High School Football: Collingswood and Sterling Gets the Holiday Started Wednesday, November 23, 2005 By Jerome Michaels SJSports Special Correspondent Football over the Thanksgiving weekend has been a tradition that dates back for quite some time. The holiday dinner usually begins with waking up to an early morning high school game and then a number of games slated for Thursday. The Panthers from Collingswood and Silver Knights from Sterling would get the extended weekend started under the lights at Sterling High School. Both of these teams had qualified for the post season, but today was about entertaining all in attendance to start out the holiday football tradition. All of the scoring of this game occurred during the first quarter and Collingswood would hold onto their 7-6 lead and pick up the win. These two teams were coming off of tough losses that ended their postseason run at the title. Sterling had the home field advantage during the first round against Camden but came up short by four points. Those same Panthers from Camden would defeat Collingswood when they scored a late touchdown to end Collingswood playoff run. This Thanksgiving game would be a chance for both teams to put that game completely out of their minds and they did. The way this game started out, it looked as if this Wednesday night game would be an offensive game with plenty of scoring. The Panthers were finding success rushing the ball and would capitalize on their first possession. Jon Dempsey gave Collingswood the early lead running the ball and after his 24 yard run and a Roy DiLiberto extra point was good, the Panthers would jump ahead 7-0. Sterling would also get on the scoreboard during the final seconds of the quarter when Mychael Scott broke free and scored on a 57 yard touchdown run. The extra point attempt failed but the Knights still had plenty of time remaining in this game. But the defenses would take over this game. Sterling had a chance early in the final quarter when the Knights were faced with a fourth and goal from the one yard line. The Panthers’ defense stopped that attempt to preserve their victory. Photos by Mark Fletcher