Name: Football Friday: Balance at running back is key for Delco’s top teams
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Football Friday: Balance at running back is key for Delco’s top teams

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Skip to contentFor some of the top football programs in Delaware County, the running back-by-committee system has generated impressive results.Chester’s Dayshon Jackson is among the best running backs in Delco with 833 yards. But he has been spelled by the likes of Larry McDaniel and Nahree Melvin, both of whom are capable of shouldering a bigger load.At Marple Newtown, sophomore Brett Wolski has emerged as one of the most dynamic players in the Central League. Wolski and junior Brian Box make one heck of a tandem out of the backfield for the 5-1 Tigers.You cannot talk about successful running teams without mentioning Strath Haven, which is the last undefeated team in the county. James Fisher (524 yards, eight TDs) is the Panthers’ home run hitter. Shane Green (468 yards, three TDs) and Marco Kaufman (297 yards, three TDs) have also shown game-changing ability in coach Kevin Clancy’s patented Wing-T offense.Avery Hankey is the defending rushing champion in the Catholic League, and the Bonner &amp; Prendergast senior is off to another great start with 595 yards and five TDs. The Robin to Hankey’s Batman is senior Isaiah Session, an All-Delco linebacker a year ago, who has added 201 yards and four scores.Garnet Valley has been forced to dig deep in its depth due to several injuries in recent weeks, but the mighty Jaguars have gotten steady production from Dean Koehler, Ronnie Leraris and Luke Vaughn at the running back position.With that, let’s take a look at this week’s games accompanied by my predictions. All games Friday start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted…Strath Haven at Garnet Valley &gt;&gt; It’s the game of the week in Delco. While the Panthers (6-0) rolled to a 54-7 win over Radnor last week, the Jaguars (5-1) struggled mightily to beat a Lower Merion team they have traditionally destroyed. Not helping matters was the weather, and the fact that Garnet Valley lost Koehler, its top rusher, early in the first half. Will this be the week that GV’s six-year winning streak in the Central League ends?Prediction: Strath Haven, 21-20.Springfield at Ridley &gt;&gt; Nobody should want to face the Cougars (5-1), who are particularly scary up front on both sides of the ball. Mike Turner had four touchdown runs on his first four carries in a 49-7 win over Penncrest last Friday. Springfield’s points allowed (6.5) is best in Delco.Another week, another frustrating loss for the Green Raiders (1-4), who fell 27-21 to Conestoga after leading at the end of the third quarter. Quarterback Ryan Carroll was 15-for-21 for 218 yards.Prediction: Springfield, 28-7.Marple Newtown at Haverford &gt;&gt; Box ran for two touchdowns and Dave Bertoline threw scoring passes to Paul DeFruscio and Alex Gillan for the Tigers (5-1) in a 48-7 trouncing of Mastery Charter North last week.The Fords (1-4) return from a bye week, looking to snap a two-game skid.Prediction: Marple Newtown, 31-16.Radnor at Upper Darby &gt;&gt; Bryce Cohen piled up 18 tackles in the 1-5 Raptors’ loss to Strath Haven. Jaylen Johnson ran for a touchdown and returned a kick 92 yards to the end zone in the 0-6 Royals’ 48-13 loss at The Haverford School.Prediction: Upper Darby, 19-17.Interboro at Chichester &gt;&gt; The 2-4 Bucs forced three interceptions and held Kennett to less than 125 yards of offense in a 12-0 victory last Friday. Anthony Barr came away with two picks and Aaron Keene had one. The Eagles (2-4) gutted out a 14-12 win over Unionville.Prediction: Interboro 20, Chichester 18.Neumann-Goretti at Bonner &amp; Prendergast, 5 &gt;&gt; This one could determine the Catholic League Blue Division championship as both teams enter 3-0 in league play.The Friars (4-1) have won three straight, including a 30-15 decision over Archbishop Ryan last Friday. Hankey led the way with 197 yards on the ground and Session added 76 yards on only three carries.The Saints (4-1) have allowed 13 points in their last four games. In a 22-7 victory over O’Hara, running back Terrence Page amassed 161 yards and three touchdowns.Prediction: Neumann-Goretti, 20-16.Conwell-Egan at Cardinal O’Hara &gt;&gt; The Eagles (5-1) are the third 3-0 team in the PCL Blue. Since a Week 1 loss the Eagles have won five in a row by a composite 122-38 score. Sam Cooper and Mentorl Zoryea are a dangerous combo out of the backfield.The Lions (3-3) aim to snap a two-game skid. They accrued only 128 yards of offense in last week’s loss to Neumann-Goretti, with leading back Keon Powell scoring their only touchdown.Prediction: Conwell-Egan, 26-19.Sun Valley at West Chester East &gt;&gt; Noah Griffin exploded for 249 yards on 36 carries in the Vanguards’ 29-6 win over Penn Wood last week. The Vikings fell 28-0 to Downingtown West, one week after getting shut out by Chester, 32-0. Both of these teams are 2-4.Prediction: Sun Valley, 34-29.Downingtown East at Academy Park &gt;&gt; Playing their first home night game in more than two years, the Knights (1-5) have the unenviable task of trying to snap a five-game losing streak facing one of the best Class 6A programs in District 1. The Cougars (6-0) have shut out the opposition in five of their six games. including last week’s 42-0 rout of Oxford. Ayden Harris has rushed for 751 yards and 16 TDs.The Knights managed only 37 yards of offense in a 25-6 loss at Avon Grove and are averaging a paltry nine points per game.Prediction: Downingtown East, 42-8.Saturday’s schedule includes:Penn Wood at Chester, 11 a.m. &gt;&gt; Winners of five in a row, the Clippers (5-1) host the rival Patriots (1-5) in a Del Val League battle. The festivities will start early on Lamokin St. &amp; Concord Ave as it is homecoming day for Chester … and no school in Delco does it better.Jackson ran for 193 yards and two scores in Chester’s 36-14 win over Henderson last week.Jaleel Green racked up eight tackles for the Patriots (1-5) against Sun Valley.Prediction: Chester, 34-12.Penncrest at Lower Merion, 1 &gt;&gt; I like the Lions (3-3) to bounce back after being picked apart by Springfield last week. But it won’t be easy, considering how well the Aces (2-4) played at Garnet Valley. Look for the two Matts – Malley and Ferry – to have productive games running the ball for Penncrest.Prediction: Penncrest, 21-19.Arch. Carroll vs. West Catholic at South Philly Supersite, 1 &gt;&gt; Jay Boyd passed for 181 yards and two TDs in the Patriots’ (2-4) 21-14 setback to Lansdale Catholic last week. The Burrs (0-5) were held scoreless for the third straight game in their 26-0 loss to Conwell-Egan.Prediction: Carroll, 27-12.Contact Matt Smith at msmith@delcotimes.com.Most Popular

Skip to contentFor some of the top football programs in Delaware County, the running back-by-committee system has generated impressive results.Chester’s Dayshon Jackson is among the best running backs in Delco with 833 yards. But he has been spelled by the likes of Larry McDaniel and Nahree Melvin, both of whom are capable of shouldering a bigger load.At Marple Newtown, sophomore Brett Wolski has emerged as one of the most dynamic players in the Central League. Wolski and junior Brian Box make one heck of a tandem out of the backfield for the 5-1 Tigers.You cannot talk about successful...

Football Friday: Balance at running back is key for Delco’s top teams

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