FOOTBALL: Unpredictable PCL Adds More Intrigue

By John Knebels

PHILADELPHIA – Few people gave them a chance.

Archbishop Carroll didn’t care.

Led by senior Aaron Barnes’ career performance Saturday afternoon, the visiting Patriots stunned Neumann-Goretti in overtime, 31-30, ending the defending Philadelphia Catholic League Blue Division champion Saints’ division winning streak at 11 dating back to 2022.

Carroll’s offensive explosion was the most points scored against N-G in six seasons. And in an ironic twist, the Patriots’ last victory over the Saints – a 32-26 decision – occurred precisely six years ago to the day on October 5, 2018.

“Albie does a great job down there in South Philadelphia,” said Carroll coach Kyle Detweiler, referring to Saints coach Albie Crosby. “They have a ton of talent and kudos to their kids for battling all the way back and never giving up.

“We’ve been in one-score games into the fourth quarter in each of the last three weeks but just haven’t found success and haven’t been able to finish. I think this was the culmination of what we’ve been building and working toward. It’s a group that played together for all four quarters and then some.”

Barnes reached career highs in rushing yardage (192 on 17 carries) and touchdowns (three), not to mention a 52-yard kickoff return that set up sophomore Jay Boyd’s 10-yard scoring tally.

But a win was in jeopardy when Neumann-Goretti, led by Kyreese Bradley’s 120 yards and touchdown on 11 carries, took a 30-24 lead in overtime but failed to convert a two-point conversion try.

On Carroll’s possession, Barnes scored his third touchdown to tie the game, and senior kicker Alex Raker, who had earlier booted a field goal, won the contest with an extra point.

“It was a huge win for us,” said Barnes. “First, our defense played amazing throughout the whole game. And Alex had the biggest moment of his life and he knocked it down. I just wanna say I love playing football with these guys.”

Not surprisingly, Raker labeled the game winner as “definitely the highlight of my career.”

“I was just thinking – do what you have practiced over and over again, and to block out the noise,” said Raker. “When I made the kick, I was thinking I had finally gotten revenge, not only against Neumann, who had beaten us by 40, 50, and 30 in the last three years, but for a game winner that I had missed against O’Hara two years earlier. I finally gave everyone the PCL win our team desperately needed . . . against Neumann.”

Archbishop Carroll's Winning Field Goal. (video by Mike Livingston for PSD)

Archbishop Carroll vs. Neumann-Goretti. (Photos by Riley Schwarz Archbishop Carrroll)

As satisfied as he felt individually, Detweiler felt even better for his players, who visit Lansdale Catholic Friday night.

“The kids really needed this one to keep the pulse on their season alive and keep their postseason hopes on the table,” said Detweiler. “I was super proud of their effort and not giving up.”

In other Blue Division games . . .

Senior Yasin Lowry got loose for 145 yards as Archbishop Wood doubled West Catholic, 42-20. Senior Karon Shedrick added 138 yards on only nine carries for the Vikings, who at 2-2 remain alive in postseason possibilities.

“We were able to play well on both sides of the ball and create distance in the score,” said senior free safety David Diehl. “We knew that the key to winning the game was finishing and not letting up. This win will only make us better and show we don’t stop till the game is over.”

Lowry is only 19 yards away from 1,000 for the season. In four Blue Division games, he has scored nine of his 11 touchdowns.

“It’s been a fun senior year for me,” said Lowry. “I worked all off-season to do what I’ve been able to do.”

In Archbishop Ryan’s 28-12 win at Lansdale Catholic, senior Christon Mitchell-Brown collected 117 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries while senior quarterback Frankie Mawson tossed two touchdown passes.

While raising their division record to 5-0, the Raiders’ defense surrendered only 89 yards rushing on 29 carries and 98 yards through the air. Up next on Saturday is visiting Archbishop Wood.

Archbishop Ryan vs. Lansdale Catholic. (Photo gallery by Justin Maldonado for PSD)

In the Red Division . . .

In a four-overtime classic, La Salle upended St. Joseph’s Prep, 35-34. Although the Explorer junior quarterback Gavin Sidwar accrued 266 yards and four touchdowns through the air, slightly outdueling Prep sophomore QB Charlie Foulke (21-of-42, 207 yards, three touchdown passes), the Prep smothered LaSalle’s running game to negative two yards on 19 attempts.

“We rallied together as a defense and trusted our coaches to put us in the right position to make plays against a great team,” said Prep sophomore linebacker Brandon Lockley. “We had a solid idea of what looks and plays they were going to give us based on situations, and once we had that, all we had to do was play football.

“There is still a lot we have to work on as a defense, but that is why we embrace every game we play not as just a game, but an opportunity to get better.”

Bonner-Prendergast remained undefeated (5-0 overall, 2-0 division) with a 41-14 win at Father Judge. Senior Mick Johnson gained 126 yards – his fourth straight century-mark finish – and scored four touchdowns, increasing his season total to 15.

The Friars’ defense held the Crusaders to 99 total yards of offense. They’ll face undefeated LaSalle on Friday.

Roman Catholic rode junior quarterback Samaj Beals’ four-touchdown, 310-yard contribution to a 52-34 slugfest win over visiting Cardinal O’Hara, which reached 30 points for the fourth time in seven games.

(Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on ‘X’ @johnknebels.)