barn, those words are not lost.

Next week at Marple Newtown HS Delco Christian will face Calvary Christian in a Bicentennial Athletic League battle that surely will be another hot contest for the Knights.

Reporting on behalf of 1A football from Delaware County, Evan Villella, easternpafootball.com.