PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA – The first play of the game was a fumble. The second play was another fumble, and that was returned for a touchdown.
Portent of a very weird game? Indeed.
Almost three hours later, an ungodly 98 points were scored.
When the only two undefeated teams in the Catholic League Red Division began battle on a blustery Saturday afternoon at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School, no one could have predicted that St. Joseph’s Prep would forge a basketball-like 63-35 victory over La Salle, which mathematically clinched the Red Division championship for the undefeated Hawks.
Nor would anyone have believed that Prep star running back D’Andre Swift, as good as he is, would score . . . seven touchdowns while rushing for . . . 275 yards on 19 carries.
Exuberant fans react to early action
“Maybe not 63 points, but I thought we would score a lot,” said junior quarterback Marquez McCray. “We had a good game plan.”
McCray completed 10 of 19 passes for 172 yards and touchdown passes to Swift (3 catches for 21 yards) and senior Terrance Greene (3 for 70). The Prep (7-0 overall, 5-0 league) accrued an outrageous 592 yards of offense from scrimmage (420 rushing, 172 passing) and scored nine touchdowns, the first of which was a 46-yard fumble recovery by junior Rayshad Wallace on the aforementioned second play of the contest.
“Two great teams going at it,” said Prep coach Gabe Infante. “Title on the line for us. Kids played their hearts out. It was a great chess match between both staffs. It was a game of a lot of momentum.”
Syaire Madden scores one of his three touchdowns for La Salle
D'Andre Swift scores one of his seven touchdowns for The Prep
Infante described winning the division title in the regular season – a format adopted by the Catholic League for the first time in 56 years – instead of the traditional playoff final as “anticlimactic.”
“It’s a little different feeling because it’s not a ‘game’ per se,” said Infante. “I’m not sure its set in yet what they just did. It’s quite an accomplishment.”
By the end of the first quarter, the Hawks had increased their lead to 21-0 on Swift runs of 33 and 21 yards. La Salle (5-3, 4-1) refused to go away.
Senior Syaire Madden’s 13-yard scamper trimmed the margin to 21-7. An 11-yard haul by Swift and a nifty 51-yard touchdown bomb from McCray to Greene increased the lead to 35-7 at halftime.
Out of nowhere, the Explorers tallied twice within a two-minute span – a 12-yard run by Madden (202 yards on 29 carries) and a one-yard plunge by junior fullback Joey Burnham. Suddenly, it was a game again.
Not quite.
Undaunted, on the Prep’s next two possessions, Swift rumbled 75 yards for a touchdown and then a 62-yard sprint for another score. A few minutes later, with three quarters now complete, a 49-21 lead was insurmountable. All that was left to wonder was how many TDs Swift would accumulate.
Ryan Bryce discusses how SJP's defense helped to stop La Salle
SJP coach Gabe Infante discusses championship win over La Salle
A humble D'Andre Swift talks about scoring seven touchdowns
Perhaps unmotivated thanks to its offense basically doing anything it wanted, the Hawks’ defense, which had allowed only 29 points in the previous three games, was uncharacteristically shoddy the rest of the way. Senior quarterback Tom LaMorte (15 of 23, 195 yards, one touchdown) hit sophomore Brett Mallee with a 15-yard score, but Swift answered with a four-yard TD. Now resembling a tennis match, Madden scored his third touchdown from 13 yards out, and the afternoon mercifully ended with McCray finding Swift for a 12-yard touchdown.
Swift’s six rushing touchdowns and seven total TDs each matched Catholic League records. The combined 98 points were the most ever scored between the two rivals.
“It’s great to have number 7 on our side,” said Infante, referring to Swift.
Asked to explain his exceptional athleticism, blazing speed, and uncommon patience, Swift avoided superfluous self adulation.
FAN PHOTOS (24 Photos)
“It’s just the talent that God blessed me with,” said Swift. “I thank Him every day for it. Without Him, nothing would be possible. Also to the coaches who trusted me to put me out there today, and to the offensive line as well.”
Swift labeled La Salle as “a great program,” but said there was no extra passion to topple La Salle.
“We treat every game the same,” said Swift, who has dealt with an ankle injury at various times this fall. “It’s the most important game because it’s the next game. It was just good to get back out here with my brothers.”
The Hawks clinched because, even if they should lose their season finale next week against Archbishop Ryan, they would still be declared champion because they defeated both La Salle and Archbishop Wood, both of whom are tied for second place with one loss apiece.
“It’s a great accomplishment to bring the PCL home back to the school,” said Swift, “but we’re not done yet.”
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com or don Twitter @johnknebels.)
