Delco Christian’s ‘ride or die’ duo aiming for a repeat of 2023

Delaware County Christian senior midfielders Jude Sacks and Brecon Williams have been part of two major firsts for their school, winning their first PIAA state title in 2023 and just last week helping lead the Knights to their first District championship in a win over Calvary Christian.

Now as they prepare for the PIAA state tournament knowing that each game they play could be their last wearing the DC badge the midfielders who first played together as kids at Lower Merion Soccer Club have countless memories already made together to build on.

“We have such a special bond,” Brecon Williams said. “On and off the field, we’re like brothers. Our families joke about how I’m his brother and his family is my second family. It’s just super special being on this ride with him again and I hope we can take it to states and win again, God willing.”

DC’s first test will come Tuesday as they open the Class A boys tournament with a visit to District 12 winner Julie R. Masterman.

“It’s ride or die with him,” Sacks said of Brecon, who he considers the “mechanic” of their team. “I definitely trust him in the field with the ball more than anybody; I don’t think he loses the ball like more than a few times a game. It’s incredible. And just the chemistry that we’ve had, I think it’s just a bond that can’t be broken.”

Sacks leads the Knights attack as a play-making midfielder while Williams is the type of player who does many of the things that don’t show up in a scoresheet but earn him favor with teammates and help the team both defensively and going forward. It’s a quality that earned him significant minutes on DC’s team as a sophomore when they went all the way to the final and captured the state championship with a 1-0 win over Charleroi.

“He’s the oil running the gearbox,” Sacks said. “His work ethic, his passing, everything is just pinpoint and inch perfect.”

Sacks and Williams – along with fellow seniors Jay Gricco and Jonas Ma – were instrumental in the team’s 3-0 win over Calvary Christian both with their play on their field and their leadership on a squad where the senior class is often outnumbered on the field by underclassmen.

Goalkeeper Carter Dill leads a talented junior class that includes starters and regular contributors Justin Ma, Matteo DeBellis, Cole Matthews, Ian Kauffman and James Yost. All were instrumental in limiting Calvary Christian’s potent attack but with Sacks, Brecon and company leading the way they have a model of how to compete on a bigger stage.

“Brecon is just so solid on defense,” head coach Rob Atkins said after their district final win. “And Jude, he’s had some injuries that have plagued him coming through the summer and then in throughout the season but you know, today he showed senior leadership, showed what a senior captain is capable of.”

Delaware County Christian’s game against Masterman kicks off at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Northeast High School. It’s the second game of a doubleheader that includes the girls 1A first round match between Julie R. Masterman and Faith Christian Academy.