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The 50 Yard Line: 2024 Strath Haven Football—Thank You!
November 13, 2024
By Brian Carroll
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” — Voltaire
In looking at the list of 5A football teams in District 1 this summer, it wasn’t hard to imagine that the Central League could be well-represented in the playoffs and potentially set up rematches galore. For a team like Strath Haven, whose Wing-T offense can give unfamiliar opponents fits, those rematches are not always necessarily welcomed, even if the results went well in the initial meeting. So when the playoff bracket aligned two weeks ago showing Haven’s path to potentially include Penncrest, Garnet Valley, and a Springfield/Marple Newtown winner, nobody was taking any wins for granted. To their credit, the Panther players and coaches prepared just as well and just as hard as always, and were rewarded with a shutout win of Penncrest in Round 1. But despite those same efforts leading into a rematch with an equally-prepared and determined Garnet Valley squad, the breaks did not land with the Panthers last Friday night, ending the 2024 season in heart-wrenching fashion.
From a pure football standpoint, fans could not have asked for a more exciting, competitive game. Each team had huge special teams plays in the first quarter, with Haven’s #8 Ben Milligan’s explosive 77-yard kickoff return to start the game setting up a #3 Caden Shuster to #81 Jahi Curtis touchdown pass, and Garnet Valley’s #9 Brendan McDermott blocking a Haven punt to set the table for the Jaguars’ first lead. Each defense forced second quarter turnovers, with the Jaguars’ #20 Nolan Carroll snaring an interception, and Milligan returning the favor for the Panthers with a pick of his own two plays later. #17 Quinn Kell’s interception stalled Garnet Valley’s first drive after halftime, and set up #5 James Fisher’s game-tying touchdown run late in the third quarter. On the next drive, Curtis’ stop on a third and short gave the Panthers a chance, and Haven took full advantage with a 45-yard scoring drive capped by a bruising 15-yard scoring run from #34 Vince Hales for their first lead. But with #32 FB/LB Shane Green sidelined with an injury for the majority of the second half, the Jags took full advantage, as #3 Gavin Rosello sprinted left for a 14-yard, game-tying touchdown of his own with just 3:19 to play in regulation. A holding penalty squashed a Panther drive late, and Garnet Valley responded with a 65-yard drive to set themselves up for a 20-yard field goal try on the final play of regulation.
(click on this link for the full article)
Haven Alumni: Penn State defensive analyst Dan Connor has seen his role increase significantly
November 11, 2024
Penn State defensive analyst Dan Connor has taken on added responsibilities this season. (Mark Selders/For MediaNews Group)
By Rich Scarcella
When Dan Connor joined the Penn State football coaching staff in 2022, his role as a defensive analyst was limited. He couldn’t be on the field, whether it was during practices or games.
But a rule change that lifted that restriction has increased Connor’s role significantly.
The former Nittany Lions and Strath Haven star not only is coaching linebackers but sending in the defensive play calls to the middle linebacker via helmet transmission.
“It’s been a huge change,” Connor said Thursday. “I’ve been able to run the (linebackers) room, coach on the field and wear a headset on game day. I’m used to all of that stuff. It’s what I feel most comfortable doing.”
Defensive coordinator Tom Allen, the former Indiana head coach, is also listed as the Penn State linebackers coach. But he has allowed Connor to guide the unit and to communicate his play calls to Kobe King or Tyler Elsdon after moving upstairs to the press box after two games.
(click on this link for the full article, subscription may be required)
A note on archived articles
September 03, 2015
By Havenfootball.net Staff
Just a quick note to our readers about the articles that appear on our web page. Our home page, the one you are viewing now, can only accommodate a fixed amount of “posts”. As the season gets more involved the articles will appear, move down the page, and then vanish from the home page. All posts, however, are stored in our archives. At the bottom right hand side of this home page is our Archives listing. It is listed by month. Simply click on the month you believe the article originally appeared and a list of the articles posted will appear along with the first few lines. Click on the headline and you’ll get the article, photos and appropriate links. Enjoy!
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