HAVERFORD — Emmet Gillespie knows the challenge ahead. Repeating what Haverford’s offensive line did last fall is the kind of thing that may never happen twice.
Last year really was magic. Liam Taylor, the 2024 Daily Times Player of the Year, rumbled for 3,006 yards and 35 touchdowns, averaging an absurd 231.2 per game. He became the first Delco player to break 3,000 yards in a season and shattered the county mark of 2,832 set two years earlier by Interboro’s Abu Kamara.
With Taylor and the line leading the way, the Fords went 11-2, shared the Central League title, won their first home playoff game in school history and reached the second round of the District 1 Class 6A playoffs. Now Taylor is back for his senior year … and the expectations are sky-high again.
The roster is going to look different though. As with any championship team, graduation took a bite out of the trenches. Haverford lost three starting linemen: All-Delco Alex Klee, Sean Leahy and Quinn McGloin. The only returning starters up front are Gillespie (6-0, 245), the senior center, and Brendan Walker (6-4, 235), who starts at tackle.
Haverford High School running back Liam Taylor during football practice on Cornog Field Tuesday Aug. 12, 2025. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
“It’s tough losing three-fifths of the line, obviously, but I would say we’re getting there,” Gillespie said. “Those three guys set a great example, so we’ve watched old film to see how they play and try to carry that on into this season. The guys we do have competing are working hard.
“I think as a team, we are even tighter now than we were last year. We are all good buddies and we all are looking forward to playing with each other.”
Coaches in the area have the Fords in the elite tier of the Central League, tied at the top with Garnet Valley and co-champion Springfield in preseason predictions. MaxPreps, on the other hand, has the Fords down at No. 9 in Delco, which bugs Taylor just a bit.
“We have to prove everyone wrong again, just like we did last year,” Taylor said. “Us going 11-2 last year didn’t really change anyone’s opinion about us, I guess. All I know is that we aren’t going to change the way we do things. We are going to go out there in every game and play exactly the way we know how to. And I know we will be good again.”
Taylor (5-11, 200) will again be a two-way force. He piled up 58 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble at linebacker last season to go with his offensive exploits. He enters his final campaign with 3,808 career yards. The Delco career rushing record of 5,790 yards was set by Cardinal O’Hara’s Kevin Jones 25 years ago and is well within grasp for Taylor.
But Taylor likely won’t carry the ball 417 times again. Coach Luke Dougherty wants to spread the workload among several backs, including senior backup Shane Durkan (180 yards, 4 TDs last season) plus seniors Peter Manaras and Chris Klein.
Haverford High School running back Shane Durkan during football practice on Cornog Field Tuesday Aug. 12, 2025. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
“We’re definitely trying to get more ball carriers involved and make sure there’s a comfortability with those guys,” Dougherty said. “I think our A-backs – our two wing guys – are really good pass catchers and they’re dynamic runners, too. There’s going to be three guys seeing the field a ton back there: Shane Durkan, Peter Manaras and Chris Klein. They are really talented players. Those are guys that we plan on getting involved.”
The Fords still figure to be run-heavy, but they trust quarterback Adam Kilpatrick (5-8, 160), who enters his second season under center and can make throws when called upon.
“We have a ton of confidence in Adam,” Dougherty said.
The numbers are strong again with over 50 players in camp, and the senior class is larger than last year’s. Haverford will also lean on two-way standout Rocco Kelleher (6-0, 210), a physical defender and potential help on the O-line.
“We graduated 16 last year, and we have 24 (senior) this year,” Dougherty said. “… We have a committed group. We lost a lot of great guys, but we have guys in here who are dedicated, they are battling for spots.”