Past meets present for Haddonfield football while success remains consistent
HADDONFIELD – Frank DeLano doesn’t get rattled about much.
However, the veteran head coach admitted he was nervous when he learned who would be on the sideline for Friday night’s home game.
In a program rich with tradition, the Haddonfield Memorial High School football team brought back one of its cornerstones: legendary head coach Jim Horner.
“I knew we better put on a good show for him,” said DeLano, who landed the offensive coordinator job under Horner. “He means so much to so many people. And he saw something in me back then that I didn’t see in myself.”
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The Haddons put together a strong showing, dispatching Paulsboro with a 35-7 home win and raising the team’s record to 2-0 with a bye week ahead.
While they haven’t had many superstars in their lineup over DeLano’s 22 years at the helm, Haddonfield has maintained a level of consistency unmatched by many programs throughout South Jersey. One of Haddonfield's biggest mantras is "Together We Will."
And they have done just that.
Haddonfield has rattled off 15 straight winning seasons, captured six sectional championships and the team’s 2-0 start is the ninth time in the last 11 years the Haddons have accomplished that feat.
Senior Charlie Klaus has a simple theory for Haddonfield’s consistent success.
“It’s that brotherhood in the locker room,” he said. “Our coaching staff just brings us all together and believes in us. Everyone here is best friends and that has something to do with it too.”
The ol’ ball coach, who led the Haddons from 1995-2002, addressed the squad after it beat Paulsboro, Horner’s alma mater where he played for the Raiders from 1953-57.
"I've heard about (Coach Horner) and all the great stories, it was fun to meet him," Klaus said.
Around the postgame huddle, Haddonfield assistant coaches Mike Miller, Ralph Schiavo and Pat McCarthy all played for Horner during their scholastic days while DeLano relayed a story about how he got the OC job under one of his mentors.
“It was June and we’re in a team meeting room and Coach Horner says, ‘Frankie’s going to take over the offense,’” DeLano said. “I’m like, we start in two months and you want me to do what?”
Things turned out just fine for DeLano, who is in his 22nd year as head coach this season.
“There’s no magic dust, no magic formula,” DeLano said to the success. “When you’re in the same town and you grow up together, it means something.
“You’re not going to spotlight any of our guys at big Division-I programs. You won’t see them on Saturday afternoons in Clemson. It takes time. It takes time down at the youth level. We just believe in our process. It just works for us.”
Against Paulsboro, DeLano wanted Haddonfield to establish a potent running game and the Haddons didn’t disappoint. Senior Dominic Hahn racked up 148 yards and two touchdowns as Haddonfield ground out 241 yards on the ground, almost 180 more than last week’s win over West Essex.
Klaus rushed for a pair of touchdowns and blocked a field goal while Haddonfield’s defense held Paulsboro to under 140 yards.
“It’s a marathon, especially when you start Aug. 25,” DeLano said. “It’s still mind-numbing and I can’t wrap my arms around it.
“We’re excited to be going in the direction we’re going, but if that’s the best we play, we’re going to be in trouble. We still have a lot of work to do.”
And the Haddons don’t want to disappoint.
Tom McGurk is a regional sports editor for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email tmcgurk@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Haddonfield Memorial High School football program off to strong start
