Prior years when Strath Haven played Pottsgrove, Strath Haven was traditonally the more experienced team with Division One players.
This year, the roles were reversed as the Falcons came in as the defending District One AAA Champions with at least five Division One players including an All-State Quarterback headed to Pittsburgh (Terrell Chestnut). To make matters worse, the Panthers missed the playoffs last year with a 5-5 record.
In a game that resembled more of a heavyweight fight,the Panthers used a jab in the second quarter, a pair of right crosses in the third quarter and delivered the knockout punches in the fourth quarter to claim their first District One AAA Championship since 2005, a 42-28 win over Pottsgrove at Coatesville’s Multi-Puropse Stadium Friday Night. It was Strath Haven’s 11th District One AAA Championship.
Trailing 14-7, Chazz Fisher caught a 12 yard pass from James Griffin with just seven seconds left in the second quarter to tie the game at 14 for “the jab”.
The ” first right cross” came when Fisher (three catches, 103 yards) caught a 54 yard touchdown pass from Griffin on Strath Haven’s third offensive play of the second half as Strath Haven took a 21-14 lead.
“That was big,” said Panther Head Coach Kevin Clancy. “Now, instead of us coming from behind, now they have to.”
Pottsgrove, who finishes their season at 10-3 came right back and scored on a Chestnut 15 yard run that capped a 54 yard seven play drive to tie the game at 21. Chestnut had 37 of his 111 rushing yards in that drive.
Strath Haven then delivered “right cross #2” as Thurman Fortune went 66 yards for the score on the first play following the kickoff as the Panthers regained the lead at 28-21. Fortune finsihed with 186 yards on 18 carries and also had the Panthers first touchdown, a 1 yard run in the second quarter that tied the game at 7-7.
The Falcons came back once again and tied the game at 28 as Kayvon Greene (19 carries 87 yards) scored his second one yard touchdown run of the night with 9:03 left in the game. Placekicker Zach Robinson, who only missed one kick all year was perfect on all four of his extra point kicks for the Falcons.
Brent Collins then delivered the set-up knockout punch in the fourth quarter as he went 73 yards on the first play following that kickoff as the Panthers took the lead for good at 35-28 with 8:41 to play.
To this point, there had a few fumbles recovered by the team who had the ball but no turnovers and very few passes thrown.
Strath Haven’s defense dealt several more set-up punches as they intercepted Chestnut three times in the last 8:41.
The second interception by Taron Howie led to the final knockout punch, a 46 yard touchdown run by Alex Hisey with 1:41 left in the game. Hisey also converted on all six of his extra point kicks on the night.
“That’s a great football team over there,” said Clancy of Pottsgrove. They reminded me of us in earlier years.”
With the win, Strath Haven now plays Archbishop Wood next week, most likely at either Plymouth Whitemarsh or back at Coatesville.
9 Responses
Hssportsfan
Wood has only been eligible to play for a state title since 2008. They have been to State Cha
pionship game and Eastern semi their first two years of eligibility. Not too shabby. Yes they did lose to Thomas Jefferson who was the best team in any class that year. I was at the game. How come you were watching on TV? Oh because your team was not there! Love the people who criticize a team for losing a state championship game and their team wasn’t even close to making it that year. How long has Acc been igible to play in the state tourney?
Dog21….Wood has the best coaching staff in the area?? Is this the same coaching staff that kept their #1 running back late in the O’Hara game when the game was over by the third quarter? The results of that coaching decision was a broken leg….This will haunt them from here on out.
centrals staff is amazing. end of conversation. our offrnsive coordinator is a freaking genius and our defense isnt any diffrent. pcl is overrated. the lvc is better but i guess we will see the result in two weeks. i say nosovitch runs for 100 and passes for 250 then sits out second half
Ridley would have smoked Strath Haven? The Ridley that lost last week to Interboro (6-0), while Haven was beating the team (Pottsgrove) that knocked Interboro out of the playoffs 42-6 the week before (while Ridley was losing to Henderson? I doubt that.
Uphill fight for Strath Haven this week against Wood though. But they’ve been surprising people all season.
ACC has more talent at wide reciever and their defense is way better then wood. Dont go saying their coaching staff is the best in the area if they were they would of won a state title by now. lets see two years ago lost to Thomas Jefferson 49-21 saw that on tv it was a blow out. last year didnt even get there you got blown out by selinsgrove 28-0. Different year same result ACC wins the east but not the state
ACC is good and should be favorite vs Wood, and only because Wood will be without Desmon Peoples and their #1 starting def lineman. BUT Wood still wins the game because they have the best coaching staff in the area and they will outcoach ACC.
ACC can not push Wood around? Why do you ask? Because ACC is tiny compared to Wood. Wood Oline and D line is huge and athletic, not the typical fat slob lineman that ACC is used to playing against. They will actually find out what it is like to play against a real line.
What does ridley have to do with any of this? Their in 4A, Strath is in 3A. Stop riding the green mystique and step into reality.
Ridley would not have beaten haven. they lost to Henderson and Interboro. enough said. Ridley will do nothing next year too. Wood wont be laughing when ACC punshes them in the mouth and pushes them around in 2 weeks.
ridley wud have smoked strath haven- they are laughing in wood……