By Brian Carroll, Havenfootball.net –
With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, the 2025 Strath Haven Panthers have established a clear identity. Much like many seasons’ past since Head Coach Kevin Clancy and his staff took the reins in 1991, a fast and athletic defense complements a bruising yet explosive offense that has resulted in seven wins through the first eight weeks of the season. This recipe certainly has Panther fans excited for a possible postseason run, but the next test comes this week as they host the Lower Merion Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs are led by quarterback #10 Nick DeLuca, who broke the school’s career passing yardage mark two weeks ago and has over 1,400 yards passing on the season. DeLuca’s favorite targets include #1 Tommy Burke (4 catches/174 yards/2 TDs last week) and #19 Henry Ingram on the outside, and #6 George Tsiotsias out of the backfield. DeLuca is also a threat to scramble and run on his own, but has running back #30 Brendan Robinson as an option, too. Robinson provided a spark with a 24-yard touchdown run in last week’s 42-0 victory over Conestoga, and Lower Merion will also hand it to massive offensive lineman #71 Kechan Miller in short yardage situations. Miller had two touchdown runs last week, and anchors a defensive front with fellow three-year starter Charles Welgs. While the defense as a whole has been more generous than Head Coach Joe Augustine would like, linebackers #5 Paul Mezey-McMahon and Tsiotsias provide good size and excellent athleticism. Sophomore kicker #23 Bilal Berriche was perfect on six extra point tries against Conestoga, as well.
Strath Haven posted another shutout of their own last week in a dominant 51-0 victory over Harriton. Fullback #35 Ryan Mudrick plowed his way to 117 yards and four touchdowns on just 8 carries, while #30 Derek Bradley’s 35-yard sprint to paydirt was blocked brilliantly by the Panthers’ linemen, backs, and tight ends. Quarterback #15 Luke Mulhern’s only pass of the night found the arms of #84 Tyler Slaughter for a 52-yard score, and #42 Logan Knaub punctuated the scoring with a sack and a safety for the defense. Panther defenders swarmed all night, allowing the Rams a season-low three (3!) total yards of offense, and #16 Brady Nangle’s two interceptions and another from #53 Patrick Burke’s interception gave the Panthers great field position for most of the game.
Given Lower Merion’s losing record and head-to-head results in recent years, the temptation could be for the Strath Haven fans to look ahead at a week 10 matchup with undefeated Springfield looming. Panther players and coaches know better, however, as DeLuca and the Bulldogs offense may be the best passing attack they’ve seen all season. Expect the Strath Haven secondary to be tested, and it will be up to the Panthers’ front four to generate a furious, but controlled, pass rush to disrupt some timing routes. Offensively, look for Coach Clancy to continue to build that dominant rushing attack with a handful of running backs, as well as expand the passing game a bit in order to stay sharp for future challenges.
While the standings look promising at the moment for Strath Haven to host a playoff game on Halloween night, be sure to join everyone this Friday for Senior Night in the last regular season contest at George L. King Field. Pregame festivities will begin at 6:40pm, and www.havenfootball.net will livestream all of the action, as always. Go Panthers!
