By Brian Carroll, Havenfootball.net
Are you ready for some football? After an always-too-fast summer, the defending Central League and District 1 5A champion, Strath Haven High School football team, has put in some solid offseason work, and is ready for the 2024 campaign in what should be a very challenging season in the Central League.
Strath Haven’s first test comes this Friday, 8/23/24, as they hit the road to take on the always-ready Interboro Bucs. New Head Coach Patrick Fisher is a Strath Haven alum, and also the former Defensive Coordinator at Imhotep Charter, who ended Haven’s season in the state semifinals in both 2021 and 2023. Coach Fisher inherits a handful of talented returning starters from last year’s squad that finished 4-7 overall. Senior QB #1 Mike McLaughlin is back as a second-year starter and he will be running a new, shotgun spread offense that should feature WR #3 Anthony Barr, a three-year starter and All-DelVal selection. When the Bucs want to keep it on the ground, they will hand it to one of Delaware County’s most electric runners, #4 Momodu Rodgers, who piled up over 800 yards as a freshman. #57 Will Estrada, #62 Greg Ferrari and #56 Drew Frescoln all bring experience and good size on the front line, with #6 Josh Lloyd doubling as a tight end and high-motor linebacker on defense. Barr will be joined in the secondary with fellow senior #19 JJ Nelson., and #22 Dempsey Lopez will handle kicking duties.
For the Panthers, most of the question marks surround the idea of replacing entirely a massive, skilled offensive line that paved the way for over 4,000 rushing yards in each of the last two seasons. Still, some experience returns up front with versatile #89 Alexi Gustafson and #7 Jahi Curtis at the tight end spots, and fellow seniors #54 Mike Flanigan, #52 Phil Collins, #55 Sean O’Neill, and #67 Cooper Murley working inside. #56 Nick Farabaugh brings some athleticism as a junior guard and all should provide solid protection for #3 Caden Shuster in his first year as a starter under center. If the line does its part, Shuster should have one of the Central League’s most dangerous backfields at his disposal, with speedy halfbacks #34 Vince Hales and #8 Ben Milligan joining a pair of 1,000-yard, All-Delco rushers from last year, #5 James Fisher and #32 Shane Green. Both Fisher and Green showed game-changing explosiveness as juniors and will also double as linebackers with #15 Luke Mulhern in what should be a fast and aggressive defense. Milligan returns in the secondary and could be joined by #11 Bill Dougherty and #24 Nate Lin as safeties. Junior #22 Greyson LaFrance started multiple games last season at corner, and classmates #17 Quinn Kell and #16 Brady Nangle should contribute as well. The strength of the defense, however, may be the returning front four, with All-Central performers Hales and Curtis on the edges, and Gustafson and Farabaugh also bringing strength and experience at defensive tackle. #85 Ian Gallagher is expected to handle the punting and kicking, and the Panthers return a coaching staff that has worked their magic together for decades.
Head Coach Kevin Clancy begins his 34th season at the helm with an experienced staff of assistants, fresh off winning the program’s 13th league title and a district-record 13th District 1 championship. While expectations from others are always high in terms of deep playoff runs and additions to the trophy case, Clancy’s one-week-at-a-time approach has provided the building blocks to success. This year’s Panthers will look to add significantly to their Head Coach’s 357 career wins (290 of them coming at Strath Haven), and create some new, fun memories for themselves and Panther fans everywhere.
Expect a nice crowd if you are heading over to the South Avenue Sports Complex in Glenolden this Friday night for opening weekend. If you are unable to attend the game this Friday in person, tune in to the live broadcast on www.havenfootball.net. Pre-game will begin at 6:45pm, with a 7pm kickoff to follow. We look forward to another hardworking and highlight-filled 2024 season!
