District One Playoff Race Heats Up

By Joe Stokes

The eighth week of the 2005 Delaware County High School football season found a third straight weekend of rain and mud disrupting many important contests.

Those teams with playoff aspirations for the most part found ways to win despite horrible field conditions.

The Central League Champion Conestoga Pioneers struggled to a 7-6 victory over the Springfield Cougars in a downpour on Saturday afternoon in Springfield. This victory combined with Neshaminy’s big victory over North Penn pushed the Pioneers to the number one playoff position in AAAA District One.

Meanwhile Upper Darby (ranked #8 Delaware County Sports.com) found a way to comeback from an early Penncreast lead in sloppy conditions at Upper Darby. This week required Royal quarterback Blian Fox to kick up the passing game to support star running back Simoni Lawrence in this 24-16 final. The win keeps the Royals in the seventh slot in this years AAAA playoff race.

This week was not without a AAAA playoff victim. The Ridley Green Raiders suffered a fatal blow to their post season hopes when they fell to Central League rival Marple Newtown 7-6.

Despite passing for 290 yards Ridley quarterback Al Humes could not get the winning score in this hard fought loss.

In the race for AAA playoff slots all the Delaware County teams in contention came up with big victories this week. Strath Haven once again avoided the rain drops by playing Monday afternoon at Lower Merion. The Panthers had no problem putting this game away early. Jared Bradley rushed for 242 yards and five first half touchdowns in this 69-0 pounding of the Lower Merion Aces.

Chichester showed that they are for real with a 32-6 win over Del Val League rival Academy Park. While Interboro pushed past Penn Wood to keep its AAA playoff hopes alive.

The playoff race reaches a fever pitch with the next two weeks deciding the fate of the following post season hopefuls.

Conestoga still appears to be a AAAA lock and with wins over Haverford and Marple Newtown should hold the number one position.

Upper Darby also controls its own AAAA destiny but the Royals must find a way to slow down the potent Ridley passing attack this Friday to keep their post season aspirations in tact.

Chichester is assured of a playoff slot (AAA) with victories over Penn Wood and Interboro in the next two weeks.

Interboro must defeat Salesianum and Chichester in order to qualify for post season contention in a four slot AAA playoff field.

Finally Strath Haven must win their final two Central League matchups with Springfield and Penncrest and hope that both Interboro and Chichester drop at least one game each so that they can return to the playoffs after a one year absence.