The “Pick Six” - a turning point for a defensive unit, a wrench for the offense. PSD’s “Pick Six” highlights personal achievements, team highlights and unbiased turning points of our weekly Philadelphia Catholic League teams in their previously played games.
Photos/Videos: Kathy Leister, Lou Rabito, Logan McHugh & Krystal Williams
By: John Knebels
Pick One: La Salle on the Threshold of a PCL Crown
After getting stunned by Roman Catholic, La Salle had to wait two weeks before having an opportunity to get their frustrations out.
With a relentless offense and a strong defense Friday night, the Explorers could finally exhale after defeating Father Judge, 52-14, and set themselves up this weekend’s immensely important showdown against Archbishop Wood.
The math is simple: A win gives La Salle its first Catholic League Red Division championship since 2015. A loss, and the Explorers would finish in third place (barring a Father Judge upset win over St. Joseph’s Prep) as they head into the PIAA Class 6A semifinals the following weekend.
“After the loss the week before, our mindset was to get better, learn from the past, and move on,” said junior defensive tackle Darold DeNgohe. “We weren’t going to let a loss like that define us.
“We had to get back to how we usually work. All week we focused on our mistakes, and in practice, we keep getting reps to perfect them so on game day, we were 100% prepared to get the job done. Everybody did their job from the line to the secondary. We had to lock back in because we don’t want to feel what losing feels like again.”
Father Judge vs. La Salle - PSD Gallery by Kathy Leister
La Salle coach John Steinmetz appreciates DeNgohe’s intensity and football smarts.
“A great kid who has a high football IQ,” said Steinmetz. “Darold knows what every lineman is suppose to do in every defense. He is also a leader in the off-season. He works very hard.”
Pick Two: Brown Makes Most of Every Opportunity
In La Salle’s 52-14 win over Father Judge, senior Sam Brown touched the ball nine times on offense. His staggering final numbers comprised six rushes for 170 yards, three receptions for 28 yards, and three touchdowns.
All in a day’s work for the bruising tailback.
“It’s all thanks to the entire offense, especially my offensive line and wide receivers,” said Brown. “Each and every game they make it easier for me by making big blocks, which turn into big plays. They have been doing it all year, and that was just another game where you saw it happen.”
La Salle senior quarterback Alan Paturzo, who compiled an efficient stat line of 13-for-19 passing for 202 yards and touchdown passes to junior Ryan Sorge and sophomore Stevie Davis (who also ran in another score), benefits when the Explorers effectively run the ball.
La Salle vs. Father Judge Highlights by Kathy Leister & Logan McHugh:
“A solid running game helps a lot for a quarterback because it takes the pressure off of you,” said Paturzo. “When you’re able to run the ball for a good chunk of yards, it makes life easier for a quarterback in terms of being able to take high-percentage throws instead of it being third-and-long or being behind the sticks, where it isn’t as easy to get a first down.”
Pick Three: Robust Rushing Powers Prep
Though this season has not been as dominant as usual for St. Joseph’s Prep, the re-built Hawks have shown signs of returning to familiar territory.
In a 44-14 win over Roman Catholic Friday night, the Hawks’ running game was unstoppable. Dominating time of possession by an almost two-to-one margin, the Prep (5-2, 2-1) gained a whopping 335 yards and scored five of its six touchdowns on the ground.
“I feel like as an offense we played at our highest against Roman and it showed on the scoreboard,” said sophomore quarterback Samaj Jones, who rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown while finding junior Mike DiTrolio (season-high 73 yards on four receptions) for another score. “The plan going into the game was to get our best guys the ball as much as possible and to come away with the win, and that’s exactly how the game went for us.”
St. Joe's Prep vs. Roman Catholic - PSD Gallery by Lou Rabito:
The Prep’s streak of four straight Catholic League titles is in serious jeopardy. The Hawks must beat Father Judge Friday night and hope Archbishop Wood simultaneously defeats La Salle.
“Honestly, we are really focused on Judge because they’re our biggest opponent at the moment,” said Jones. “Regardless of who wins between La Salle and Wood, we will be prepared for whoever comes our way.”
Pick Four: Prep’s Kahseim Phillips More Than Just a Caddy
When playing football for a perennially nationally ranked program like St. Joseph’s Prep, you need to make the most of your chances. For the past two weeks, sophomore running back Kahseim “Caddy” Phillips has done precisely that.
In the visiting Prep’s 44-14 win over Roman Catholic Friday night, Phillips carried the ball 11 times and reached the 100-yard plateau for the first time in his career while scoring two touchdowns. In a 38-20 victory at Archbishop Wood six nights earlier, Phillips amassed 98 yards on 15 totes.
“I always felt that opportunity comes to those who are prepared, and that’s the mindset for every game because my coaches and teammates help me get prepared to the fullest each week,” said Phillips. “This past weekend I felt great having the opportunity to help my teammates get the win and play a bigger role in last weekend’s win.
St. Joseph's Prep sophomore running back Kahseim Phillips scored 2 TD's in the Hawk's victory vs. Roman Catholic - PSD Photo by Lou Rabito
“It feels good, but I don’t really care for personal stats. I just want to continue to win with my team. That’s all that matters to me and the guys.”
Pick Five: Bonner-Prendergast One Win Away from States
As has become their staple approach, a torrid running game and a steady defense lifted visiting Bonner-Prendergast to a 21-14 triumph over Archbishop Ryan, thus clinching a PIAA Class 4A District 12 championship berth against a Public League representative two weeks from now.
“We showed up when it counted and it most definitely felt like a playoff game,” said senior center Nick Bozzetto. “It’s a great feeling to be back-to-back PCL 4A champs with a shot at a run for a state championship. It was good to see how we played against Ryan in a game where it was basically lose-and-you’re-done, or win-and-play-on.”
The Friars (7-2, 5-1) employed the services of star senior RB Mason Peterson, who once again bulldozed an opponent on the ground. Peterson compiled 204 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 28 carries, marking his third consecutive contest with three TDs and giving him 15 scores altogether.
B-P senior Armon Mapp offered a condensed victory blueprint.
“We were able to stop the run game and made the quarterback put the ball in the air,” said Mapp. “When he did, the secondary flew to the ball every time.”
PSD's Game of the Week: Bonner-Prendergast vs. Archbishop Ryan highlights by Kathy Leister:
MBAP vs. Ryan - PSD Gallery by Kathy Leister
Pick Six: Plenty of Defense for These Three Winners
Neumann-Goretti clinched the Catholic League Blue Division title with a convincing 30-6 win at Cardinal O’Hara.
The Saints (7-1 overall, 6-0 division) have only allowed 13 points over the past three weeks. Junior Jayden Sumpter (9 carries, 80 yards, touchdown), senior Jayden Styles (9-80-1), senior quarterback Marqui Adams (16-of-24, 208 yards, two TDs), and senior Cotton Calleung (touchdown catch while accruing career highs in receptions with four and yards with 95) paced the offense.
O’Hara broke the shutout bid when senior quarterback Jacob Carbin found senior Mark Zecca for his first touchdown catch of the season.
Congratulations to Neumann-Goretti for winning the Catholic League Blue Division title - PSD Photo by Krystal Williams
Conwell-Egan (7-2, 4-2) won its fourth straight, defeating Lansdale Catholic, 12-0, for its second shutout in three games, during which the Eagles have surrendered a miserly three touchdowns. Junior Colin Majors caught one pass from senior quarterback Dante Morris, but he made it count by racing a career-long 55 yards for a touchdown.
In West Catholic’s 22-6 success over visiting Archbishop Carroll, senior Zymeen Howell and junior K’saan Green both eclipsed the rushing century mark. In addition to snaring his team-best third interception, Howell finished with 106 yards, a touchdown, and a two-point conversion run on only nine carries. Green turned 18 carries into 103 yards and a score, along with a two-point add-on. Senior Isaiah Franklin scored the Burrs’ other touchdown. For Carroll, junior Joshua Jones scored his first TD of the year.
Honorary Seventh Pick: Father Judge’s Logan McHugh
Special congratulations to Father Judge High School’s football manager, Logan McHugh, who celebrated his senior night with the team before last Friday’s game vs. La Salle.
McHugh has been a vital part of the Philadelphia Sports Digest team, serving as a PSD Jr. Reporter for the past three years.
His video and photo contributions greatly aided in our Philadelphia Catholic League coverage. McHugh also served as manager for the Crusader’s varsity basketball and JV baseball teams and compiled game highlights featured in past basketball and baseball weekly round-ups.
While McHugh is still deciding on which college he hopes to call home, his plans are to major in sport management.
Father Judge Jr. Reporter Logan McHugh - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister
Father Judge High School has produced a talented line of former PSD Jr. Reporters. Judge ’19 alum Alex Duda, now a junior at Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism & Hospitality Management, initially passed down McHugh’s contact. Fortunately, McHugh said that he already has a new manager lined up, continuing the tradition.
Our entire staff wishes Logan the best of luck in his future endeavors. We are extremely grateful for all of his contributions over the past three years.
If any students are interested in being part of PSD’s junior reporting program, email phillysportsdigest@gmail.com.
(Contact John Knebels at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)
Tag(s): Home Schools Philadelphia Catholic Football Red Division Father Judge Football 6A La Salle Football 6A Roman Catholic Football 6A Saint Joe's Prep Football 6A Arch. Ryan Football 5A Arch. Wood Football 5A Blue Division Bonner & Prendie Football Cardinal O'Hara Football Conwell-Egan Football Lansdale Cath. Football Neumann/Goretti Football West Catholic Football Arch. Carroll Football 5A