Havertown, Penn. — Marple Newtown started the second half of their season with a bang by picking up a 42-14 win against the Haverford Fords on Friday.
Marple Head Coach Chris Gicking looked to create a repeat of the 2021 match-up between the Tigers and the Haverford high school Fords where Charlie Box crossed the goal line three times in a 49-16 win.
The Fords opened this year’s duel with extra energy due to The Fords' Fight For Life event that brought so many people to A.G. Cornog Field.
After quarter one, the game was knotted at 7 and it looked like the Fords were ready to give the Tigers a run for their money. The energy completely shifted when Coach Gicking took a big gamble on fourth down in his own territory right before the half by calling a fake punt that Marple Sophomore Lou DiLuzio causally took down inside the Fords’ 5-yard line.
With that shift in momentum, mistakes started to pile up for the Fords. Haverford’s next offensive drive was cut short due to a lost fumble. This allowed David Bertoline to take a shot down the field, finding P.J. Esposito for another six as Marple entered the half with a 21-7 lead.
Marple Sophomore Brett Wolski sealed the deal late in the third quarter, rumbling into the endzone for a 73-yard touchdown. One Brian Box rushing touchdown later and it was time for both coaches to throw in J.V.
One of the reasons that this Marple offense has been so explosive is not only because of their Senior offensive line with names like Andrew Krilin, Jake McGowan, Eric Janda, Brett Cowan, and Jason Bennett, but it’s also the talent they have at Running back and Quarterback.
Bertoline and Box have been a dynamic duo for the past two years with Bertoline boasting a 71% completion percentage with 20 touchdowns last year and Box collecting over 2,000 all-purpose yards so far over the past two seasons. The strong run game combined with incredible quick strike passing ability makes this Tigers unit one of the best in the central league.
Despite this victory, the Marple Newtown Tigers aren’t in the clear yet. They have a tough last three games ahead of them as they welcome an undefeated Strath Haven, followed by a strong Garnet Valley Jaguars squad, and they finish off the year against a revamped Penncrest run game.