By Brian Carroll, Broadcaster
And the “Second Season” begins… After an exciting and productive 10-week regular season, the Strath Haven Panthers pounded their way to a 9-1 overall record, a second place finish in the Central League, and have earned a #2 seed in the 16-team field for the PIAA District 1 5A playoffs. And with seven of their ten regular season opponents also qualifying in the 5A and 6A fields, the Panthers are battle-tested and, as Coach Clancy mentioned after last week’s 33-7 win over Radnor, getting some players healthy at the right time of year. With no opportunity to participate in the 2020 playoffs due to a truncated season, the Panthers will open the playoff schedule the same way they did in 2019: hosting Upper Merion.
Upper Merion, out of the Pioneer Athletic Conference (PAC), finished with a 4-5 overall record, including a 20-19 nail biter of a loss to Boyertown in a wind and rainstorm last Friday night. Led by second year coach Davis Chubb, a former assistant at Phoenixville, the Vikings rely heavily on a pass-oriented attack led by junior quarterback #5 Zayd Etheridge. Weather permitting, Etheridge will typically look to put it in the air about 30 times per game, counting on several receivers to pick up chunks of yards after the catch. Fellow junior wide receiver #2 Thomas Alzere is a deep threat and has over 600 yards receiving on the season, while #13 Marcus Crittendon and #3 Brad Zielinski each have 100 yard receiving games to their credit this year. Mix in the powerful running of #14 Brayden Marino and #44 Joey Kovacic behind three-year starter left tackle #78 Wyatt Hart, and the Vikings will certainly test the Panthers’ defense at all levels.
