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Jim Henry Award
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Dan Connor, Strath Haven High School
The 6-3, 225-pound Connor started 59 games at Strath Haven, which is believed to be a state record. His teams won 56 of those games while capturing four PIAA District 1 Class AAA championships and the Pennsylvania state title in 2000. "What makes Dan Connor different from other kids is his relentless play," Conestoga coach John Vogan told Rick O'Brien of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "He never takes a play off." Vogan would know, having coached against Connor in the Central League. In a September 12 game, Connor led Strath Haven to a 41-20 rout of Conestoga, carrying the ball 26 times for 193 yards and four touchdowns on offense and leading both teams with 14 tackles on defense. "He's the man who made them go," Vogan said of Connor. "Even with everybody keying on him, he still made it happen." In his senior season, the combination running back-linebacker had 251 carries for 1,807 yards, a 7.2 yard average, and 28 touchdowns while recording 118 tackles. Connor finished his high school career with 4,556 yards rushing and 77 touchdowns. On defense, he had 451 tackles, 19 interceptions and six fumble recoveries. Strath Haven coach Kevin Clancy, who first saw Connor as a fifth grader playing in a CYO league, said he has "incredible instincts, reacts quickly to the ball and is a very sure tackler." "You never see a sign of him being tired," Clancy said. "He goes 100 MPH on every play." "When it comes to playing linebacker, he's almost an instructional tape," said Andy Toto, head coach at Upper Merion High School, who lost to Connor and Strath Haven in the district playoffs each of the last four years. Connor was a first-team all-state selection three times and Delaware County player of the year twice. In 2003, he was named Southeastern Pennsylvania Player of the Year by the Philadelphia Inquirer. Connor, whose father Jim is Strath Haven's defensive coordinator, also excels in the classroom with a 3.4 grade point average. Recruited by more than 50 Division One schools, Connor chose to attend Penn State. He was so eager, he increased his class load at Strath Haven and completed his required work in December, allowing him to enroll at Penn State last month. "Some people said, 'Just enjoy the spring
of your senior year,'" Connor told Shannon Ryan of the Philadelphia
Inquirer. "If I was here in the spring, I might develop bad habits. I
thought I might get lazy. I want to push myself. I'll miss my friends and
my teachers, but I can move on." |
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Dan Connor of Strath Haven High School, the Maxwell
Football Club's choice for the Jim Henry Award as the area's outstanding
student-athlete of 2003, was a first-team All-America selection by USA
Today and Super Prep magazine, among others. 