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Haverford lassoes Upper Darby

Haverford High players carried a thick brown rope down the narrow concrete stairs that spilled onto Upper Darby's field. The Fords arrived without the noise and hype that typically surrounds a football team's entrance. They just walked the rope to their sidelines and placed it on the ground, right where the team would stand throughout the game.

Haverford's Tom Campli (left) and Sam Romanofsky sack Upper Darby quarterback Christoff Minot. (Lou Rabito/Staff)
Haverford's Tom Campli (left) and Sam Romanofsky sack Upper Darby quarterback Christoff Minot. (Lou Rabito/Staff)Read more

Haverford High players carried a thick brown rope down the narrow concrete stairs that spilled onto Upper Darby's field.

The Fords arrived without the noise and hype that typically surrounds a football team's entrance. They just walked the rope to their sidelines and placed it on the ground, right where the team would stand throughout the game.

One last time this season, Haverford High showed its unity and beat Upper Darby, 28-12.

"It's been a crazy season," said Nick Costello, who caught three touchdowns and was named Haverford High's most outstanding player of the game. "We knew we had to come in here and win, just to top off our season."

Haverford made the District 1 Class AAAA playoffs for the second time in three years this season. But coach Joe Gallagher took a leave of absence before the team's first-round loss at Coatesville after he was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance and other infractions on Oct. 31.

"We just tried to embrace the family attitude," said quarterback Jack Donaghy, who threw for 135 yards and three touchdowns. "If one of us goes down, we're all going to go down, and we have to pick each other up if one of us goes down. We just tried to stick together and be a team."

Upper Darby scored the game's first touchdown on Christoff Minot's 40-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Coll, who was Upper Darby's most outstanding player. Haverford responded with the next 21 points. John Kim's 2-yard touchdown run was sandwiched by two of Donaghy's touchdown throws to Costello.

"The seniors deserved this," Haverford interim coach Jack O'Donnell said. "They had a good year and went to the playoffs. . . . The seniors are great kids; they're a great bunch. It was fun to get out there every day with these guys."

The win gave Haverford High the last five in the rivalry and cut Upper Darby's lead in the series to 44-43-6.

Haverford has made the rope, along with a poster of a red ant - an insect that swarms in packs - a Thanksgiving tradition.

After the game, a coach yelled for the sophomores to go get the rope and the sign. It's now their responsibility to carry.

Haverford High 0 14 7 7 - 28

Upper Darby 6 0 0 6 - 12

UD: Vincent Coll 40 pass from Christoff Minot (kick blocked)

HH: Nick Costello 40 pass from Jack Donaghy (Evan Boyce kick)

HH: John Kim 2 run (Boyce kick)

HH: Costello 9 pass from Donaghy (Boyce kick)

UD: Minot 6 run (run failed)

HH: Costello 9 pass from Donaghy (Boyce kick)