Kober a leader for Haverford School

MICKEY KOBER plays football like someone is going to take away his beloved game.

Yesterday, the 6-foot, 205-pound inside linebacker led a penny-pinching Haverford School defense in what turned into a lopsided 41-22 victory over visiting Roman Catholic.

Kober, a junior captain who also wrestles for the Fords, finished with a pair of interceptions, forced a fumble, recovered another and added a sack for good measure.

Not bad for the young man who missed most of freshman football with a pair of fractured vertebrae, then missed the PIAA championships with a torn meniscus during his sophomore season as a grappler.

"My mom was messing around with me earlier this season," he said, laughing. "She told me she was going to have my body blessed [with holy water] so I wouldn't get hurt."

The Havertown resident needed no such assistance yesterday. Kober and the Fords (4-1) forced the Cahillites (3-3) into six turnovers en route to nonleague victory. Senior linebacker Noah Lejman had an interception and senior defensive back Lane Odom also forced and recovered a fumble.

"I think this is one of our strongest defensive teams since I've been here freshman year," Kober said. "I think the biggest improvement we've had is our defensive linemen . . . they're making plays in the backfield and leaving the 'backers free. What more could you ask for?"

Since he asked, how about an offense that puts up 351 rushing yards?

Senior running back Phil Poquie and junior quarterback Kevin Carter took turns filleting the Roman defense with decisive cuts and breakaway speed.

Poquie finished with 192 yards and two scores on 18 carries (10.6 per). His scores came from 75 and 35 yards out. He also had a 50-yarder called back due to holding and a 55-yarder negated by a block in the back.

Carter added 116 yards and a 54-yard score on 14 carries (8.3 per). He also added 104 passing yards on 8-for-16 passing. The Fords open Inter-Ac play next week against Malvern, with whom they shared last season's league crown.

Roman was led by senior receiver A.J. Frazier's 132 yards on seven catches. Senior defensive back and running back John Chaney added 124 yards on eight totes.

An 80-yard Frazier score in the second quarter pulled Roman within 17-14, after senior running back Dimetri Kelly (20 carries, 59 yards and a TD) converted a two-point rush.

The Cahillites had trailed, 10-0, after a controversial fumble was called after a Frazier reception when it appeared he was downed by a defender before the ball came free.

However, Roman, which starts Catholic League play next week against Father Judge, had its chances to recoup. Kober and Co. just thwarted each opportunity.

With Roman QB Phil DiWilliams threatening from the 13-yard line, Kober's interception in the end zone halted the Cahillites with 1.1 seconds left before halftime. Then, when Roman opened the third quarter, Kober's third-down sack led to a punt, which led to Carter's 54-yard burst two plays later.

"I feel at home," he said of playing middle linebacker. "I can read the field a little bit better. I like being inside in the trenches and being physical."

Fractured vertebrae made that impossible and nearly unbearable.

"I kind of ignored [the pain] for a month or so thinking it was muscle spasms," he said. "I finally went to the doctor when I couldn't get into my stance as a fullback."

A 6-month rehab stint meant football season was a wash. Wrestling was scuttled, too.

"To tell you the truth, I put it behind me," he said of the pain. "I can't really remember. Football means a lot to me so I was trying to do everything I could to keep myself on the field and healthy . . . I was trying to ignore the pain but it caught up to me."

Holy water notwithstanding, Kober spent last summer in the weight room with his lifting partner Poquie to ward off injuries this season.

"I'm not quite there yet," he joked of the powerful Poquie, "but I like competing with him."

"He's definitely a leader and someone I look up to," Kober continued. "We kind of have a running joke that he plays just offense and I play just defense, so I say, 'I'll take care of my side of the ball, you take care of yours, and we'll lead the team to victory.' "

As it turns out, Kober said if he is named a captain again next season, he'd be just the ninth football player in school history to earn the honor junior and senior year.

"It means everything," he said. "And the last person to do it was Phil. So, he was No. 8 in like 120-plus years of football."

The other captains this year are seniors Jack Doran, Julian Jamgochian and Derek Mountain. So, to be entrusted with leadership duties as a junior after playing only one season of sophomore football, it's clear what Kober has built with teammates and coaches.

"Yeah, a lot of adversity," he said, "but it builds character."