Looking Ahead to Thanksgiving Eve Football

Collingswood looks to even up their record this season in the annual Thanksgiving Eve game against Sterling on Nov. 23. The Panthers travel to Sterling sporting a 4-5 record, while the Silver Knights sit at 5-4.

The Panthers do enter the game on their first winning streak of the 2011 season. Collingswood defeated Gateway, 27-13, two weeks ago and took down Buena 6-0 in last week’s South Jersey Group II consolation game. Earl Whaley, who has been on fire as of late, has sparked the turnaround. The senior running back has rushed for 266 yards and four touchdowns the past two weeks.

The defense has also been stout, forcing turnovers and not getting beaten by big plays. In last weeks win against Buena, they forced four turnovers on the night, killing drive after drive. Senior defensive back Brandon Babilonia covered receivers like a blanket, picking off two passes.

The Panthers will have their hands full defensively. The Silver Knights are a physical bunch that runs the football. They have speed on the outside in running back Dwayne Wade. Quarterback Kahlil Howard is more of a hard hitting back, but the duo can run an effective option attack if not contained.

If Whaley can put together one more monster game, and if the offense does not turn the ball over, the Panthers should be able to get a win and hit that .500 mark, something that seemed very unlikely three weeks ago.

“I just want the seniors to go out with a little bit of pride,” head coach Jack McConnell said after the Panthers' last loss, back on Oct. 29 against West Deptford.

Beating their Thanksgiving rivals would go a long way towards securing that pride for the Panther seniors.