Quietly Successful Senior

He’s gotten a little lost in the woodwork of the football team this season.

Mike Gentile is the kind of player a football coach can appreciate, because the keen eye of a coach sees all of the little things that amount to the large things someone like Haverford senior defensive back/wide receiver can do on a football field. He has no time to rest.

While other players play one side of the ball, Gentile doesn’t come off the field.

“Michael is a full-time player for us; offense, defense, special teams, he’s been leading the team in receptions,” Fords’ coach Joe Gallagher said. “He’s had a very strong season for us. He’s also our free safety that runs the defense. Our defense is built around our free safety and he’s had a great year on both sides of the ball. The thing about Mike is one of those kids who loves football, and it’s a genuine love of the game. He’ll definitely play in college, I’m just not sure what level. He can definitely play football at the college level. His best days are physically ahead of him.”

Gentile and the Fords are 5-5 overall. They were hoping to make the District 1 Class AAAA playoffs, but the seniors can close with the most victories in a season by sweeping their last two games, beating Sun Valley and rival Upper Darby on Thanksgiving Day.  

“We’re playing for ourselves now and we’re seniors,” said Gentile, who has six interceptions combined the last two years. “Most of the seniors won’t be playing in college. They want to go out as winners, they don’t want to lose. We can finish with the best record since the seniors were here, winning seven games, so going out as winners would be big.”