The victory puts Strath Haven (6-1, 6-0 Central League) in position to win the Central League, while Garnet Valley fell to 5-2, 4-2.
Junior James Griffin led the way for Strath Haven, rushing for a career-best 150 yards and two touchdowns, and the Panthers' defense clamped down on what had been a high-octane Garnet Valley attack in the first half.
But all anyone wanted to focus on was Clancy's return. Everyone except Clancy, who collapsed Thursday morning and was taken by ambulance to Riddle Memorial Hospital, where he underwent several tests. The fall was so severe, his face was slightly bruised and he lost a front tooth. His nose was marked up; he also wore a bandage on his right hand.
But Clancy didn't want to talk about himself; he wanted to address his team's marvelous comeback.
"It's not about me," Clancy said. "It's about the kids. I'm all right, I'm OK. I appreciate the concern of the players, and my coaching staff, but I'm OK. I let them run the show and my staff did a great job."
Jim Connor, Strath Haven's longtime defensive coordinator and the father of former Strath Haven great and current Carolina Panthers linebacker Dan Connor, took over for Clancy during Thursday's practice and for the first half Friday night.
"This was a tough week," said Connor, a bear of a man who became tearful, his lower lip quivering, as he talked about his friend. "There was no way Kevin was going to miss this game. That's what the man is all about - coaching kids. He loves this. Once the second half started kicking in, you saw that Irish gleam in his eye. He was ready to go."
So were the Panthers. Playing without senior standout tailback Thurman Fortune (sprained ankle), Griffin took over. His 66- and 78-yard TDs kept the Panthers in the game, and Brent Collins' 17-yard score late in the third quarter proved to be the difference.
