By Matt Smith
PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS >> No. 1 Garnet Valley and No. 7 Ridley will meet for the District 1 Class 6A final in a highly anticipated rematch of Delco’s top-two teams. The Jags will be the host team. In a classic, Garnet Valley will score the go-ahead touchdown with 30 seconds to go and hold on for a 35-31 win. In coach Mike Ricci’s final season at the helm, the Jags will have thus captured the program’s third district title (first since 2007), and move one step closer to a PIAA championship.
In Class 5A, No. 1 West Chester Rustin will survive a hard-fought, low-scoring game with No. 8 Chester in the second round and handles No. 4 Upper Dublin in the semifinals. On the other side of the bracket, No. 2 Strath Haven and sixth-seeded Academy Park will clash in the semifinals round. Haven’s run offense overwhelms AP’s athletic defensive front on the way to a 24-16 Panthers victory.
In the final, the Panthers defense steals the show en route to a stunning, 21-13 win at Rustin. Haven captures its 14th District 1 championship and first since 2010.
