After an odd start to the season, Fords football is beginning to achieve some sense of normality, and build momentum along the way.
“We lost our first game to a team we should have beaten. Then, in our next game, we were beating them 21-0 when we were hit with a lightning warning. We waited for an hour and a half, but then it was canceled. It’s technically not a win. And then we had a bye week in week three,” Sixth Former quarterback Zach Faragalli said.
Head Coach Brian Martin agrees.
“It is a really crazy start to the season. Very unusual. We scrimmaged a team that was not as physical as we thought, so there was not much action for the starters. And we could not do much about the second game,” Coach Martin said.
While most teams have played four games already, Haverford has barely played two and a half games.
“In week four against Bonner, last year’s state champions, we showed a lot of grit and strength and beat them 28-24,” Coach Martin said.
Additionally, the team has a new commentator, Fifth Former Alex Sharpf.
“Always have great energy from Sharpf. I hope he continues to bring more,” Coach Martin said.
Additionally, two new alum coaches have joined the staff: Brian Denoncour from the class of 2012 and Lou Moeller from the class of 2009.
“It’s pretty cool. Mr. DiBello and Coach Moeller played together, Denoncour was a few years behind, and Mr. Murphy is a coach as well. We have four staff alumni currently, which is quite impressive,” Coach Martin said.
Despite this progress, injuries have taken a toll on the team.
“People have injuries in their groin, quads, and hamstrings,” Coach Martin said. “We are not a full squad right now. Lots of seniors are injured. Phil Okala, Walt Frazier, and [Brendan Apple] are all out. [Apple] has a back injury and might be out for the year.”
Sixth Form cornerback and running back Stephen Cobb says the team needs to work better on the “little things” to prevent cramping and injuries, on and off the field.
“Hydrating, stretching, and you know, doing what you need to do,” he said. “Keep going all out at practice, but then get treatment after. It’s the little things that people need to do leading up to the game.”
“However, we need to be more consistent. We haven’t played many games, and some guys are banged up. Right now, we score on big plays, like an 80-yard touchdown. We want to adapt. We don’t want to just be a big-play team. Jack, Marcus, Matt, Stephen, and Jaidyn are all great.”
Zach faragalli ’26
Faragalli relayed his own injury history.
“My freshman year, I had shoulder surgery. Then, on the first play of my sophomore year, I tore my ACL and had to have surgery. I did a lot of rehab over the offseason and came back halfway through the [next] season. It worried me a little bit. It took a lot to get back for sure, but I trusted in God, and I had lots of great guys helping me through. I know everything happens for a reason.”
As the injuries take a toll on the starting roster, it starts to spread several positions thin. Sixth Form offensive right tackle Max Powers explained how it affected the lines, both offensive and defensive.
“Brendan is out, so Walt and I have to play both sides of the ball on line,” he explained, “Sean Friel has also been filling in, which has been great. However, we are all a lot more tired, as we don’t really get a break anymore. We have to play almost every snap. It’s making us better, however, and once we get our full roster back, we will be very strong.”
Additionally, the Inter-Ac has a rule that mandates that if a player loses their helmet mid-play, they are out for the next play. During the game, Frazier had his helmet knocked off five times.
“It was really annoying,” Powers said. “The defensive lineman kept on hitting his chin so it would push his helmet off. It worked five times, and that meant that he kept on having to run on and off. It was rough. Breaking our flow. However, we were able to power through.”
Even the bye week was different from a typical rest week; rather than a rest week, they treated it like any regular week.
“Because we were going into the bye week after that Gilman game, we figured that we should push each other and compete,” Cobb said.
After last season’s EA Day, Faragalli and Coach Pidgeon wasted no time diving into film.
“The week after EA Day, we met and began to watch tape from last year,” Faragalli said. “The first year under Coach Pidgeon was a little rough—we didn’t have a connection. But after working all year, the coach-to-player relationship jumped. It was Jack, Matt, and me. A new step in the QB room.”
One major focus has been on protecting and keeping the football.
“We learned how the offense is supposed to be run,” Faragalli said. “We worked on not turning it over. If we keep the ball, the other team can’t score. So far, it’s working—we haven’t had a turnover this year.”
Faragalli sees balance across the field, and recognizes where the team can improve.
“We are solid everywhere. We have older guys leading the way. We can run and pass pretty well,” he said. “However, we need to be more consistent. We haven’t played many games, and some guys are banged up. Right now, we score on big plays, like an 80-yard touchdown. We want to adapt. We don’t want to just be a big-play team. Jack, Marcus, Matt, Stephen, and Jaidyn are all great.”
“I try to get Friday night games. It’s the greatest experience in high school football. But we have all Saturday games this year. Even Malvern, which is away this year and is normally on a Friday night,”
HEad Coach brian Martin
The goal is a steady offense, not just fireworks.
“We need plays that move the chains—four or five yards at a time. That keeps our offense on the field. With more games, it’ll come together like last year,” he said.
As the offense adapts, the defense also looks to improve.
“We lost a lot of guys on defense last year and have had quite a lot of injuries this year. We are expecting guys to step up. They are, in fact, coming into their own. Fitting their role, and understanding what they need to do,” Coach Martin said.
The team is facing another disappointment: the removal of “Friday Night Lights” games.
“Night games are always the most memorable, win or lose, and the fact that we don’t have any is sad,” Sixth Form wide receiver Matt Jones said. “What else is better than watching Zach Faragalli throw a touchdown pass down the field to Jack Rischitelli under the lights on a Friday night? I hope that future Fords get to experience more night games than I have had in my time here; they are a true staple in high school football.”
There are currently only two schools in the Inter-Ac that have the lights and equipment needed for these games: Episcopal Academy and Malvern Prep.
This year, Coach Martin was unable to schedule any.
“I try to get Friday night games. It’s the greatest experience in high school football. But we have all Saturday games this year. Even Malvern, which is away this year and is normally on a Friday night,” he said.
Sixth Former school president Packy Rouse was also frustrated.
“It’s my last year here, and we don’t get a night game? That’s crazy. The football team feeds off the student section, and without a night game, it’s way harder to get people to show up. It feels like we’re being robbed of one of the best parts of the season,” Rouse said.
While the team is upset, the Sixth Formers are still grateful for the opportunity to play.
“I’m sad that we don’t get to play in any, but I am still thankful for the fact that I get to play football,” Cobb said.
Looking ahead, Haverford has a packed schedule.
“This year’s competition is very even and will be five weeks of dogfights every Saturday,” Jones said.
The biggest game of the season will, of course, be against Malvern Prep on October 18th, although Cobbs doesn’t believe in the “hype” of big games.
“It’s definitely a challenge flying ahead. You know, you got Malvern, you got some other teams, but we’re not so focused on all of that. We know what we’re curating together as a team. We’re looking forward to dominating. We’re not really focused on any of the hype,” he said.
Faragalli shares a similar opinion.
“Every team has a great squad and coaches as well. We have a tougher schedule, but we love our squad. We match up good with anybody.”
Zach Faragalli ’26
“Every team is solid. Chestnut Hill has a lot of returners. Malvern lost a lot of seniors last year, but they have a lot who can fill in. Not as good, of course. Penn Charter and Germantown Academy normally struggle. EA is a solid team,” he said. “Every team has a great squad and coaches as well. We have a tougher schedule, but we love our squad. We match up good with anybody.”
There is one feature of the league that Coach Martin believes is unusually strong this year.
“There is a very strong quarterback class. There are two D1 commits from Germantown Academy and Penn Charter, and good QBs at all the other schools. Every single quarterback has been a starter since freshman year,” he said.
Finally, as the team slowly recovers from injuries, unity and leadership remain a central focus.
“We need to go forward together,” Coach Martin said. “The team has very strong senior leadership. The seniors are vocal and do what they say they are going to. They serve as an example to all the young guys.”
Faragalli echoed this statement.
“We are working on coming together. Senior leaders are trying to connect with the juniors and so on. We want to see some leadership from the juniors and that they love each other. It comes with playing; it is great if you bond with the team. Everyone falls onto the same page,” Faragalli said. “If this happens, we will really be in a good place.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.