Haverford School Looking Forward To Playing Again

Mike Murphy was looking to build some momentum. The coach saw a great many positive things in the Fords victory over Pennridge.

Then last week came, and the balloon deflated. Murphy was looking at another test in Cardinal O’Hara, a football game originally scheduled for last Saturday, when O’Hara cancelled the game due to a .

In PIAA bylaws, member schools, which O’Hara is, that cancel a game because of a strike forfeit that game. The status of the O’Hara-Haverford School game is in still up in the air, and Murphy is hoping to pick up another game later this year, looking at adding a 10th game for the seniors this year.  

“But I never experienced anything like this before,” Murphy said. “It certainly deflated the balloon a little bit, because we were coming off a good win against Pennridge and looking to play a very good team in O’Hara. We got the news that the game was cancelled on Wednesday and that deflated the kids. I told the kids we’re unfortunately in the situation where the game was cancelled, but the hardest thing for our kids is that we were the only game being cancelled.

“If all of the Catholic League was in, I could understand that. Malvern Prep came up with a big win over Roman Catholic, and Chestnut Hill beat Monsignor Bonner, and we’re there Saturday morning doing special team’s practices. (O’Hara) coach (Dan) Algeo told me he wanted to play the game. This isn’t to say football isn’t any more important than one sport, but if you miss one soccer game, you have others to play. You miss one football game, that’s 10-percent of the football schedule. We play once a week.”

Murphy did note that 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior linebacker/tight end Matt Galambos is picking up college interest as a linebacker. Maryland, Boston College, Wisconsin and Penn State are interested.

The Fords will host Lawrenceville School of New Jersey Saturday at 2 p.m.