Warden, Garnet Valley eager for big matchup against Ridley

IT HAS NOT been the kind of senior season Garnet Valley High's Alex Warden envisioned. The speedy 6-foot, 180-pound tailback broke his left foot during the season's third week in a Central League victory over Conestoga and missed three games. But there was no way Warden was going to miss this game, when the Jaguars host undefeated Ridley at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Garnet Valley seniors carry something special entering the Central League showdown against the league's top team: They've never lost to the Green Raiders. Granted, Garnet Valley has been in the league for only 3 years, and beating the area's traditional powerhouse the first 2 years is significant to players such as Warden and his Garnet Valley teammates.

And if the 6-2 Jags are going to succeed against the suffocating defense of 8-0 Ridley, they'll need Warden to have a big game. Performing in clutch situations has never been a problem for Warden, headed to the Air Force Academy on a scholarship to play lacrosse.

"Alex is a very physically and very mentally tough kid, and he made it very clear that he wanted to play with the broken foot, but I wasn't about to risk that," Jags coach Mike Ricci said. "Alex is definitely a big-game player. He's back to around 90, 95 percent healthy. Alex is very quiet - and you can say you almost forget he's there until he steps on the field."

Count on Warden being heard against Ridley, as he was against Strath Haven, rushing for a team-high 95 yards on 20 carries in a 21-20 loss, and averaging more than 5 yards a carry in a 42-26 victory over Harriton on Friday.

Garnet Valley has been banged up this season. Heading into the Ridley game, the Jags will be as healthy as they've been all season.

"The seniors on this team have never lost to Ridley, and that's the way I want to keep it," Warden said. "We're not fighting for the Central League championship, but it's Ridley, a great team you have to play great against. You have to respect Ridley, but it doesn't mean we're afraid of them. I'm not afraid of any team we play. All the seniors will need to step up."

CLINCHING HISTORY

A Penn Wood victory Friday night over Academy Park would clinch at least a share of the Del-Val League, something the Patriots haven't won since 1994. But the 7-1 Pats aren't in the sharing mood this season. Penn Wood, which has won behind a stingy defense which has permitted only seven points in its last four games, wants the whole thing.

"We only won one league game last year, and we lost to Academy Park in the league opener," said Penn Wood fullback Kavonne Nottingham, who has 33 career touchdowns and is two touchdowns away from breaking the all-time career TD mark of 34 set by 1994 graduate Aaron Mackery. "We have no margin for error right now. We want the whole thing. How many Penn Wood football players can say they won the Del-Val League title?"

Nottingham is questionable to play against Academy Park, still recovering from a separated shoulder he suffered 2 weeks ago in Penn Wood's victory over Glen Mills.

Stepping in for Nottingham could be senior tailback Kali Smith, who rushed for a career-best 178 yards and four touchdowns in Penn Wood's 56-0 victory over Chichester last week. Smith would like to snap the long losing spell the Pats have had in the Del-Val League. The only way to do that is to win the league outright.

"It's what we worked so hard for," Smith said. "It is a big deal to us to do something no other Penn Wood team has done since 1994. We want to go undefeated [in the league] and win the whole thing."

A SHINING LIGHT

It's been a rough year for Penncrest, which is 2-6 overall entering Friday's Battle for Media game against neighborhood rival Strath Haven. But the Lions have had one consolation, and that's been the play of mountainous 6-3, 275-pound two-way lineman Nick Quintans. The senior guard/nose tackle has remained positive through what has been a trying year.

"Nick's having another all-league season for us, and with everything that's happening this year, in comparison to the success we had the two previous years, Nick has set a great positive tone for this team," Lions coach Paul Graham said. "He's stayed positive and continues to work hard. We may be 2-6, but our practice weeks are still great."

With his 3.9 GPA and 1,510 SAT score, Quintans looks in great shape to land at an Ivy League-caliber school for football next fall. He's receiving attention from Penn, Holy Cross and Georgetown.

"It's a goal to continue playing in college," Quintans said. "As for this season, it hasn't been easy, but I try and keep it positive. You have to play your heart every game, even thought the scoreboard may not show it." *

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