CATHOLIC LEAGUE GAME OF THE WEEK
Who: La Salle vs. Roman Catholic
When: 6:00 Saturday, October 26, 2019
Where: Conshohocken, PA
Records: Roman (5-4, 3-1); La Salle (6-2, 2-2)
Most Recent Performance: Roman Catholic blitzed Archbishop Ryan, 43-0; La Salle lost an overtime stunner to Archbishop, 21-20.
Importance: As the regular season closes, the winner of this game will gain home field advantage when these two squads meet again next week in the PIAA class 6A semifinals.
All-Time Record: La Salle leads, 38-27-3.
La Salle Notes: The Explorers are very upset with their performance last week. They needed a late touchdown by senior Brad Vespe to force overtime. Following TD’s by both teams, a blocked extra-point attempt ended the game . . . Sophomore Sam Brown has scored in every game and has 18 total touchdowns (11 rushing, seven receiving). He was taken out of last week’s game because of an injury last week and his status is unknown.
Roman Catholic Notes: After starting 1-3, the Cahillites have won four of five. Their balance of offense/defense has been on display recently as indicated by an 89-14 scoring margin . . . In three of the last five games, opponents have scored six points or fewer. Among the key reasons is a secondary that has intercepted eight passes, including two by junior Amir Gibson this past week . . . Since taking over at QB for injured junior Jayden Pope, junior Daquan Robinson has thrown six touchdowns in two starts . . . Senior Malachi Harris has caught 37 passes for 751 yards and a school-record 12 touchdowns . . . Junior Shemar Ellis is coming off a career-best 182 yards rushing. He has rushed for 289 yards and four touchdowns over the past two weeks.
EXPLORER CHAT: “I believe this game is another test and an opportunity to prove ourselves as a team,” said senior center Jake de Luca. “With it being a Saturday game, preparation and getting better each day will affect the product we show on game day. This game is important because it is another PCL matchup against a competitive football team.
“Taking each game week by week is crucial to insure that we stay grounded and play our style of football. A statement game like this one will be a good indicator of where we are at as a team heading into the first round of the playoffs. Here, we will see what kind of team we are if we buy in and commit ourselves to our goal of playing through December. I believe we have a special group of guys here at La Salle, and the potential we have in all three phases of the game are what motivates us to get better every day.”
La Salle Highlights:
“Roman is a very good team this year,” said senior quarterback Jack Machita. “They will definitely play us tough, so we will have to come out and match their intensity. After a tough loss to Archbishop Wood, it is crucial that we make a statement in this game and play our brand of football.”
CAHILLITE CHAT: “This week against La Salle is a very important week,” said senior wide receiver/defensive back Malachi Harris.
“Coach (Rick) Prete and the rest of the coaches on our staff will put us in the right position to succeed. My team and I will work hard and prepare for them.”
“This is a big game for us, being that we have been defeated by La Salle for the past few years,” said junior running back/linebacker Shemar Ellis. “But we know that our coaches and the work we put in in practice each day will have us prepared. Each player has to do his job to the best of his ability and we have to play as the strong team that we are.”
Roman Catholic Highlights:
Prediction: La Salle’s loss to Wood and the way it occurred has fired up the Explorers. Roman, meanwhile, continues to improve and never leaves anything on the field in terms of effort. That said, it’s difficult to imagine La Salle losing two straight. The Explorers feel the effects of a physical game in a 26-20 victory.
(John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)