FORT WASHINGTON, PA – Some of Germantown Academy’s football players entered the game with a decent-sized chip on their shoulders.
They exited the game embracing each other by the shoulders.
A 10-yard touchdown pass from senior Kyle McCloskey to junior Mike Reilly in overtime lifted the Patriots to a 16-13, come-from-behind victory over visiting Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy in both teams’ Inter-Academic League opener.
GA’s ebullient response was part joy, part relief.
“It was incredibly important to start off with a win,” said McCloskey. “We were the underdogs according to everyone who was reporting the game, and no one really expected us to win.”
SCH seized a 10-0 lead on a second-quarter, 34-yard field goal by sophomore Jack Myers and a four-yard scoring run by junior Jordan Young early in the fourth. GA responded with 10 points of their own – a 33-yard field goal by senior Vince Capone and a 22-yard jaunt by McCloskey.
With the score tied at 10-10 after regulation, the contest shifted into overtime, where both teams would start at their opponent’s 10-yard line.
The Blue Devils took a 13-10 lead on a 39-yard field goal by Myers, but the Patriots responded in aggressive fashion when McCloskey turned a bootleg into a game-winning toss to his favorite receiver, now with team leads in receptions (17), yards (388) and touchdowns (five).
McCloskey’s 10th touchdown pass of the season was arguably the most shining moment of his football career. Because there are only five league games, any loss virtually eliminates a team from eventually corralling an outright league title.
The victory, however, would not have been possible without yet another tremendous effort by GA’s defense. Although senior Matt Rahill had decent numbers (14 for 26, 230 yards), the Blue Devils’ rushing attack managed only 61 yards on 30 carries.
With three interceptions against SCH – one each by juniors Reilly and Tanner Long, and freshman Shane Harkins – the Patriots now have 13 thefts for the season. They have surrendered a stingy 45 points in five games.
“Our defense starts with our defensive line and our command of the line of scrimmage,” said junior defensive end stalwart Joe Cawley. “Every time we break the defensive huddle we say, ‘Dominate.’”
Cawley raved about defensive coordinator Steve Moll’s approach.
“He doesn't want to just win,” said Cawley, “he wants to dominate. That motivates us more than anything else.”
In overtime, GA’s linebackers and secondary caused chaos. Cawley made tackles on first and second down. On a third-down blitz, senior Matt Gorman contributed a crowd-erupting sack.
“I give all the credit to our defense,” said McCloskey, who completed 15 of 24 passes for 117 yards, and added 38 yards on the ground, the second most to senior Nick Picariello’s 56 on seven hauls. “The last two weeks our offense has started slow and only picked up in the second half. The defense is doing an amazing job keeping us in the game, so these wins are all for them.”
McCloskey said the victory bonded the entire team.
“This win was so big to start with because I think it sends a little bit of a message that GA is here to play in this league,” said McCloskey. “This league is wide open; everyone has a chance to win it. And our win was the start we needed if we want to be that team that comes out on top.”
On Friday at 7 PM, GA visits Episcopal Academy, which is coming off a dramatic 37-34 win over Malvern Prep. On Saturday at 2:30, SCH will be in must-win mode when it hosts Penn Charter, also facing a similar agenda after dropping a 21-20, overtime decision to Haverford School.
Might want to get there early . . . and probably stay a little later than usual.
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com or on twitter @johnknebels.)
