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. But #11 Mike Medici’s kick instead met the hand of Jahi Curtis, who came flying through the line to send the game to overtime. With Green and now Hales both out with injuries, #35 Ryan Mudrick exploded onto the scene in overtime, taking his first carry to the end zone. But confusion ensued on the extra point, as the Panthers had just 10 players on the field (and were not granted a timeout) for the extra point try that sailed wide left. Garnet Valley’s #21 Luke Vaughn returned the favor on the Jags’ first snap with another scoring sweep off the left side to tie the game at 34. The Jaguars’ season ended last year in the second round of the playoffs after CB West blocked an overtime extra point, but history would not repeat itself this time, with long snapper #62 Joe Anzelone connecting with Carroll and Medici to send Garnet Valley to a 35-34 victory and to the semifinal round against top-seeded Springfield.
To say the Panthers season ended in disappointing fashion is the understatement of the year, as it flashed Haven players, coaches, and fans back to 2022, when the Panthers also did not convert an extra point in overtime in a season-ending loss to West Chester Rustin in the semifinal round. This one will sting as well, as the Panthers can look back on several “almost” or “only if” plays throughout the game that could have had them preparing for another run at defending their District 1 title. And with a senior-laden lineup who played their final game together on George L. King Field, any reflections on this season and their careers may take a little time to finish with a smile.
Yet smile we will, as the 2024 Panthers gave us plenty of reasons to cheer. With big shoes to fill, an all-new offensive line led by #55 Sean O’Neill, #56 Nick Farabaugh, #54 Mike Flanigan, #67 Cooper Murley, and #52 Phil Collins paved the way for the Central League Co-Champions. James Fisher followed up his 2023 Delco Times Player of the Year season with another electrifying campaign, scoring 24 total touchdowns, piling up nearly 1,500 all-purpose yards, and averaging an incredible 47 yards per catch. Combine Fisher’s efforts with Shane Green’s eye-popping 10 yards per carry and second straight season with over 1,000 rushing yards, and the Panthers boasted a 1-2 punch that was the envy of much of the league. Milligan was a do-everything Swiss army knife in the backfield, punting, and as a returner, and Caden Shuster’s first season as a starting quarterback saw several big plays and significant improvement every week. When healthy, Vince Hales impacted every game defensively, leading the defensive line with fellow seniors #89 Alexei Gustafson (a team-high 11 tackles last week) and Jahi Curtis, whose 18 tackles for loss and 13 hurries terrorized opposing offenses all season. With so many talented seniors saying farewell, Panther fans can be encouraged that 8 different underclassmen started games on defense this season, like leading tackler #15 Luke Mulhern at linebacker, three in the secondary including #22 Grayson LaFrance, #18 Jalen Starr, #42 Van Wendel, and Farabaugh will be helped by the experience gained by #73 Paul Oblek and #80 John Reilly this year. Add kicker #47 Matt Styer, whose 48 extra points and strong experience on kickoffs highlighted his freshman campaign, and the Panthers’ special teams should be in good hands, as well.
Those who listen to the broadcasts or view the website on www.havenfootball.net have heard this already, but special “Thank You’s” go out to the Panthers’ 15 graduating senior players, of whom we are forever proud, and discussed (or sobbed?) at length in the opening of last week’s broadcast. In all, these graduating seniors finish their careers in the silver and black with a record of 35 wins and just five losses over the past three seasons, which includes a 2023 District 1 5A championship, and three consecutive league titles for the first time since the Panthers’ state record-setting run from 1996 through 2003. More importantly, the Panthers’ steadfast coaching staff led by Coach Clancy, Coaches Jim and Mike Conner, Dan Shaffer, Brian Fili, and Pat Clancy would tell anyone that this group of young men are wonderful examples to their classmates and community at many levels beyond what shows up on a football field. For that, Panther fans and families can appreciate that the bar has been set, and re-set, even higher by this outstanding group of young men.
Many thanks also go out to Athletic Director Lynelle Mosley, the Haven Gridiron Club, the Haven Marching Band, Strath Haven Cheerleaders, the Swarthmorean, and the many sponsors of the website for continued support of the program and our video broadcasts. Most of all, we are grateful that the 2024 Central League Champion Strath Haven Panthers once again gave us so many wonderful memories, and a ton of fun on so many Friday nights. Congratulations, 2024 Strath Haven Panther Football, and we look forward to the 2025 season!
