Strath Haven vs Lower Merion
Lower Merion High School
October 19 – 1:00 PM
Saturday
Weather forecast
By Brian Carroll, Havenfootball.net
In watching the 2024 high school football season take shape, momentum can play a significant role in a team’s success. Whether momentum is gained within a game thanks to a big play or two, or gained week-to-week as a result of a winning streak, confidence, individually and as a team can be as impactful as the “X’s and O’s” of football. This weekend, with the Strath Haven Panthers on an eight-game winning streak to start 2024, and the Lower Merion Aces coming off its first big win of the season, both teams will look to keep that momentum going as the District 1 playoffs approach.
Head Coach Joe Augustine has the Aces flying high after grabbing a thrilling, 40-38 barnburner of a victory over Conestoga a week ago. Junior quarterback #10 Nick DeLuca leads a spread offense that typically relies on the pass, but Lower Merion kept it on the ground in their first victory of the season. DeLuca rushed for two touchdowns, while running backs #3 Andrew Payne (147 yards, TD) and #23 Shane Hermosisima (143 yards, 2 TDs), wore down the Conestoga defense. #71 Kechan Miller, normally a two-way lineman, also found the end zone in a short-yardage set. When the Aces take to the air, #9 CJ Morgan, #11 Thomas Burke, and #14 Chris Cook are favorite targets. Defensively, Lower Merion have struggled for much of the season, but Miller and #55 Charles Welgs (fumble recovery last week) are playmakers up front, while Morgan, Payne, and Hermosisima anchor the linebacking corps.
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As anticipated the Panthers dropped to the #2 seed in Week 8 of the 2024 season. GV is in the top spot due to strength of schedule of teams played (and beaten). Top 16 teams make the playoffs! Two game left for all the teams in 5A so things can change. Stay tuned to Havenfootball.net for weekly updates! For an explanation of the points system please click PIAA District One Playoff Points.
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By Matt Smith
The Central League features a full slate of matchups Thursday night.
Garnet Valley, Haverford, and Springfield are all vying to keep pace with first-place Strath Haven, which has easier matchups against winless Harriton and Lower Merion before ending the regular season against Springfield. Garnet Valley and Springfield will face off next Friday, potentially leading to another three-way tie for the Central League title, similar to last season’s shared championship between Garnet Valley, Marple Newtown, and Springfield.
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By Dan Mulhern, Freshman Coach
The Haven freshman team lost today to Conestoga 24-14.
Conestoga took a 16-0 lead at half time and then another score in the third to go up 24-0.
Connor Kelly then returned the kick 70 yards for a touchdown and Will Taylor punched in the two point conversion.
Haven got the ball back with 3:00 left and drove the field quickly and scored on a Will Taylor dive from the one yard line.
Haven could not recover the on side kick and time ran out on a great second half effort.
Next week @ Chichester 3:45.
By Brian Carroll
With just three games remaining in the 2024 high school football regular season, the temptation for Strath Haven Panther fans will be to look well ahead on the upcoming schedule. An undefeated start to the season for Strath Haven has provided that excitement and luxury, as the Panthers are guaranteed a spot in the play-offs and have their eyes on defending their Central League (2022 and 2023) and District 1 5A (2023) titles. Still, hurdles still appear on the road to a potential championship, and the Panthers cannot afford to look past the Harriton Rams, who visit Haven this Thursday night.
Harriton returns to the Central League after a two-year hiatus, as they played an independent schedule in 2022 and 2023. The Rams managed much improved 4-6 and 5-5 records over those two seasons but have struggled to maintain that progress thus far in 2024. First-year Head Coach Mario Dattilo takes over with a young and inexperienced roster, but one that has improved as the season has progressed. After being shut out in their first three contests, the Rams have found the end zone in each of the last four games, with quarterbacks #12 Spyros Esposito and #2 Joe Mena distributing the ball amongst a handful of receivers in Hariton’s spread attack. #1 Marcus Bates had a pair of long receptions in last week’s loss to Ridley, while #18 Colin Sullivan and #7 Finn McCloud provided a spark, as well. #5 Musyn Dennis is a running and receiving threat from the slot, hauling in a 39-yard score two weeks ago against Conestoga.
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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!