Determined to keep their winning streak going, the Strath Haven Panthers (3-0) challenged the Springfield Cougars (2-1) on Friday, September 16.

That night, it was much more crowded than most, as Strath Haven’s Youth Football program and the Youth Cheerleader program brought together some new faces to cheer on Haven. The football program was intended to introduce the game of football to kids of all ages. The members of the program ran through the tunnel and welcomed the Panthers to their home field. Youth cheerleaders stood on the sidelines with the Haven cheerleaders, supporting the team for the first quarter of the game. 

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Kelly Montague

Junior Cole Miller attempts to run through Springfield's defense, trying to get a first down for Haven.

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Starting the game off strong, senior Anthony Crawford put Haven on the board with a touchdown six minutes into the first quarter. Springfield touchdowns were scored by freshman Brad Barber and senior Aidan Kreydt.  Other Haven touchdowns were scored by senior Bobby Fooskas, senior Sam Milligan, and most notably, sophomore James Fisher. 

Fisher was the talk of the game that night: returning the ball 92 yards and scoring for Haven, and being titled the “super sophomore.” The cheers of the marching band and the neon-dressed student section were heard with no doubt. It was a crazy play. 

Senior Tim Styer finished it off by kicking an extra point. This was Styer’s first year playing football. He’s been playing soccer his whole high school career, and still plays as a midfielder. 

“[Football’s] all different than soccer, which is what I’ve been playing for the past four years. You know, we’re family here. Not to say we’re not family at soccer, but you have the band, you have the fans, you have the cheerleaders. Everybody’s just encouraging everybody,” he said.