Fall 2021 Football Special Issue

Panther Press 2021 Special Issue

DISTRICT CHAMPIONS

HAVEN CLINCHES DISTRICT 1 CLASS 5A CHAMPIONSHIP IN TENSE PLAYOFF GAME EDITORIAL BOARD

The Strath Haven football team braved

score at 33-26, Haven fought for a touchdown.

At fourth and goal, Chase Barlow edged into the end zone for his third touchdown and brought the score up to 33-32.

The Panthers now faced a critical decision: go for the extra point and tie the score at 33-33 or try to go for a two-point conversion to win the game. With the district championship on the line, Coach Clancy decided to try the riskier two point conversion. Milligan faked a pass and bolted to the right corner of the end zone, football tightly tucked in his arms.

Even with Rustin players trying to force him out of bounds, Milligan crossed the line, bringing the score to 34-33 and securing the district championship for the Panthers.

Junior Anthony Crawford expresses that the overtime win was a rollercoaster of emotions.

“You think you are going to lose everything and then you win,” he explained.

Center Jack Beck, ‘22, agrees. He notes that the last play will stick with him for years to come.

“I was on the field at the time that Sam [Milligan] scored, and it was incredible,” Beck said. “It was one of those memories you remember for a lifetime.”

Both players and spectators were ecstatic with the win. As soon as the refs called the two point attempt good, spectators stormed the field and surrounded the team, showering the players with baby powder and congratulations.

As they swayed to the alma mater, players shared hugs and tears. They emphasize that winning the district championship was their proudest moment of the season, as it showed

that all of their work had paid off.

“It was one of the happiest moments of my life, just to share it with my teammates.

Everything we worked for led up to that moment,” senior Nick Filos said.

Senior Aiden Williams echoes Filos’ statement. He feels that the team’s strong bond is one of the driving forces behind their success.

“We are really tight and that’s what helped us win a lot of games, a lot of close games— just being tight and knowing you can count on each other,” he said.

These bonds will endure past the team’s playoff run. Each player emphasizes that their relationships with their teammates extend beyond the field.

“It’s like brotherhood. A lot of us have been playing together since freshman year. I’ve been playing with Chase and Nick since I was seven—I’ve been playing football with them forever,” Ethan Barrar, ‘22, said.

Senior Jake Millett emphasized that this year’s team rapport was stronger than ever before.

“We just kind of like live together, do everything together. I think that’s what was different about this year actually, compared to previous years,” Millett said. “It’s like everyone did everything together. Nobody was separated.

We’re all together constantly.”

Just as they did with morning workouts and summer training, football players entered the West Chester Rustin game as a team, determined to work together and secure the win.

After a tense four quarters and two overtimes, they emerged district champions—together.

Dash to the End Zone

Triumph Together

Celebration of Champions

Players and spectators react as Sam Milligan makes it into the end zone for the game winning 2 point conversion.

Seniors Nate Harrington, Greg Belville and Jacob Perdigon smile during the alma mater after the game.

Players celebrate their victory during their post-game meeting.

Photo courtesy Kai Lincke

Photo courtesy Kai Lincke

whistling winds and frigid temperatures to play West Chester Rustin during the District 1 Class 5A Championship game on Friday, November 26, 2021.

Both Rustin and Strath Haven entered the match with several large wins. Neither team had lost since September. For weeks, sportscasters praised both teams’ strong running game and untraditional Wing T offense and predicted that either team could clinch the district championship. Both teams were hungry for a win.

The Panthers tapped into that strong run game, recording 313 of their total 322 yards as rushing yards. Rustin had 265 yards, with 241 rushing yards. The two teams seemed evenly matched, and the score remained close for most of the game. Haven held a 6 point lead at the end of the third quarter, but Rustin bounced back in the fourth quarter.

With sixteen seconds left, Rustin made it into the end zone to score a touchdown, tying the score at 19-19. If Rustin made the extra point, the game—and the Panthers’ playoff run— would be over.

Luck was on Haven’s side. Though the ball made it through the goalpost twice, Haven jumped offsides on both plays, ruling them dead.

On the third kick attempt, Rustin fumbled the snap, causing the game to go into overtime.

In the first overtime, both teams scored a touchdown and extra point, bringing the game to 26-26.

In the second overtime, Rustin took the lead after a touchdown and extra point. With the

Photo courtesy Kai Lincke

Panther Press 2021 Special Issue

PANTHERS’ LOSS STILL A WIN

HAVEN PLAYERS REFUSE TO QUIT AGAINST POWERFUL OPPONENT EDITORIAL BOARD

The Strath Haven football team entered their

December 3 playoff game with their heads held high. Imhotep was a daunting opponent, with an 11-1 record and six wins by margins greater than 30 points. The team was known for steamrolling their competition, thanks to a lineup stacked with D1 college football recruits. Many Haven fans were not optimistic about the results.

“Everyone thought we were gonna lose,” senior defensive end Nick Filos said. “I think even some of our teammates thought we were gonna lose. But, we just went out there.”

Though they knew they were in for a tough battle, Haven football players approached the game with hope and determination.

“We weren’t cocky, but [we were] confident. I think going into any game thinking you’re going to lose is not a game you want to go into at all,” senior defensive end Ethan Barrar said.

Barrar notes that Imhotep’s record was impressive, but Haven had also had an incredible season. With the district championship under their belts, players felt that they were ready to face the elite Imhotep lineup.

As the two teams walked onto the field, the first thing spectators noticed was the sizable height difference. Imhotep’s roster shows an offensive line with an average weight of 318 pounds and three players 6’4 or taller. The Haven offensive line’s average height is 6’0 and the average weight is 214 pounds according to their roster. The Imhotep players towered over Haven’s.

Running back Chase Barlow emphasizes that the team couldn’t be intimidated

by the size difference. “[We wanted to] play our hardest and have confidence, and not be scared—just be tough,” Barlow said.

Right from the kickoff, things didn’t look good for Haven. In the first plays of the game, Haven players tried to evade Enai White, who ESPN reports is the #1 defensive recruit in the country. This strategy quickly fell through, as avoiding White led them into other talented players’ hands. Haven didn’t make a first down, so Imhotep got the ball.

Haven kept pushing. With almost every play, Haven fought to gain ground, but struggled to make a first down. Imhotep’s strong defense made it almost impossible for Haven’s runheavy offense to run the ball. Milligan tried a few passing plays, but Imhotep put pressure on him almost immediately after the snap, leaving him minimal time to throw or survey the field.

Imhotep dominated both in size and gameplay. Their offense rolled through the field and into the endzone to score 36 points overall.

Even as Imhotep’s lead grew, Haven wasn’t ready to give in. They fought until the very last play, when Chase Barlow was stuffed on the two yard line. Ultimately, the team recorded a scoreless game.

Though the scoreboard recorded a loss, the players won just by walking onto the field.

They entered the game with the same resolute passion and didn’t allow the elite team to shake them. Coach Clancy expresses that he is most proud of his players and their persistence.

“We had some adversity, but kept plugging away. The team played with great character, even though they knew they wouldn’t

win in the end,” Clancy said.

Assistant Coach Erik Hollingsworth agrees, emphasizing that the team’s loss was his proudest moment of the season.

Brotherhood Players join together for the alma mater after their loss to Imhotep Charter on December 3, 2021.

Photo courtesy Kai Lincke

“We lost by 36 points to one of the best teams in the area. But it’s not about the end result. It’s about the process, and the kids didn’t quit. They battled and competed, even to the last whistle— I mean, literally, to the last whistle on the two yard line, getting stuffed. There’s no quit there,” Hollingsworth said. “I think that’s everything I would try and have my guys emulate, is that attitude of ‘never give up, never surrender.’”

They fought for every yard, and didn’t let up—not the 2021 Strath Haven football team, District 1 Champions. The players can all agree: it was an amazing season, even with the loss, because they fought to the very end.

CLANCY’S VICTORIES

HAVEN FOOTBALL HEAD COACH RECORDS LATEST RECORD SEASON

Coach Kevin Clancy led the Panthers to their

twelfth district championship game on November

26. His optimism about the team and their ability to succeed ultimately led the Strath Haven Football team to their first district championship in over 10 years. Seniors Nathaniel Harrington and Jack Beck expressed their gratitude for Coach Clancy as the season came to a close.

“We knew we were in the best possible hands to win that game. Coach Clancy’s been doing this for more than thirty years. There is no coach I would have rather gone into that game with,”

Harrington stated.

Beck adds that Clancy’s presence put the team at ease as they entered the playoffs.

“I felt very comfortable with Coach Clancy. Having him by our side gave us another sense of confidence, not even in our own skill level, but knowing that we were well coached and well prepared,” Beck said.

As the winningest coach in Southern Pennsylvania, Clancy has made Strath Haven history.

The district championship win is just the latest victory in his years full of elite performance. Even with his

Words of Wisdom Clancy addresses the team after a win.

Photo courtesy Kai Lincke

years of success, Clancy remains humble.

“I don’t win the games,” he said. “The boys do.”

CONTRIBUTORS: MORGAN McERLEAN, Haven Happenings Editor ~ GIORGIA MARI, Detours Editor ~ GABE LAWSON, Graphics Editor KAI LINCKE, Editor-in-Chief