ORIGINALLY APPEARED ON PHILADELPHIASPORTSDIGEST.COM ON OCT. 15, 2024 | BY MARC NARDUCCI

Germantown Academy junior Xavier Stearn is considered among the top quarterbacks in the area, and he showed why during the Patriots 40-26 loss at the Haverford School.

The 6-6, 210-pound Stearn completed 28 of 43 passes for 308 yards and one touchdown. He also had two 1-yard touchdown runs on quarterback sneaks.

Stearn was playing against a top-flight defense and several times he had to scramble away from a fierce pass rush.

“I thought we had a great game today, but we fell a little short,” Stearn said.

GA led 16-13 at halftime and trailed just 26-23 after Stearn scored on a quarterback sneak with 9:42 left in the fourth quarter.

This looks like an improved Germantown team under first-year coach Kyle Donahue.

The Pats have already matched last year’s win total when they went 4-5 and 0-5 in the Inter-Ac.

Not only do the Patriots seem to be improved, but the same can be said for Stearn.

“Xavier should be proud of his growth,” Donahue said. “To throw for more than 300 yards against one of the better defenses in the state, shows his growth as a complete quarterback.”

Among the other standouts in the opener was sure-handed senior AJ Towsen, who had eight receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown. Junior Mike McKee had eight catches for 65 yards, while junior Jack Durkin recorded five receptions for 42 yards and rushed for 23 yards.

Senior Cole Grim had a signature moment, kicking a 50-yard field goal.

Next: vs. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Saturday, 1 p.m.