Garnet Valley pounds Penncrest

Derrick West didn't look satisfied.

The Garnet Valley sophomore seemed unimpressed by the fireworks display he and his team watched in the postgame huddle after the Jaguars' 47-7 home win against Penncrest on Friday night. The show, which Garnet Valley put on to honor the seniors, lasted more than 10 minutes.

By all accounts, it should have been a perfect moment for West and the Jaguars. Garnet Valley and Penncrest entered the game undefeated and ranked among the top teams in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, but by the end, it was clear which was the better team.

Garnet Valley won decisively, in front of a crowd so large it spilled out of the home and away bleachers at Morris "Moe" Defrank Stadium. There were more people plopped on the hills surrounding the field than there were in the stands.

West rushed nine times for 79 yards and a touchdown. It was the most significant playing time the sophomore has received so far. A teammate, senior running back Vincent Razzano, rushed eight times for 147 yards and four touchdowns and wasn't needed late in the game.

However, surrounded by teammates with victorious expressions, West wasn't smiling in the celebratory huddle. When the fireworks ended, he didn't clap. After the huddle broke, he said he still had work to do.

"I just have to keep on going," West said. "I have to work on running with my hands up. I'm just looking up to [the seniors] and trying to get better."

Senior running back Michael Bruette, sidelined with a hamstring injury, yelled to West after each of his carries: "Hands up!"

"He runs extremely low," Bruette said. "If his hands drop, he can fumble. If he keeps his hands up, it'll be perfect."

Eventually, West got it right. He carried the ball seven times for 60 yards on Garnet Valley's final drive Friday, scoring the contest's last touchdown with a little more than a minute remaining.

After the TD, with the victory securely in place, Bruette was the first to greet West on the sideline. He put his hands on West's helmet and hugged him.

"When I was a sophomore, the seniors taught me so much," Bruette said. "I'm just trying to pass it on."

Garnet Valley led, 28-0, at halftime behind a dominant rushing attack led by Razzano, who had 71 yards and three touchdowns in the game's first 24 minutes.

The Jaguars' defense kept Penncrest in check all night. The only Lions touchdown came after a Garnet Valley turnover at its own 14-yard line.

Penncrest 0 0 7 0 – 7

Garnet Valley 14 14 12 7 – 47

GV: Vincent Razzano 59 run (Brandon Dowd kick)

GV: Razzano 1 run (Dowd kick)

GV: Jake Irving 74 run (Dowd kick)

GV: Razzano 1 run (Dowd kick)

GV: Razzano 49 run (kick blocked)

P: Joe Voliciak 16 pass from Danny Fisher (Nathan Hughes kick)

GV: John McGrogan 41 pass from Christian Portale (pass failed)

GV: Derrick West 1 run (Dowd kick)