Through two games in head coach Ben Ibach’s third season as the head coach of Delaware Valley, the two victories have served as solid building ground for a relatively young team.
Now for the third week, comes an even bigger test.
The Terriers (2-0) travel east to face off against fellow unbeaten, No. 4 Bernards.
A heralded senior group has graduated, leaving behind plenty of sophomores and juniors getting ready for some of their first varsity action. Ibach’s message?
Embrace the challenge, and continue to improve daily.
The biggest challenge for Friday, not only a rivalry game, but the Mountaineers (2-0) have plenty on the line as well, with a state-leading 27-game regular season winning streak in the balance.
Delaware Valley, on its side, is up to the task.
The two teams face off in the Big Central Game of the Week, presented by Bellamy & Son Paving. You can hear Friday night’s game live on Central Jersey Sports Radio, with pregame at 6:45 and kickoff at 7 pm. Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel have the call; click here to listen.
Junior Kelton Ibach returns for his second year as the starting quarterback, and he has become the leader of the offense after learning from the senior-laden offense a year ago.
Surrounding him are several players who saw time on the defensive end, but are still getting their feet wet as the prime offensive targets. Seniors Dylan Rasimowicz and Vinny Casagrande are the elder statesmen in the wide receiver room, with junior Brayden Costello – a do-it-all threat in all three phases of the game – and sophomore Chase Kraucheunas around them.
In the run game, junior Ben Culberson and sophomore Gabe Miller, as well as leading rusher Jayden Brown, carry the load. The trio is helped by an offensive line that returns multiple starters.
The Terriers maintain a strong defensive front, one that lost plenty of production like the offense, but has more experience returning. Several starters on offense play defense as well, with Casagrande serving as the leading returning tackler from 2024.
The defense has continued its opportunistic ways, following up a 15-turnover 2024 season with six forced already through two games, including two interceptions from junior defensive back Lhiam Murphy.
In a Friday night rivalry game, two teams with a full head of steam are looking to take the edge in their respective seasons in the Big Central Patriot Gold Division.
Click below to hear Delaware Valley head coach Ben Ibach talk about the Terriers’ season so far and preview the game against Bernards:
