By Brian Carroll, Havenfootball.net
“Do not be sad that it is over. Be happy that it happened.”
In the days leading up to last Friday’s District 1 5A semifinal between the Strath Haven Panthers and West Chester Rustin Golden Knights, the talk rightfully flashed back to the 2021 District Final. On a bitterly cold and windy evening, the Panthers took advantage of Rustin’s mishandled extra point snap late in regulation to escape with an incredibly memorable finish, when a dive from junior quarterback Sam Milligan cleared the goal line pylon by inches to clinch the Panthers’ 12th District 1 title and first since 2010. Little did anyone know how this season’s game would follow such a similar script, only with the Panthers feeling quite differently about a shocking ending to their 2022 story.
On their way to a 12-0 start to the season and their first Central League title since 2010, Strath Haven’s calling card was a powerful running game, a disciplined and aggressive defense, solid special teams, and consistently winning the turnover battle. At moments last Friday, the Panthers seemed to be right on track, outgaining Rustin by over 150 yards, nearly doubling them in number of first downs, and getting timely stops on defense on multiple occasions. Unfortunately for the Panthers, on a night when Rustin played nearly error-free football, Haven also had multiple mistakes both early and late in the game that eventually led to an excruciating 28-27 overtime loss. For every positive in all three phases of the game, a negative play or two also arose. For instance, Tim Styer was three for three on extra point kicks and Sam Milligan blocked an extra point and Rustin’s go-ahead field goal attempt, but the Panthers also allowed Rustin to return the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown and had their own kick return touchdown by James Fisher wiped out by a penalty. The running attack once again pounded Rustin for over three hundred yards but was also stopped short on fourth down twice at the edge of the Rustin red zone and fumbled at the Rustin 2-yard line to kill another first half drive. And when the Panthers lined up for a two point conversion in overtime for the potential win, a fumbled exchange between quarterback and center doomed what looked like a sure conversion based on the forthcoming play call. Ultimately, the missed opportunities and mistakes, so rare in their first three months of football, just piled up all on the same night and will leave Panther players, coaches, and fans playing the “could have/would have/should have” game for a while.
Still, the frustrations of a few tough minutes of football should not be overshadowed by yet another fantastic, memorable, and fun season for the silver and black. A win on the road on opening night against soon-to-be District 1 4A champion Interboro provided promise, and then the immediate obstacle of losing senior QB Sam Milligan for a month due to a hand injury. But with Jake Kitchen stepping in admirably under center, and an all-new, junior-laden offensive line, the Panthers dominated Central League opponents on a grand scale. In tearing through the Central League, the Panthers’ offenseive tackles Billy Brown and Will Leuthold bookended a three-guard rotation of Jackson Geremia, Cole Miller, and Gavin Pilson and center Carter Law. Senior Ryan Weinberg played every position on the line, and also doubled as a tight end, where he, Ben Farabaugh, and Marco Kaufman helped the linemen pave the way for over 4,700 rushing yards and the third highest scoring offense in all of District 1. The Panthers four-headed monster in the backfield—seniors Anthony Crawford, Bob Fooskas, Austin Conner, and Milligan—all averaged over 7 yards per carry, and hammered opposing defenses into submission week after week.
Defensively, only three teams in all of District 1 allowed fewer points per game than Haven, even missing all-Central safety Aiden Sutherland for most of the season. Milligan, Fisher, Chase Nangle and AJ Glavacic led the way for 16 Haven interceptions, while Farabaugh, Austin Conner, Jason Williams, Jordan Draine and Vince Hales were disruptive on the line. Fooskas, Crawford, and Kaufman flew around for tackle after tackle, and helped the Panthers finish the season with 20 sacks and 22 turnovers forced. And with Tim Styer converting 57 of his 59 extra point attempts, and Evan Menaker fantastic on long snaps all season, the special teams were indeed special week after week.
Most importantly, it was wonderful to see the camaraderie and smiles amongst this dedicated group of young men. Crawford’s 2,097 rushing yards (a school record set in the playoff victory over Springfield) were in his words “a team achievement,” which exemplified the character, unselfishness, and leadership of 14 graduating seniors. Of course, that leadership is a biproduct of a coaching staff that is second to none, with many thanks to Kevin Clancy, Jim Conner, Mike Conner, Dan Shaffer, Erik Hollingsworth, and other staff for once again giving everyone a football experience that makes the entire Wallingford-Swarthmore community proud. Panther fans everywhere look forward to the off-season dedication and efforts from our talented underclassmen leading into 2023 as the Panthers try to defend their league title.
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 Athletic Director Pat Clancy, 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 first-time video broadcasts. Most of all, we are thankful that the 2022 Central League Champion Strath Haven Panthers gave us so many reasons to smile since mid-August, and certainly for many years to come. Thank you again, 2022 Strath Haven Panthers!
