Did the Real Conestoga Stand Up?

Conestoga has started the season 2-1 and played very poorly against a very good Garnet Valley team two weeks ago, and pulled off a mild upset in playing probably its best game this season in a 21-20 victory over area powerhouse Ridley Friday night.

“I think a new team has to go through a loss to come together as a team, and that’s what happened against Garnet Valley, a lot of mental mistakes and breakdowns and the offensive line wasn’t firing off the ball,” said Robbie Campbell, the Pioneers’ starting offensive guard and defensive end. “We had a 180-degree game against Ridley. We were beating on them so much, they were sending in new guys so they could keep up with us. This game, I’d say, saved our season.”
Conestoga couldn’t go 1-2 and still have a chance to make the District 1 Class AAAA playoffs. The last time the Pioneers beat Ridley was 2006.

“The week before Garnet Valley, we had indoor practice and it was lacking the tempo we needed,” Campbell said. “The scout teams we practiced against, we raised the tempo there. The real Conestoga team showed up against Ridley. We know how it is to lose, and any team can come together after a win. But after we lost to Garnet Valley, we came together. Starting 2-1 and beating Ridley really helps us out.”
 
Starting defensive end Mark Kaminskas saw beating Ridley as something needed. “There isn’t a team in the league we can’t play with,” Kaminskas said. “After Garnet Valley, we were just bad. We worked our butts off the entire week, and people thought we would be a push-over for Ridley. We weren’t. Hopefully, this helps us win the Central League. If we play the way we’re capable of, I don’t think we can be stopped.”