Lower Merion Football: Ending the Gauntlet

Strath Haven, Garnet Valley and Ridley. There may not be any three tougher, more formidable teams in the Central League. But that’s the stretch that will close out with this week, when the Aces play their last home game of the season, hosting Ridley on Senior Day at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Aces are down to around 25 healthy players, after losing another couple of key players in Lower Merion’s 36-16 loss to Garnet Valley last week. Lower Merion was up 9-0 against Garnet Valley, when Dan Moyer kicked a 39-yard field goal and Ernest Pendleton scored on a nine-yard run.

“It’s very admirable for the kids giving all they have and they keep coming back,” Aces’ coach Jon Rothberg said. “It starts with me, and my expectations and what ask of the kids. I want to provide a good role model for them, and the kids know this, we play as hard as we can, and let the chips roll where they lay. I tell the kids they be assessed with what the scoreboard says, but God judges us as people. I’m proud of the fact these kids have never given up. They’ve shown nothing but heart, determination and character.”

Lower Merion will close the season against archrival Radnor at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 at Radnor.