Back for another year of showcasing awesome individual performances, here are the best of the best from Week 1…
NOTE: The list is in no particular order. Also, I do not hate a player if I neglect to mention him.
Jerry Lanier, RB, Academy Park: The All-Delco didn’t get his first touch until late in the first quarter, because the Knights were busy scoring points off special teams play. Lanier took AP’s first play from the line of scrimmage 82 yards to the house, and the Knights were on cruise control from that point forward. Lanier enjoyed the best day of any running back in the county, rushing for 213 yards on just 11 carries.
Kijana Gordon, RB, Sun Valley: The last time we knew a running back named Kijana, that player (Ki-Jana Carter) was setting rushing records and leading Penn State to an undefeated season in 1994. This Kijana (Gordon) put his name on the map against Lower Merion, torturing the Aces to the tune of 166 yards on eight carries, including TD runs of 44 and 84 yards.
Ryan Dougherty, MLB, Ridley: The Green Raiders thrive on having a nasty defense, and this young squad showed flashes of it against Glen Mills. At the forefront of Ridley’s 20-6 victory was the junior linebacker, who recorded at several tackles and was all over the field on D. Dougherty and linebacker mate Lou Harrison should be a pretty lethal one-two punch.
Juwan Chandler, DB, Sun Valley: The junior didn’t do much offensively, but he sure made an impact in the secondary and on special teams. In the future, quarterbacks should never throw toward the general vicinity of Chandler, who picked off two passes, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Chandler racked up an eye-popping 118 yards.
Jake Irving, RB, Garnet Valley: The senior came oh-so-close to the 200-yard plateau, finishing with 198 to lead the Jaguars to a 35-14 thumping over Unionville. Irving is coming off an 1,000-yard season, and so far, he is off to a great start and should have no trouble repeating that feat this year. Behind a strong and athletic offensive line, it’s safe to say that Irving and the Jaguars will have plenty of success running the ball this fall.
Let’s make it a Fab 5 + 1 this week….
DeAndre Pendergrass, WR, Upper Darby: Pendergrass had a phenomenal seas debut for the Royals, catching four passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Pendergrass blew by defenders, and figures to be tough to track down in open space so long as senior quarterback Chris Rossiter keeps feeding him the ball. That shouldn’t be a problem
Not for nothing, but Rossiter was pretty awesome, too, compiling 144 rushing yards to go with 132 passing.
HONORABLE MENTION: Phi Poquie (Haverford School), John Ferguson (Springfield),
Haverford School’s Phil Poquie had 188 yards and two TDs in a loss.
Sonny Armstrong (Interboro), Thadd Smith (Cardinal O’Hara), Chris Rossiter (Upper Darby), Ryan Whayland (Episcopal Academy), Tamein Jackson (Chichester), Rashad Johnson (Penncrest), Justin Batipps (Penncrest),Charles Fryson (Strath Haven), Austil Tilghman (Archbishop Carroll), Chris Galloway (Radnor).
