FORT WASHINGTON, PA-- It might just be one game, but boy, did it feel good.
When you are coming off a season in which you didn’t win a single league game, there’s nothing like an early victory to assuage internal anxiety.
So while Haverford School still has four challenging Inter-Academic League contests ahead of them, don’t begrudge the Fords their mini-celebration after defeating previously undefeated host Germantown Academy Saturday afternoon, 38-11.
“It’s a relief,” said senior Nate Whitaker, a do-it-all Haverford standout. “It was a very nice win. We came out with a lot of fire, especially in the second half.”
The Fords (3-2 overall, 1-0 Inter-Ac) trailed, 3-0, but seized a 14-11 edge at the half. A 60-yard touchdown pass from senior Ben Gerber (9 for 14, 160 yards, two touchdowns) to senior Dan Whaley early in the third quarter increased the margin. Then Whitaker scored from 37 yards out, and by the time junior Daiyaan Hawkins (3 catches for 81 yards) intercepted a pass and returned in 17 yards for another touchdown, the rout was on.
Haverford's senior RB Nate Whitaker takes it in for a 37-yard TD against the Patriots (photo-Michael L Nance).
Hawkins, sophomore Chris Sims, and senior Logan Keller also contributed interceptions on a defense that surrendered only 74 yards on the ground. The Patriots (5-1, 0-1) were coming off consecutive shutouts.
“We were coming into the league as the underdogs and we had a chip on our shoulder,” said senior middle linebacker Sean Clark. “The game showed where we are at as a team. Our offense was clicking and our defense was playing great.
“I think we were ready for a dogfight. We knew we had some things to clean up, and we did that. We came out and shut them down on defense and dominated on offense.”
On his long touchdown reception, Whaley gave props to the entire offense.
“We focused on establishing our run game, but we felt it was time to take a shot down field,” said Whaley. “My teammates ran great routes, leaving me one-on-one with the corner, and Ben threw a great ball. We were happy to execute and put some more points on the board.”
In two and a half seasons, Whitaker has now scored 13 touchdowns – three via rush, seven by reception, two following an interception, and one on a punt return. Whitaker, a second-team, all-league safety last year, has corralled seven career interceptions.
Haverford's senior QB Ben Gerber throws 60-yard touchdown pass to Dan Whaley in League opener against Germantown Academy (photo-Michael L. Nance).
“We have a very good secondary,” said Whitaker. “When the guys up front are playing like they did this week, it makes us even better.”
Whitaker said there won’t be a sliver of overconfidence coming into Saturday afternoon’s 2 PM contest at Penn Charter, the Fords’ final away game of the season, as they play their final three at home.
“Every game is a championship in this league,” said Whitaker. “It’s important to feel good after you play well and win, but then you have to get back to business and do it again.”
(John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)
Haverford School vs. Germantown Academy (Photos by Michael L. Nance).
