By Rich Flanagan
PHILADELPHIA-It was the first time in the game that Episcopal Academy felt the momentum sway in the other direction. After having surrendered a touchdown to William Penn Charter, which tied the game, the Churchmen took over with the intention of regaining the lead. Three plays into the drive, they coughed up the ball and the Quakers’ Chandler Turner picked it up and sprinted 30 yards for the go-ahead score.
Episcopal Academy junior TJ Cadden and his teammates were exasperated after that sequence but after squandering the lead nine seconds into the fourth quarter, he knew there was plenty of time left.
“That’s a tough situation when they pick up a fumble and score,” Cadden said. “Our team didn't back down and we knew we had to strike back. We left it behind us and focused on the next play. We knew if we played the way we know we can play, we were going to come out on top.”
The Churchmen put together two consecutive touchdown drives, which included Cadden’s game-winning scoring reception with under two minutes to play, to close out a frantic 26-20 comeback victory over Penn Charter. With starting quarterback Jake Fant out, sophomore Na’rome Rayborn, who came in and led Episcopal Academy to a win over Germantown Academy a week ago, got his first start under center and played a composed game throughout.
With his side trailing by seven, Rayborn engineered an eight-play, 63-yard drive which culminated with senior Andrew McMeekin’s four-yard rumble to tie the game at 20-20 with 7:20 remaining. The key play of the drive was a 4th down conversion as Rayborn lofted a pass to junior wideout TJ Lamb, who ripped the ball out of a defensive back’s hands and corralled it for 17 yards.
Lamb, the Philadelphia Sports Digest.com Player of the Game who finished with seven receptions for 79 yards and touchdown, only started playing football in high school and plays like that huge catch are reasons his playing time and reps have increased dramatically over the last two seasons.
“During practice, that’s how I learned to play football,” Lamb said. “I had not played football coming into my freshman year and I’ve been wanting to go out and do that. Ever since we installed that play, I wanted to be ready to do it in a game. Coach [Todd] Fairlie feels confident that I can go out and do my thing.”
EA junior TJ Cadden scores winning Touchdown in Game vs. Penn Charter. (video/Rich Flanagan)
Episcopal Academy Junior (WR) TJ Lamb Philadelphia Sports Digest's Player of the Game. (photo/Rich Flanagan)
After forcing a three-and-out, with McMeekin recording a sack, Episcopal Academy (5-2, 2-0 Inter-Ac) took over at their own 45-yard line. On the second play of the drive, Rayborn found Lamb for 18 yards. Three plays later, Rayborn took a deep drop in the shotgun and found Cadden down the seam for the decisive 22-yard touchdown with 1:18 left to play.
Rayborn was 15-for-21 for 129 yards and two scores with the last going to Cadden, who has seen the resilience of the Churchmen on display time and again during his time in the program.
“Everyone is ready to go in and fill a spot,” Cadden said. “They’re ready to compete at the highest level and everyone rallies around one another. We have confidence in each other. It’s tough when a guy like your senior captain goes down but everyone had faith in Na’rome and he was ready.”
Penn Charter (2-4, 0-2) had one more shot to tie the game once again and was having success through the air.
EA QB Na'rome Rayborn throws a fade route to TJ Lamb for 4-yard TD reception. (Video/Rich Flanagan)
Quarterback Colin Schumm had connected with senior receiver Colin Michener for a 45-yard hookup as well as junior Davin Barnett for a 28-yard touchdown strike earlier in the game. Schumm found tight end Isaiah Grimes for 32 yards, setting up the Quakers at their own 48-yard line with under 20 seconds remaining. Schumm connected with Turner for 11 yards then his final Hail Mary pass went unanswered after being batted down by the Episcopal Academy secondary just in front of the goal line.
It was the latest win in a rash of close games for Fairlie’s group. Eight of the Churchmen’s last 10 Inter-Ac games have been decided by one score or less and Fairlie is finding different ways to put inexperienced players in a position to have success.
“We’re far beyond the next man up mentality,” Fairlie said. “You have to expect this type of conflict and adversity with losing guys so you can either worry about it or find someone to step in. They’re hungry to help in any way and willing to work when a guy goes down. It changes the energy and guys try to help their teammates out. It’s a bunch of guys chipping in and making plays.”
Episcopal Academy vs. Penn Charter (gameday highlights by Rich Flanagan for PSD)
The game started with two quick scores as Schumm drove the Quakers right down the field in 11 plays, capped by off his quarterback sneak from the goal line for the first points of the day. Episcopal Academy answered as Rayborn found Lamb for 27 yards then two plays later, Cadden scored on a three-yard end-around. It was a slow rest of the half until Rayborn connected with Lamb, who Fairlie called, “a matchup problem with his ability to be strong while going to get the ball,” for that four-yard touchdown with 6.5 seconds left before the break.
The Churchmen will head to play Springside Chestnut Hill Academy while Penn Charter will travel to the Haverford School on Saturday afternoon.
