Delco high school football by the numbers
The District 1 playoffs get under way Friday night and the good news is the majority of Delaware County teams are in action. But it’s win or go home time.
Let’s shine a light on some of the most impressive statistics accrued throughout the regular season with our By the Numbers feature.
0>> Losses by Garnet Valley this season, the only Delco team to go undefeated in the regular season. The Central League champion Jaguars are the third seed in the District 1 Class 6A tournament and will host a firstround home against No. 14 Pennsbury Friday.
1>> Win for Penncrest, which dropped eight straight decisions en route to finishing with the worst record in Delco. The Lions allowed a county-high 44.1 points per game. Despite the Lions’ struggles, wide receiver Jay Brown had a productive season with 33 catches for 615 yards and six touchdowns.
11 >> Delaware County teams that have earned a trip to the District 1 playoffs. Garnet Valley (10-0), Haverford
(8-2), Upper Darby (7-3) and Ridley (6-4) qualified in Class 6A, while Penn Wood
(9-1), Radnor (8-2), Academy Park (8-2), Springfield (6-3), Interboro (5-5), Strath Haven (5-5) and Marple Newtown (5-5) made it in 5A. Unlike the previous two years, no Delco team with a losing record qualified for the postseason.
13.6 >> Points allowed per game by Cardinal O’Hara in nine games. Before last week’s 39-0 drubbing at the hands of Conwell-Egan, the Lions had given up only 84 points. Despite the recent setback O’Hara’s defense has been one of the toughest in the county, which is no surprise considering the unit is coached by legendary defensive coordinator Jim Connor.
18>> Touchdown passes for Archbishop Carroll’s Russell Minor-Shaw, the most in program history. It’s an incredible feat considering that Minor-Shaw was the Patriots’ fullback in 2017 and had never played quarterback at the high school level prior to this season. Minor-Shaw leads Carroll into a Catholic League Class 4A playoff game against Bonner & Prendergast Friday night.
27>> County-leading touchdown total for Sun Valley’s Julz Kelly. The All-Delco everyman has flourished on offense, defense and special teams for the Vanguards. Twenty-one of his touchdowns have come via the run. One of the leading rushers in the county, Kelly has gained 1,275 yards on the ground to go with 416 yards and four TDs receiving. He also has a touchdown by kick return and punt return.
187.50 >> Passing-efficiency rating for Penn Wood’s Desman Johnson, which is best in Delco. In addition, the junior is the county leader in touchdown passes (25) and passing yardage (2,207). Johnson leads the topseeded Patriots into the District 1 Class 5A tournament Friday. With a few more wins, he could break the county’s single-season passing record of 2,793 yards set by Marple Newtown’s Anthony Paoletti in 2016.
101 >> Points allowed by Sun Valley in a historic loss at Massillon (Ohio) last month. The 101-6 setback set county records for most points allowed in a game and the largest margin of defeat. Unfortunately for the Vanguards it was one loss in a string of six in a row, a streak that knocked them out of playoff contention in District 1 Class 5A. Sun Valley will end its season Thanksgiving morning at Chichester.
398 >> The number of tackles in the career of Springfield All-Delco Pat Clemens. The senior linebacker has been one of the top players at his position in the Central League since his sophomore year. While the Cougars have struggled to score points at times this year, the defense has remained the team’s best strength. Clemens and the Cougars are the sixth seed in the District 1 Class 5A tournament and will host 13th-seeded Unionville Friday night.
400 >> Offensive yards per game averaged for Ridley during its incredible sixgame winning streak. The Green Raiders overcame four straight losses to begin the year to earn the No. 16 seed in the District 1 Class 6A tournament. They take on No. 1 North Penn Friday night.
2,851 >> County record for receiving yards in a career. Barring a minor miracle, that long-standing mark set by Sun Valley’s Ray Withelder in 1999 will fall this weekend. Penn Wood All-Delco Kennedy Poles needs 14 yards to break the record. Poles, who is the county’s leading pass catcher with 1,071 yards, is also within striking distance of the single-season record that has stood since 2000 (Strath Haven’s Josh Hannum, 1,266).
880 >> The rushing total for Ridley quarterback Jack Bakey, who has been excellent during the Green Raiders’ resurgence. Bakey paces Delco signal callers in rushing yardage and has four 100-yard games, including a 120-yard performance in Ridley’s district playoff-clinching victory at Haverford last week.
369. 1 >> Average of rushing yards per game for Garnet Valley. Buoyed by a running back-by-committee system featuring Colin Robinson, Dom LaBricciosa, Danny Bradley and others, the Jags have amassed 500plus yards in a game twice this season. The leading offense in Delco is averaging 39.1 points per contest.
5,821 >> Career yardage total for Haverford quarterback Jake Ruane, who should rank second all-time in Delco after this weekend. Ruane and the Fords are the No. 9 seed and will travel to No. 8 Neshaminy in the opening round of the District 1 Class 6A playoffs.