PHILADELPHIA – If a recent three-game stretch is any indication that La Salle’s football team means business, the rest of the Catholic League Red Division is in store for a major challenge.
On Saturday night at Northeast High School, the Explorers dominated every phase of the contest and defeated Father Judge, 35-7. The Explorers are now 4-2 overall, 3-0 in the Catholic League, and winners of three straight.
“We’re starting to play a little bit better,” said La Salle coach John Steinmetz. “We’ve had some injuries that has necessitated rotating some of the linemen on both offense and defense, and they’ve done a nice job.”
The Explorers have beaten their three league foes by an average of 43-10. Their latest conquest featured the arm of senior quarterback Tom LaMorte. The senior completed 18 of 21 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns.
Junior wide receiver Troy Holland gobbled up 13 of those completions for 213 yards and two scores – all career highs. Senior running back Syaire Madden struggled to bust loose, but still finished with 68 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. La Salle’s other touchdown was caught by junior tight end Liam Trainer.
La Salle vs Father Judge (11 photos by Zamani Feelings)
“Syaire ran great and Tommy was terrific,” said Steinmetz. “He had a big night. We saw a few things in their coverage, and he was getting (Holland) the ball. Our offensive line stood out, too.”
Defensively, the Explorers held the Crusaders to 61 yards rushing on 24 carries and intercepted two passes – senior Tre McNeill’s third this year, and sophomore Manny Quiles’ second. Although Judge managed 158 yards through the air, senior Rob King managed only seven completions in 23 tries. Four of those receptions, 95 of those yards, and Judge’s only touchdown was snared by senior Justin Gies. King has now tossed 15 touchdowns; Gies has caught nine of them.
Ryan vs. Wood (8 Photos by Kate Roman)
In other Catholic League Red Division play:
Roman Catholic stopped Archbishop Carroll, 20-7, as Jordan Haynes, Elijah Bolden, and Anthony Butler all scored touchdowns.
Archbishop Wood whipped Archbishop Ryan, 31-6, behind Shawn Thompson’s 160 yards and four touchdown runs on 12 carries. Quarterback Jack Colyar completed 14 of 23 for 171 yards.
In Catholic Blue Division action:
In the first-ever football game played on campus Saturday night, Bonner-Prendergast defeated Bishop McDevitt, 33-12. Shawn Harmon (10 carries for 42 yards) scored the first touchdown of the game and scored again later. Joe-Hartley Vittoria’s running (20 carries, 125 yards and one touchdown), Evan Raiburn’s passing (9 for 15, 182 yards, two touchdowns), and Alex Coll’s receiving (9 for 151 yards and a touchdown) engineered the historic victory.
Conwell-Egan blanked Lansdale Catholic, 26-0, as Pat Garwo accumulated 86 yards and scored twice in 11 carries.
West Catholic shut out Neumann-Goretti, 46-0. Calil Wortham contributed 147 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries while Da’Vion Kidd-Jackson completed 9 of 14 passes for 155 yards and two scores.
Photos of McDevitt & Neumann-Goretti (11 Photos by Zamani Feelings)
(John Knebels can be reached 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 Blue Division Arch. Carroll Football 5A Arch. Ryan Football 5A Arch. Wood Football 5A Bonner & Prendie Football Cardinal O'Hara Football Bishop McDevitt Football Conwell-Egan Football Lansdale Cath. Football Neumann/Goretti Football West Catholic Football