Friday Night Lights: Unbeaten Strath Haven and Garnet Valley Face Off at King Field
Matt Shuler #23 prepares to straight arm a Harriton defender in last week’s victory. Photo: Jim Quinn, BQPictures.com
For Strath Haven and Garnet Valley, on paper it cannot get much closer. Both have identical 4-0 records. Both teams have a reputation for powerful running attacks that is extending into the 2021 season. The total points scored on the season are nearly identical (201 to 199)—the top two totals in all of District 1. And in a preface for this Friday’s showdown, last week’s final scores were almost mirror images (Strath Haven romped over Harriton, 62-12, while Garnet Valley trampled Upper Darby, 61-12.). High school football fans expect this matchup between two storied programs this Friday at George L. King field in Wallingford to be the Central League’s game of the year.
Strath Haven dominated the Central League for most of the 1990s and early 2000’s, but Garnet Valley has taken that mantle since 2008, piling up multiple league titles and deep runs in the PIAA-6A district playoffs year after year. This year’s team, boasting 40 talented and dedicated seniors, intends GV’s dominance to continue. Garnet Valley has not lost a Central League game since mid-2017. And with a blowout win vs. Upper Darby a week ago, the Jags regulars should be well-rested and looking to make a statement against the highly-touted Panther rushing game.
Leading the way on offense is QB Max Busenkell (#9), a Notre Dame lacrosse commit, who is completing over 80% of his passes on the season. The Jags’ passing efficiency is complemented by a tremendous offensive line and rushing attack, with Navy-commit Shane Reynolds (#6) featured at running back. Reynolds has missed most of the last three games with injury, but Jason Bernard (#34), Ryan Saunders (#5), and several others have piled up yardage in his absence. Navy lacrosse commit and WR Sean Gallagher (#35) brings blazing speed to the pass game, and the Jaguars have as balanced an attack as their team that reached the 3A state finals back in 2007. Defensively, a speedy back seven, led by SS CJ Wood (#7) and LBs Joey Halloran (#14) and Drew Van Horn (#2), will limit the big-play potential of most opponents this season.
Week 4 provided a similar triumphant result for the Panthers, as five first quarter touchdowns put the game out of reach early for Harriton. While the cumulative stats for the Panthers’ starting backfield were not enormous - the trio of Chase Barlow (#24), Matt Shuler (#23), and Anthony Crawford (#32) carried the ball only two times each - all three scored touchdowns and averaged double-digit yardage on their respective totes. Sam Milligan (#4) completed both his pass attempts, and nine different Panthers found the end zone last Friday night. Mix in three more Panthers who recorded their first interceptions of the season (Shuler, Jason Williams (#72), Evan Menaker (#14)), and it was another solid all-around performance.
Headed into this Friday’s Central League clash, it is not expected that the defensive coordinators for either team will be sleeping well, as the Panthers (averaging 50 points per game) and Jaguars (49 ppg) have both been virtually unstoppable through the first month of competition. Similar to seasons’ past, both teams are ground-oriented, but this year both have shown efficiency and big play capability in the passing game. The Jaguars’ speed in the linebacking unit and defensive backfield may force the Panthers to be patient and content with smaller gains to keep the Garnet Valley offense on the sideline. And with 75 combined years of head coaching experience on the respective sidelines (40 for Coach Clancy, 35 for Coach Ricci), who knows what tricks we might see for the first time in this still young 2021 season?
Kick-off is this Friday at 7 p.m. at George L. King Field. If you can’t make the game you can always listen to our broadcast right here at Havenfootball.net. Our live broadcast begins at 6:45 p.m. and will be available on Havenfootball.net archives within a few hours after it concludes. You can also check in on Twitter for scores and video updates. The game will also be video streamed on Strath Haven’s YouTube channel.
