By Brian Carroll, Havenfootball.net
In what seems like a blink of an eye, the 2022 regular season is winding to a close. For fans of the Strath Haven Panthers, the first nine weeks could not have had a better result, even with a few bumps and bruises providing some challenges each week. The final challenge for the regular season is significant: a week 10 date with the Marple Newtown Tigers. The Tigers, who last hosted Strath Haven in a shortened 2020 season (and handed them their only loss that year), are battling for playoff position and are looking to spoil the Panthers’ chance for a Central League title.
After a 4-0 start to the season, the Tigers have hit a rough patch in dropping four of their last five games. Three of those losses (to Conestoga, Springfield, and Upper Darby) were excruciatingly close—twice by a point, and once by just three. After shutting out Hatboro-Horsham two weeks ago, Marple is looking to bounce back after a turnover-filled, 42-7 loss to Ridley last Friday. Head Coach Chris Gicking, now in his 9th season, has the Tigers offense clicking to the tune of 27 points per game with a very balanced run/pass attack. Junior QB #10 Dave Bertoline is in his second season as a starter, and is completing a whopping 72% of his passes, spread out over 13 different receivers. #5 Bryan Bogan and #1 Joey Yukanevitch are his most frequent targets, while sophomore #22 Brian Box is busy in the run game with 11 rushing touchdowns on the season. Box has also returned two kickoffs for scores. Defensively, junior DT #57 Jake McGowan has been a disruptive force, leading the team in tackles and sacks, with 14.5 tackles for loss to his credit. Box and fellow sophomore LB #34 Lou DiLuzio anchor the back seven, which has limited opponents to 170 rushing yards per game.
