PETE BANNAN – MEDIANEWS GROUP Academy Park’s Eric Willis absorbs the impact of a tough playoff loss Friday night as the final seconds tick off in Academy Park’s 34-6 loss to Strath Haven.
By Terry Toohey
A few players hung their heads as Academy Park coach Jason Vosheski addressed the team following Friday’s 34-6 loss to Strath Haven in the semifinal round of the District 1 Class 5A playoffs.
Most of the Knights, though, stood tall despite the loss that brought their season to an end.
Senior defensive end/running back Damir Sammons was ramrod straight as Vosheski addressed the Knights in the middle of George L. King Field. Senior receiver/cornerback Eric Willis lifted his head as Vosheski spoke.
That’s just the way Vosheski wanted it.
“Hold your heads high,” Vosheski told his team. “You have nothing to be ashamed of, nothing at all.”
It was a season full of adversity for the Knights (9-3). It began with the tragic shooting death of Fanta Bility outside of Knight Park following an opening night victory over Pennsbury. Out of safety concerns, AP played its next seven games on the road, nine away from home in all. The Knights didn’t have a home game until they defeated Chester on Oct. 30. And that game, as well as the playoff opener against Oxford, was played on Saturday afternoon.
