NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA- The contrast was stark.  As silent fans exited Episcopal Academy’s magnificent football stadium, hordes of Haverford School players, family, and fans clamored loudly all over the playing field.

Minutes earlier, the Fords had defeated the game-but-overmatched Churchmen, 21-0. The victory clinched the best season in Haverford School’s 128-year football history (129 if you include a 2-0 record in 1887), the 10-0 record securing its first undefeated effort since the Fords finished 8-0 in both 1970 and 1971.

The Fords’ third consecutive Inter-Academic League title was also a school first, as was finishing with double digit victories. Winning by shutout simply added an animated exclamation point, leaving many to wonder to themselves whether there is a team in the state of Pennsylvania that could beat the Fords.

After he accepted hugs and kisses from family and was finished posing for celebratory pictures, an emotionally contained Dox Aitken stood tall. His football career was now over, and that fact was not lost on two-time Inter-Ac Player of the Year who will play lacrosse at the University of Virginia next fall.

“It’s hard to think about right now,” said Aitken, a stalwart wide receiver, free safety, and punter. “What we just accomplished is amazing.

“I thought we would be good, but to be honest, I don’t think anyone could have predicted what this team did. We had some key injuries at some key spot, but no one made excuses. If you told me this would happen before the season started . . . I don’t know that I’d have believed it.”

En route to extending their winning streak to 19 games, the Fords scored on their first drive, a one-yard plunge by senior Malik Twyman. Their tenuous one-touchdown lead was doubled when Twyman (26 carries for 154 yards, matching his yardage in last week’s 42-14 win over Germantown Academy) scored his second TD of the game – and sixth in the past two weeks – early in the second quarter.

Still within realistic reach, the Churchmen (6-4 overall, 1-4 Inter-Ac) penetrated the Fords’ aggressive defense on occasion, but when junior quarterback Tommy Toal connected on a 57-yard touchdown pass to senior Keyveat Postell in the opening moments of the fourth quarter, the only drama concerned whether or not the Fords could snare their first shutout of the season.

“That was one of our goals,” said senior linebacker Mickey Kober. “I can’t think of a better way to finish the season.”

Postell, who is also the first football player to be named President of the Haverford School, was clearly wowed by what he labeled “a really special moment.”

“I’m so excited for our fans,” said Postell, a University of Pennsylvania-bound lacrosse standout. “The crowds and support kept getting bigger and bigger. They were really going crazy and showed their support all year.

"It’s something that is hard to describe. But it really is special for a lot of people.”

During his post-game talk, Haverford coach Mike Murphy lauded his entire team, including Kevin Carter, who was slated to have a tremendous campaign at quarterback before a season-ending injury in Week Three.

In stepped Toal, who was nothing short of phenomenal. He finished with 18 touchdown passes for 1,632 yards.

“He showed how good he is,” said Aitken. “We lost a great quarterback and, fortunately for us, ended up gaining one.”

That’s not exactly what the rest of the Inter-Ac wants to think about during the off-season.

(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com.)