By Brian Carroll, Havenfootball.net
High school football fans blinked, and suddenly the 2024 regular season is halfway completed. For all the blood, sweat and tears poured into every offseason workout and meeting, the season itself seems to fly once it has begun. For the second year in a row, the Strath Haven Panthers have reached the season’s midpoint undefeated, thrilling fans with highlight-reel offense and a fast, punishing defense thus far. Still, with the home stretch of the regular season and playoffs looming, Haven will have many tests still to pass, starting this Friday at Marple Newtown.
Despite Marple Newtown’s up-and-down first half of the season, the Tigers are very much in playoff contention, and a victory over the Panthers for the second consecutive year would go a long way in securing a possible home playoff date. Head Coach Chris Gicking has handed the reins of the offense to first-year starter #15 Jude Jelus, who has completed over 60% of his passing attempts through five games. Jelus has spread the ball around well, connecting with ten different receivers, including twelve times each with #4 Jack Dean and #11 Sean Grogan. The short passing attack will force opposing defenses to tackle well in open space and also account for a three-headed rushing attack led by #22 Brett Wolski (5.8 yds/carry; 6 tds), #34 Lou DiLuzio (200 yards, 2 touchdowns), and #3 Aidin Curran, who also stars on the baseball diamond.
