By: John Knebels
AMBLER – If St. Joseph’s Prep takes a lead in Saturday’s PIAA District 12 final, Hawk fans might help their team by exercising a bit of self-control.
In the Prep’s most recent victory – a hard-fought 21-14 victory over La Salle in a PIAA District 12 semifinal on November 9 at a sold-out Wissahickon High School – the Hawks had just taken a two-touchdown lead with more than six minutes remaining in regulation.
Thinking the game clinched, overexcited Hawk fans started singing the ubiquitous song from the late Sixties.
Na, Na, Nah Nah . . . Goodbye.
Not so fast.
An immediate 66-yard touchdown connection from junior quarterback Gavin Sidwar (21-38, 260 yards, two touchdowns) to junior Joey O’Brien (6-126, two scores) and a defensive stand placed the previously undefeated Explorers to within 50 yards of a dramatic comeback in the closing minutes. But the Prep defense held, thereby coming up clutch for the melodic zealots who had given La Salle some incentive by almost prematurely claiming victory.
“When we went up by two scores before they scored and they were chanting it, I was feeling it,” admitted sophomore defensive back Masiia Acrey. “But, it did come back to bite us when La Salle came out and scored right after, which isn’t that surprising when two great teams play against each other. I was like, ‘We should’ve never sung that song.’”
Aided by Acrey’s key third-down pass breakup followed by an interception in the end zone, and then a collective fourth-down stop inside the final two minutes, the Prep secured a date with Public League champion Imhotep in the district final noon Nov. 16 at Northeast High School.
The Prep’s win also provided sweet revenge for their emotionally and physically taxing 35-34, four-overtime loss to La Salle back on October 5 that ultimately led to the Explorers acquiring their first Philadelphia Catholic League championship since 2021.
St. Joe's Prep vs. La Salle in 6A qualifier (highlights/John Knebels for PSD)
Appearing more confident than the group that lost to La Salle earlier, the Hawks used a long opening kickoff return to set up a one-yard plunge by junior Khyan Billups, who finished with 102 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. After La Salle tied the game at 7-7, the Prep immediately went ahead for good on a perfectly thrown 59-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Charlie Foulke to senior Raheim Hardy.
The Foulke-to-Hardy connection produced seven receptions for 124 yards.
“The offensive line did a great job,” said Hardy. “Charlie was really good today. He delivered the ball to all our receivers, and we did a good job of executing when our number was called.”
Hardy later dropped what would have been a long touchdown reception. Emulating the Prep team that learned from their earlier mistakes against La Salle and displayed the fortitude to persevere, Hardy made no excuses.
“We strive for the perfect game, but you’re never going to have a perfect game,” said Hardy. “When you drop a pass or miss a block, you have to keep moving forward and wait until the end of the game. It’s a learning experience. We haven’t played our best game yet.”
St. JOe's Prep senior Rameir Hardy cites his team’s resilience as a major reason for win over La Salle. (Video/ John Knebels).
St. Joe's Prep sophomore quarterback Charlie Foulke talks about his most important victory. (video/ John Knebels)
La Salle’s loss finished a marvelous campaign in which they won their first 10 games, all but two of them – the win over the Prep and a 21-17 decision over Inter-Academic League champion Malvern Prep way back on August 30 – in dominant fashion.
Although the Explorers obviously set their sites on a PIAA Class 6A state title, they were able to win the PCL crown.
“Despite the loss, we were still able to change the direction La Salle football is going by turning a series of mediocre seasons into a 10-0 regular season,” said junior Grayson McKeogh. “The loss will hurt, but it won’t take away the momentum of the program in years to come.”
According to several Hawks, the loss to La Salle provided the Hawks with more energy to dig deep and prevent a recurrence.
“We faced adversity the first time we played them,” said Acrey. “This time, we came out and balled and executed like we should have. It was personal. It’s been bugging us for four weeks. Coach said to put it behind us, but it was always in our ears.”
Prep sophomore quarterback Charlie Foulke used the defeat as a personal challenge. His calm, steady disposition throughout the victory suggested that he matured immensely.
“It wasn’t a pleasant feeling,” said Foulke, who completed 14 of 23 passes for 177 yards and a score. “So we came back and watched film. We knew what they were going to do. We made the right plays at right time.”
(Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on ‘X’ @johnknebels.)
