By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer

At halftime of the District One 5A opening round playoff game between Kennett and Garnet Valley on Nov. 1, the Garnet Valley marching band performed a tribute to the pop music of the 1980s that took many of a certain age in the stands on a flashback trip back in time.

For visiting Kennett, they only wished they could go back in time – to their past five games, to be exact, all victories – when they were riding a winning streak that qualified them for post-season play. Time, however, marches forward, which is exactly what the Jaguars did in their convincing 43-7 victory over the Blue Demons at Moe Defrank Stadium in Glens Mills.

Coming off consecutive wins against Sun Valley, Chichester, Unionville, Avon Grove and Oxford, Kennett was looking to carry their momentum into the playoffs, and at the very start of the game, that is just what they did. After an 8-yard carry by running back Aiden Ritch moved the ball to the 40-yard line on Kennett’s first possession, he took a snap from quarterback Garrett McCracken and bolted untouched up the middle for a 60-yard touchdown with 11:01 remaining in the first quarter. After a PAT by Shay Barker put Kennett ahead, 7-0, the proverbial wheels that had saved Kennett’s season fell off for the remainder of the game, instigated by penalties and turnovers that killed potential rallies.

On Garnet Valley’s first possession, it answered Ritch’s touchdown with one of their own. Led by quarterback Luke O’Donoghue using a QB option offense, the Jaguars inherited the ball on their 36-yard line and plowed down the field on runs by O’Donoghue, Nolan Carroll, Paxton Hunt and Luke Vaughn. On third and goal with 5:48 left in the first quarter, O’Donoghue plunged for a touchdown that tied the game at 7 apiece.

Following a fumble recovery after a catch by Joalex Carbajal at the 42-yard line, the Jaguars scored again on a seven-snap possession that ended with Hunt’s five-yard touchdown run with 2:44 left in the first quarter that extended the Jaguars’ lead to 14-7.

After two overthrown passes by McCracken killed a potential rally for Kennett early in the second quarter, O’Donoghue tossed a 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Caden Koehler with 7:26 remaining in the first half that gave the Jaguars a 21-7 lead. 

With time ticking away in the first half, Kennett’s defense surrendered an 18-yard QB keeper by O’Donoghue that was followed by a catch-and fumble by Koehler and picked up by a Kennett defender at the 1-yard line with 1:35 left in the first half. On its first snap, however, McCracken was tackled in his own end zone for a safety that pushed Garnet Valley’s lead to 23-7. On the ensuing kick, Hunt and Carroll traded off on separate 17-yard runs that set up Vaughn’s 3-yard touchdown with 32 seconds left that sent the Jaguars into halftime with a 30-7 lead.

Kennett’s misfortunes continued in the third quarter. Starting its possession on its 15-yard line, Kennett moved forward on pass completions to Ritch and Conner Schumacher, but with 4:26 left in the third quarter, Koehler picked off a McCracken pass and ran it back to Kennet’s 10-yard line that set up a 7-yard TD run by Carroll with 3:11 left, giving Garnet Valley a 37-7 lead.

The Jaguars’ final score came on 2-yard touchdown run by Anthony Gifford with 7:11 remaining in the game.

The loss ended Kennett’s 2024 season, which gave Head Coach Lance Frazier’s Blue Demons a respectable 6-4 overall record, including a 3-1 record in the Ches-Mont American Division. For Garnet Valley, the win gives the Jaguars an 8-3 overall record and the opportunity to advance to the second round of the District One 5A playoffs, when they will play Strath Haven, who defeated Penncrest, 42-0 in their opening round victory. 

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].