AJ Glavicic making one of his two interceptions last night in defeating Springfield in the District 1 semi-final game. © Havenfootball.net, Inc. 2023
By Jack McCaffery
There would be hospital visits and follow-ups, x-rays and more x-rays, hope, recommendations and warnings. All AJ Glavicic knew was that at some point, there would be only one way to know if he still had a high school football career.
He would listen to his heart.
Glavicic is a Strath Haven defensive back, and while he wasn’t the only reason the Panthers were able to outlast visiting Springfield, 14-12, in the District 1 Class 5A semifinals Friday, his two interceptions rammed him into the top three. That wasn’t the way he envisioned contributing, though, when the Panthers played Springfield the first time, back on Labor Day weekend. A high-level 400-meter runner with track interest from, among others, Penn State, Army and Villanova, the 6-1, 165-pound senior was also listed as a wide receiver.
Then?
“It was actually called a ‘hitch,’” Glavicic was saying of what could have been a career-changing play. “Then we checked it for a ‘go’ route, and I caught it for like a 40-yard bomb. Then I hit the floor.”
He knew at that point his season was about to change, for as he landed, half of his right collarbone would go one way, the other half in the opposite direction. The next day, as he recalls, he was off to the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, where doctors were necessarily frank. Basically, they told him to wait for track season.
(click on this link for the full article, subscription required)
Missed the game? You can see the whole game on our Broadcast Archive page!
