Lower Merion Football Is Looking to Bounce Back This Season

One good way to look at this upcoming football season is that the Aces can only improve. That’s because it couldn’t get any lower than last season, when Lower Merion was ravaged by injuries and stung by inexperience in going 0-11.

Aces’ coach Jon Rothberg has something to work with, returning seven starters on both offense and defense. Rothberg has challenged his team in the offseason to work harder; it has translated into a stronger, larger team returning this fall.

“I really believe, barring a few injuries, we were in games and did well last year,” Rothberg said. “The big thing was last year we played at all three levels, freshman, junior varsity and varsity, for the first time in six years. We had so many kids in the lineup making the big jump that were first-year varsity starters that didn’t play junior varsity football. They had to get used to the speed of the game.

“There were four or five games that we felt we could have won. We were in the Haverford game with a few minutes to play, and we were beating Radnor at halftime. We felt we were right in those games, and we’ve really come back with a new attitude this season. We had to sell out in the offseason to get stronger. We have kids that are adding 100 pounds on their bench press and 200 pounds on their squats. We have that, and we have some many kids coming back with experience."

Junior tailback Ernest Pendleton, who Rothberg feels could have star qualities, is one of them.

“Ernest showed flashes of what he could be last year against Penncrest, when he returned a punt for an 88-yard touchdown and a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, which was called back,” Rothberg said. “He’s worked extremely hard this offseason, benching over 250 pounds and squatting over 350 pounds. I feel good about us running the ball. We have a chance to really wear down teams.”

Rothberg is also looking at 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior linebacker Mike Deuber, junior tight end/linebacker Anton Novehrends and senior quarterback Desmond Ellis to carry much of the load for the Aces.

“I always feel we have a shot to do well,” Rothberg said. “We have to stay healthy and everything has to break our way, but I’m looking at our schedule and I see our first seven games are winnable games for us. The kids we’re expecting to do well, they have a changed attitude. We can have a good year and we’ve prepared for that.”

Lower Merion Fact Box

Coach: Jon Rothberg (3rd season; career record 3-19)

Last year: 0-11

Key players: Mike Deuber (Sr. 6-foot-2, 225, LB/FB), Troy Foote (Sr. 5-foot-11, 185, LB/FB), Max Golden (Sr. 5-foot-9, 170, RB/CB), Anton Novehrends (Jr. 6-foot-1, 190 TE/LB), Ernest Pendleton (Jr. 5-foot-11, 170, RB/CB), Roie Rennert (Sr. 6-foot, 220, C), Drew Scheier (Sr. 5-foot-11, 220, OL/DL)

Games to watch: Upper Darby 9/10, at Haverford High 9/16, at Radnor 11/12.

Lower Merion Schedule

Sept. 2—Jules E. Mastbaum 1 p.m.

Sept. 10—Upper Darby 1:30 p.m.

Sept. 16—at Haverford 7 p.m.

Sept. 24—Neumann-Goretti 1 p.m.

Sept. 30—at Marple-Newtown 7 p.m.

Oct. 6—Conestoga 3:45 p.m.

Oct. 14—at Harriton 7 p.m.

Oct. 21—at Strath Haven 7 p.m.

Oct. 29—at Garnet Valley 2 p.m.

Nov. 5—Ridley 1:30 p.m.

Nov. 12—at Radnor 1 p.m.