Henderson's Richard Tallies Twice as Warriors Conquer Great Valley

Henderson High School quarterback Strafford Foster broke loose for a 61-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game and the highly-touted Warriors then sputtered their way to a 28-13 victory over Great Valley before a large crowd Friday night at Valley Stadium.

The junior signal-caller rolled around the right side and utilized the downfield blocking of fellow offensive threat Jake Richard to cruise into the end zone, stunning the underdog Patriots just as the fans were settling in for the Ches-Mont inter-division contest. 

The uneven victory was Henderson’s second in two starts and the area’s top-ranked team now looks to a road confrontation next Friday night at Plymouth-Whitemarsh. 

“Tonight’s performance was good enough to get us through a sloppy game,” stated Henderson coach Joe Walsh, who rotated Foster and Richardat quarterback throughout the evening.  “This was a good test.”

Walsh’s offense relies on the two skilled signal-callers to take the snap and then read the defense and decide whether to keep the ball, pitch or handoff.  The powerful offensive line provides the space needed to operate and Friday night the quarterbacks alone combined for over 200 yards.

“They usually do things the right way,” offered Walsh.  “So we let them read and react.”

Richard ended up with two touchdowns, a QB option up the middle from five yards out and a 13 yard scamper late in the fourth quarter which gave Henderson a 20 point lead and put the game away.

“We may have been a little full of ourselves at the beginning of the game,” said the senior speed demon.  “But we settled down.  You have to give credit to the offensive line.”

The Warriors shot themselves in the foot throughout the first half, committing a host of penalties, including three on one series that resulted in a fourth and 30.  The biggest miscue came shortly before halftime, when a Foster pass found Spencer Rymiszewski deep down the middle.  The senior slowed slightly to gather the pass in at the five and then fumbled at the two when tackled by two Great Valley defenders.

Early in the third quarter, Great Valley started clicking on offense with talented junior quarterback Chris Geiss and senior halfback Mack Hasz combining on an eight-play drive that covered 62 yards and moved the ball to the Henderson one yard line.  On second and goal, Geiss mishandled the snap and Henderson’s Joe Dingfelder recovered the fumble, preserving the Warriors’ two touchdown lead. 

A nine-play, 95-yard drive ensued with Foster hitting Derek Matonti in the left flat for a 15 yard TD.  Kyle Morton’s third extra point put Henderson in front 21-0  and seemingly took the starch out of the tough-minded Patriots.

With the game appearing completely in Henderson’s control early in the fourth quarter, Greiss rolled right on a third and 15 from his own 30 and found Hasz running free at the Warrior 35.  The senior caught the ball in stride and sprinted into the end zone for a 70-yard score to the delight of the hometown fans.

Henderson blunted any dreams of a comeback on the next drive, consuming three minutes with an eight-play, 53 yard march, winning the line of scrimmage enroute to Richard’s second touchdown.

Great Valley gave the home stadium fans a thrill on the ensuing possession with a successful hurry-up drive that culminated in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Geiss to Hansz, who picked his way into the end zone from the 15 yard line with 1:26 to go, accounting for the final 15-point margin.

Geiss finished nine for 18 passing for 137 yards and Hasz chalked up 102 yards receiving and 72 yards rushing.

Great Valley, now 0-2, meets Pennwood in a road game Friday night.