Garnet Valley outlasts Springfield Delco in battle of Central League heavyweights

Written by: Willie McGonigle on Sunday, October 23rd, 2011. Follow Willie McGonigle on Twitter.

SPRINGFIELD: Entering Friday nights Central League contest the Springfield Cougars had a 7-0 record and had Central League title aspirations. Their opponent for this game the Garnet Valley Jaguars entered the game with a 6- record with all six of their victories coming in league play. Fans packed Springfield High School for the battle of heavyweights and they got their money’s worth as the teams went blow to blow the difference a missed extra point that allowed the Jaguars to escape Springfield with a 42-41 victory.

The first hay-maker of the evening was landed by the Cougars on the fourth play from scrimmage when Cameron Durham who was lined up in punt formation fielded a bad snap and avoided a defender and raced his way 63 yards for the score.  On the ensuing drive the Jaguars drove down to the Cougar nine yard line before the tough Cougar stood tough forcing a turnover on downs. The Cougars offense couldn’t capitalized and the Jaguars took over drove 40 yards and scored when Ryan Corkery connected with Rockne O’Leary for a 10 touchdown.

The Cougars responded on the ensuing drive going 64 yards on 3 plays including a 49 yard pass by Ryan Strain to Matt Reichert that put the Cougars down at the Jaguars 15 yard line. Two plays later Aaron Coyne powered his way in from four yards out. The Jaguars responded on their next drive with a 61 yard screen pass from Corkery to Justin Pyle for the score to tie the game at 14.

In the second quarter, the Cougars were able to intercept Corkery twice once by John Ciurlino and Mike Dougherty. Both resulted in Cougar touchdowns with Warren Allen hauling in a 65 yard touchdown from Strain and Eric Polllock bringing a 22 yard touchdown pass. The Cougars tacked on to their lead with a five yard plunge by Barry Foster that put the Cougars up 35-14.

But then, the Jaguars took momentum back with a 21 yard touchdown run by Pyle with under two minutes left in the half to make it 35-21 at the half.

The momentum that the Jaguars took into the locker room at half continue in the third quarter as on the opening drive they drove 64 yards on eight plays before Corkery called his own number for a 22 yard touchdown strike.

On the ensuing drive the Cougars fumbled and back to work went the Jaguars and it was Jordyn Bennett who tied the game with a 10 yard touchdown run.

The Jaguars took the lead on their opening drive of the fourth quarter with a 64 yard run by Pyle.

The Cougars came back with a 52 yard pass from Strain to Pollock with 3:36 left in the game. The extra point through was missed and the Cougars needed their defense to get them the ball back and that did with 1:32 left. Mitch Rose put the end to the Cougars comeback attempt with an interception.

The Jaguars can clinch the Central League title with wins in their final two games against Lower Merion and Haverford. The Cougars can also clinch a share of the Central League title with wins over Strath Haven and Marple Newtown and a Garnet Valley lost. The Cougars could also win the Central League title outright if with two wins and two Garnet Valley loses

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2 Responses to “Garnet Valley outlasts Springfield Delco in battle of Central League heavyweights”

1. James Loney says:
   October 24th, 2011 at 1:40 pm

   Agreed…It’s ridicoulous that GV didn’t win the title outright when they actually beat Ridley head-to-head. Another problem with the Central League was last year when Strath Haven and Ridley won the title and both teams didn’t even face each other. They need to split into 2 divisions and have a league championship game. There’s just too many teams.

2. duffers says:
   October 23rd, 2011 at 9:44 pm

   What is wrong with the Central League’s management? How can it be possible that Springfield can win their next 2 and share the league title with the team that just beat them on their own field? The same thing happened a couple years ago when GV went on the road to beat Ridley, yet they shared the league title. This does nothing but cheapen the accomplishment of being a league champion. Thumbs down.