
#24 Chase Barlow taking off for a big gain in last week’s defeat of Marple Newtown. Photo by Jim Quinn, BQPictures.com
By Brian Carroll, broadcaster
For high school football fans, weekend plans in November are written in pencil. With playoff tournaments underway and each remaining team in “survive, and advance” mode, other family or social gatherings may be on hold until the scoreboard clocks read “0:00” late on Friday nights or Saturday afternoons. Strath Haven, the #2 seed in District 1 5A, and #6 seeded Academy Park both battled through first half scares last weekend, and will now grab a chunk of many calendars this week as they prepare to meet this Friday night in the district semifinals.
Academy Park, the Del-Val League’s Co-Champion led by Head Coach Jason Vosheski, brings a 9-2 record to the table and rides a five game winning streak into the semifinal round. The Knights are no strangers to deep playoff runs, having won District 1 titles in 2013, 2015, and 2016, to go with a runner-up finish in 2019. With a bevy of offensive weapons, Academy Park will run a spread offense directed by quarterback #6 Darrell Fields and mix in some Wildcat looks with running back/wide receiver #2 Eric Willis, who has over 800 combined rushing/receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns. Add running back #7 Terrance Oliver, who is coming off a 246-yard effort in last week’s victory, and running back #1 Abe Sanogo, and the Panthers will have their hands full to contain an offense that averages 32.9 points per game.