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Schools

Haverford Overcomes Mistakes To Beat Lower Merion

The Fords used big plays to win 40-7 .

The black specs of rubber kicked up with every stop and start. ’s newly renovated field was being christened, but not exactly in the way Fords coach Joe Gallagher and his team were expecting Friday night.

The Fords turned the ball over two times on their first three possessions, were stung with what seemed like a myriad of penalties, and bore through it all win a convincing 40-7 Central League victory over Lower Merion.

It was the first victory of the season for the Fords, who move to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the Central League, while Lower Merion fell to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in the league.

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“It’s a win, and you always have to be pleased when you win, and we’re just not very happy with a lot of things that happened,” Gallagher said. “We had the fumbles, and the penalties are things we can’t do and we’re better than that. We’re not looking at 40-7; we’re looking at the penalties, the three fumbles lost. We got through it and made big plays when we had to.”

's Fords had capitalized on big plays. Four major plays by the Fords were for 30 yards or better that set up four touchdowns. Brendan McKain was responsible for two of the four major plays for Haverford, scoring on a 34-yard touchdown near the end of the first half and his 30-yard interception return for a touchdown turned the game around midway through the third quarter.

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Defensively, Haverford shut down the many looks Lower Merion had. The Aces had just five yards rushing and finished with 45 yards of total offense and three first downs during the game.

“We came out flat in the first half, and I think that came from underestimating them,” McKain said. “We needed to adjust some things at halftime and play hard in the third quarter.”

Haverford took a 13-7 lead into halftime. McKain’s interception changed that in the third quarter. The Fords scored on three-straight possessions, making what had been a close game into a blowout.

“We needed this, this would have put us in a bad spot if we lost,” Fords’ quarterback Mike Clancy said. “If we’re going to win, we’re all going to have to focus a little more and cut out the mistakes. The mistakes are what is killing us. There are things we would have liked to do. Hopefully, we’ll get things together.”

Haverford will host Springfield Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.

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