Del City's Ganther is determined to produce
DEL CITY—Quinlan Ganther is determined.
He's determined to stay healthy for the entire season. He's focused on playing smart football and doing what he can to help Del City win. He's determined to bring his team with him.
During Friday' s 20-17 victory against Mc Guinness at Robert Kalsu Stadium, G anther' s determination pushed the Eagles to victory, as he scored the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard rush with 14 seconds left.
“The whole summer, we was talking about how it was going to be hard-fought games every year,” Ganther said. “Everybody's mindset was t here. Everybody was ready to keep fighting.”
Ganther's determination comes from a shoulder injury that shortened his junior season.
Del City' s quarter back couldn't play like he wanted to. An aggressive runner, he wasn't able to lower his shoulder and fight for extra yardage, the things he excelled at Friday.
After an offseason focused on rehabbing and working to improve his health and durability, Ganther shined when the lights came on.
He didn't run the ball once in the first half but finished with 69 yards on the ground with the winning touchdown. As a passer, he completed 10-of-18 throws for 159 yards and another score, a 15-yard pass to Colin Liesinger.
His second half stands out because it shows him sticking with the process this summer paid off.
“The only thing we've been talking about with him is
staying healthy,” Del City coach Mike Dunn said. “This is the first time he's felt good about being the guy.”
When it was Ganther's time to take over in the second half, he did so with authority.
On Del City's first drive after the break, her an the ball three times for 18 yards, including two carries for first downs. His st rides were powerful, and he proved tough for McGuinness' defenders to take down when he paraded into a pile.
As the game wore on and defenders began to wear down, Ganther remained poised.
On Del City' s scoring drive, he ran the ball five times and completed two passes. When it was time for him to take over the game, he was prepared. It's what he worked all summer for.
“I'm very, very proud of him,” Dunn said. “He stuck it through. For him to go down and make that score, I'm really fired up for that guy because he's a heckuva kid.”