Football: Haughey wins first career game as Delaware Valley rolls
ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP - The Delaware Valley High School football team came into the 2016 season with the intent of running the football. It used that strategy to snag its first win of the season, as well as head coach Michael Haughey’s first career win, on Friday evening.
The Terriers (1-2) lost their previous two games, but rushed for a combined 183 yards and five touchdowns on the ground on their way to a 35-0 victory over New Providence (0-3).
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“It feels great,” Haughey said. “The first two weeks we had our hands full with two really good teams, but tonight I think we had a great game plan defensively and executed it well.”
After struggling to develop an offensive rhythm early in the game, the Terriers caught a break about seven minutes into the first quarter when the Pioneers bobbled the snap on a punt, which set the Terriers up on their opponent's 10-yard line. Senior running back Kenny Henderson handled the rest, running for a two-yard touchdown to give Delaware Valley a 7-0 lead with 3:37 left in the first.
“It was huge, it was probably one of the biggest turning points in the game,” Henderson said. “We needed some excitement and to get on a roll. Coming off our first two (losses) and with a big home opener, we played our hearts out today.”
After receiving the ball with less than one minute left to play in the first half, running back Sean Lessig ducked and weaved up the middle and scored on a 56-yard touchdown run to extend the Terriers' lead to 14-0 just before halftime.
“I just kept running and never really stopped,” Lessig said. “I kept my head moving left and right and trying to not get blindsided. I just ran as fast as I could.”
The Delaware Valley defense was just as dominant as the rushing game, allowing only 107 total yards, registering three sacks and intercepting three passes, all courtesy of Matt Donnelly.
The Terriers made some personnel changes on the defensive side, including moving sophomore Jack Bender to the “mike” linebacker position.
“We got kids in positions where they’re a little more comfortable,” Haughey said. “Jack Bender, what an outstanding job he did. The kid is just tough.”
Senior running back Nick Perno ran for two touchdowns in the second half while Henderson scored on a 39-yard run and also ran for his second touchdown of the game.
If Haughey wants to earn his second career win next Friday, his team will have to bring the same bruising running and hard-nosed defense to next week’s game against a tough Johnson team.
“I hope we take this win and build on it,” Haughey said. “We have a tough team ahead in Johnson, but I think we’ll be ready.”
Staff Writer Daniel LoGiudice can be reached at dlogiudice@gannettnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @danny_logiudice.