Upper Merion vs Strath Haven
Haven starts slow but finishes strong in playoff win
Bob Fooskas #40 on one of his 12 carries for 158 yards in Friday night’s win over Upper Merion. Photo by James Quinn Photography.
By Harry Chakun
It was one of those rare instances at a football game in which the crowd noise had died down and a voice could be heard loud and clear from the stands.
“What are we doing out there?” was the lament of a Strath Haven fan at George L. King Field Friday night as the second-seeded Panthers hosted No. 15 Upper Merion in the opening round of the District 1 Class 5A playoffs.
The Panthers, who picked up first downs on their first two plays from scrimmage, wound up punting four plays later, then surrendered a 12-play drive that lasted almost six minutes and concluded as UM’s Cyrus Palladino kicked a 26-yard field goal.
Strath Haven’s other first quarter possession ended with a punt, but the Panthers’ Austin Conner batted down a Zayd Etheridge pass in the second quarter and four minutes later the home team began its scoring blitz on its way to a 35-3 victory.
