By Matt Smith –
Trying to slow down Unionville running back Brody McLaughlin felt like something out of a video game for Strath Haven’s defense.
Strath Haven’s Luke Mulhern, bottom, holds on to Unionville running back Brody McLaughlin in the fourth quarter of the Panthers’ 21-20 victory in the District 1 Class 5A quarterfinals Friday night. (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)
“He looked like he was a 99 overall (rating) in Madden,” senior lineman Nick Farabaugh said. “He was running all over the field and we couldn’t tackle him.”
McLaughlin, the second-leading rusher in Chester County, came in with 1,425 yards and 26 touchdowns. He showed exactly why, finishing with 140 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns, giving No. 12 Unionville every chance to pull another upset in the District 1 Class 5A quarterfinals Friday night at George L. King Field.
But when Strath Haven needed stops, it got them.
Clinging to a one-point lead late in the fourth quarter, the Panthers finally got McLaughlin on the ground. On third-and-7 near midfield, he tried to bounce outside, but linebacker Luke Mulhern grabbed him long enough for Zack Milligan and Patrick Burke to clean up the tackle. On fourth down, a deep shot from quarterback Tommy McGinnis intended for McLaughlin sailed incomplete. Strath Haven’s Yosif Ali then ripped off an 18-yard run to close out a 21-20 victory.
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