By Brian Carroll
“The Trap Game”. It is a title used many times over the years in many sports to describe contests where a seemingly superior team could get caught looking ahead at the future schedule, then suddenly receive a not-so-pleasant surprise by overlooking the current opponent and task at hand. For the Strath Haven Panthers, their tilt on Friday with Radnor had the potential to fit that description. Strath Haven had posted 42 points in each of the last two games, while Radnor 
had scored only three touchdowns all season. Last week’s comeback win over Upper Darby took a physical and emotional toll. And with a date looming next Friday with the always-tough Haverford Fords, one could understand how teenage boys could be guilty of underestimating a Radnor squad that has not beaten them since 2018.
Thankfully for Panther fans, an experienced coaching staff and senior class did not allow “The Trap Game” to manifest. An 8-play, 65-yard opening drive featured lots of hard running and excellent blocking, capped by #4 Yousif Ali’s seven-yard scoring burst off the blocks of #5 Kasey Hudson and #70 Finn Bean. #3 Landon Barlow’s 2-yard plunge midway through the second quarter stretched the lead to 14-0 after another methodical 10-play drive, giving the Panthers a two-score cushion without having attempted a pass in the first 18 minutes of action.
Radnor, using a senior #2 Ryan Chess as a surprise first-time starter at quarterback, had moments in the first half. Chess converted three first downs with some elusiveness in the pocket, scrambling for two on his own and buying time to find #9 Hendrik Blyen for a 12-yard completion in the early going. But trailing by two scores with just over a minute to go before halftime, the Panthers got a deflected pass from #7 Cole Haly and a tackle for loss by Barlow to give Radnor a 4th and 5 from their own 32 with 48 seconds remaining. Forgoing the punt and a chance to pin Haven deep in their own territory, an incompletion instead gave the Panthers the ball at the 32-yard line with 48 seconds to go. Haven took full advantage, as the first and only pass of the night from quarterback #8 Jake Plunkett found a wide-open Hudson for a backbreaking, 32-yard score and a 21-0 halftime lead.
While the Panther offense continued to wear down a tiring Raptors’ defense in the second half, the defense did more than their fair share of the legwork. Radnor’s #8 Adam Krafczek gave the Panthers reason for concern, as he had piled up well over 100 yards in each of his first two outings. But the Panthers’ front four of #84 Tyler Slaughter, #62 Chase Shuster, #57 Zach Milligan, and Barlow (3 sacks) stymied the senior all night, holding him to less than three yards per carry. And while Yousif Ali piled up season high totals on the ground (116 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns), he also capped the shutout with an interception late in the 4th quarter. Ali’s 53-yard return gave the Panthers a short field, and #17 Christian DeShields ended the scoring with a stiff-arm and sprint to the pylon from nine yards out for the final margin.
One editorial side note: The Panthers’ return to their home turf last night was another reminder of what a terrific atmosphere the Wallingford-Swarthmore community provides at these games. The grill at the pregame tailgate just outside the gates smelled good enough that even the marching band took a little detour on their way into the stadium. Several dozen future Panthers in the youth cheerleading and flag football programs brought another level of energy. And the “Happy Birthday” serenade from the stadium and press box at the end of the first quarter reinforced that even on a night when our broadcast had some technical glitches, a trap game on my birthday is still one of my “happy places” in life. To the Panthers fans, players and coaches, thank you for a wonderful night, and thank you for all the hard work you are doing to keep Strath Haven Football such a special experience. Let’s do it again next Friday!
