By B.J. Stuetz, Intern, Cheltenham High School
In sports, a duet is oftentimes formed between two opposing players—one doing everything in his power to defend his counterpart.
However, when it comes to the performances of Dan Rouse, Cheltenham’s highly touted senior receiver, it is almost always a trio—two people doing everything in their power to defend him.
Rouse, also a very talented musician, has been a part of numerous duets and trios in his musical career in addition to his athletic career.
But on the field, he has had to consistently fight through double teams at his wide receiver position ever since his breakout start to the season. During a three-game stretch against Bishop McDevitt, Quakertown, and Upper Dublin, he caught six touchdowns and tallied 419 receiving yards.
His head coach, Joe Gro, cites his precise route-running as his best trait, saying, “He can get open as a receiver. His ability to gain separation at the right times is the thing he does best.”
However, opposing defenses definitely took notice of his game-changing talent following this remarkable three-game run. According to junior quarterback Kenny Cropper, it became harder and harder to get Rouse involved down the field as the year went on.
“They started putting a corner all the way up on him and then having their safety start almost right behind the corner. A lot of the time it felt like they were triple teaming him and sometimes they probably were,” explains Cropper.
This defensive strategy hardly troubles Rouse, however, since it allows other capable receivers to run free at times.
“Whenever they do this, it opens up the game for some of my teammates to step up, like (senior tight end) Jon Tsipori, (senior all-purpose back) Chris Stevens, and (junior running back) Aquil Reed,” Rouse said.
“We can use me as just a decoy sometimes. It doesn’t really matter to me how I affect the game, I just try to make an impact whatever way I can.”
As opposed to becoming dismayed by scoring fewer touchdowns on offense as the season progressed, Rouse took it upon himself to change the game in other ways. He also leads the Panthers’ stout defense at outside linebacker and returns punts.
In the Panthers’ win over Norristown, Rouse demonstrated his elusiveness by breaking several tackles while returning a punt 80 yards for a touchdown to break a 14-14 tie (the Panthers would never give back the lead after this). Furthermore, he had a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown in Week 8’s showdown versus Upper Moreland.
“He’s made special things happen in different ways. He runs back a punt for a touchdown, or he runs back an interception for a touchdown,” says Gro, alluding to two of the aforementioned plays. “Dan’s been one of the mainstays on the team offensively, defensively, on special teams, and most importantly as a leader”.
Overall, Rouse ended the regular season with 31 catches for 763 yards (24.6 yards/catch) and 11 total touchdowns.
But some of the creativity that Rouse demonstrates on the field, he also certainly expresses through his music. He is involved in several music programs in and out of school and plays five different instruments, including drums, piano, and bass guitar.
Last year he won the talent show at his school by playing an original song he composed on the piano.
“I can read music but I can also play by ear. When I played at the talent show I just made it up on the spot,” says Rouse.
He performs at his church twice a week and describes playing music as his way to get away from everything, including football.
“When I play music I feel free, like my creativity is endless,” Rouse said. “It’s a place where I can go to let everything else go away and only let my music come through.”
As for Rouse’s potential future on the football field, the conversations with colleges have heated up as his season has gone on. Some of the schools that he is still considering are East Carolina, Temple, Virginia, and Towson.
His coach, for one, seems to think that Rouse would succeed at the next level.
“I haven’t seen anybody better [in our league],” Gro said. “I haven’t seen anybody better outside of our league either. Dan can compete with kids at any level.”
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Six years ago, one team made a promise.
Cheltenham’s seventh grade football team (then playing at Cedarbrook Middle School) swore to each other that one way or another, they would help bring a championship to Cheltenham their senior year.
“We knew the talent we had and we knew we could make a difference,” explains Rouse.
A league championship was something that hadn’t been accomplished at Cheltenham since 1977. And yet, 33 years later, that same group of kids who promised they would do it led the Panthers to a shared league title with Upper Dublin.
Finishing off the season at 5-1 in the conference (9-1 overall), Cheltenham officially clinched its first championship in 33 years with its win over Wissahickon last week. On their senior night (of all occasions), the Panthers defeated the Trojans 35-7 to turn this long-term goal into a reality.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” said senior Jon Tsipori, another leader of the team. “It feels great that our senior class was able to do this. I couldn’t imagine a better way to finish off our last regular season.”
Gro cites leadership and selflessness as the two main differences between this year’s team and teams in years past.
“What we did have this year are more kids who were willing to listen and accept roles and fulfill their responsibilities,” he says.
According to Rouse, “Everybody has something to contribute and we know where we all fit in the puzzle.”
This core group of seniors (most of whom have been playing together since seventh grade) is highlighted by Rouse, Tsipori, lineman Richard Levine, corner Chris Stephens, wide receiver Lekan Ajibade, running back Tedi Lester, lineman Logan Niederriter, and linebacker Orvin Liburd.
Rouse is definitely not Cheltenham’s only standout player. Gro asserts that Levine (defensive end and left guard) even rivals Rouse as the best pound-for-pound player on the team.
“Richard is an all-area level athlete, without question. He might be the best football player on the team, if you look at us position by position.”
A more surprising standout player this year is Liburd, who came out to play for the first time as a senior. He has not only made huge contributions on special teams, but he also anchors the defense from his middle linebacker position.
“He’s never played football in his life and now he came out and he’s become a really special football player,” says Gro of Liburd.
And as opponents became more and more focused on Rouse, these other core group members have absolutely taken advantage of the opportunity to carry more of the load.
As for Cheltenham’s postseason aspirations, as the 12th seed the Panthers have ironically been paired up with their archrival, Abington (the 5th seed), in the first round of District playoffs. This will obviously present an incredibly hostile environment for the Panthers, who traditionally play the Ghosts as their Thanksgiving game.
Whether or not the environment alters the Panthers’ performance on Friday, there is no doubt that they will enter the game as one selfless, collective unit. And with the leadership of Rouse and his fellow seniors, win or lose, one can be sure that they will leave the game the exact same way.
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