Conestoga Controls Central League Destiny. Interboro Goes South for a Win

By Joe Stokes

The fourth week of Delaware County High School football provided a little clarity as to which teams will compete for playoff spots and League Championships.  

The Conestoga Pioneer’s rated 6th in (Delaware County Sports.Com) top twenty faced 19^th ranked Upper Darby in a showdown of undefeated Central League rivals.

Although the Royals came out strong with a length of the field drive that led to an early touchdown run by Simoni Marco Lawrence, the Conestoga defense would bend but never break again in this contest. Upper Darby rushed for 214 yards and was in the red zone four times but the Pioneer defense stiffened each time including a last minute fourth and goal sack by Billy Davis to hold a hard fought 14-7 victory and first place in the Central League.

The seventh ranked Strath Haven Panthers continued their wining ways with an impressive 28-15 victory over Radnor. The Panthers relied on their classic running attack led by Jared Bradley, Kevin Kaminski and Steven Johnson to control the game clock and keep the Radnor offense off the field. Strath Haven remains only one game behind Conestoga in the Central League and remains in good position for a District One AAA playoff run.

The Ridley Green Raiders (11^th ranked) responded to last week’s loss to Strath Haven by exploding to a 31-8 victory over Penncrest. Ridley quarterback Al Humes completed 6 passes for 146 yards with touchdown strikes to Dino Vasso and Marcus Payton keeping the Lion defense from clamping down on the rushing attack. The story of the night might be the Ridley defense holding Penncrest to just 7 first downs and 137 total yards.

The honorably mentioned Interboro Bucs of the Del Val League traveled to the southern tip of state of Delaware to face Sussex Central. The Buc offense got into an early rhythm and cruised to a 36-21 victory with an impressive 353 yards on the ground with running back Abeeb Badmus pounding out 239 yards on 28 carries. The victory keeps Interboro in the AAA playoff picture with some key Del Val League matchups in the next few weeks.

The games to watch next week feature another top twenty and Central League showdown when Conestoga hosts Ridley at Teamer Field. Strath Haven travels to Haverford to face a hard working veteran squad that could be this year’s surprise team. Interboro faces Downingtown East in a game that may well define how far the Bucs can go in the playoff race. While Cardinal O’Hara entertains Catholic League rival North Catholic at Widener University in Chester, Pa.