SPRINGFIELD, PA – An extra point, and Cardinal O’Hara is the Philadelphia Catholic League Blue Division Champions.
In theory, that sounds pretty achievable, right?
Kicker Kevin Calamita knew he needed to redeem himself after missing a PAT earlier in the fourth quarter and missing a pair of field goals against Conwell Egan a few weeks back.
In double overtime, Calamita calmed himself and just let his right leg, that was hitting 45 and 50-yard field goals in warm-ups, do the work. The ball sailed through the uprights to give the Lions the edge over West Catholic 27-26.
Calamita was mobbed by teammates and students as they stormed the field.
“It’s just crazy just to go through, everyone storming the field, making my extra point, getting the PCL championship, that’s what we came here for,” Calamita said. “1-9 last year, we were struggling. And to come back 9-0, it’s ridiculous to think about that. It was such a big turn around.”
While Calamita did keep a struggling Lions offense in the game with a pair of field goals from 27 and 29-yards, quarterback Tommy O’Hara lead his team on a 10-play, 68-yard drive to set up overtime with 4:03 remaining in the game.
O’Hara converted huge on third down twice on the drive, including a 22-yard strike to wide receiver Derrick Patrick Jr.
Six plays later, O’Hara lofted a dime to wide receiver Justin Santilla, who had four catches for 65-yards, a touchdown, an interception and seven yards on two carries, for an 18-yard touchdown to tie the game 12-12 with 1:06 left in regulation.
Cardinal O'Hara kicker Kevin Calamita hits the game winning extra point to make O'Hara Philadelphia Catholic League Blue Division Champions.
Cardinal O'Hara raising the Catholic League plaque.
O’Hara finished by completing 12-of-27 passes for 143-yards and one touchdown. He also rushed the ball 14 times for 37-yards and two touchdowns—that both came in overtime.
“I told Tommy last year I thought he was very average as a quarterback,” coach BJ Hogan said. “But over the summer and all of that, he’s taken leaps and bounds. In my opinion, he should be the player of the year and All-Catholic, but we’ll see how the voting comes out. He’s a big time player.”
That momentum from the fourth quarter drive stuck with the Lions in overtime and double overtime.
A roughing the passer call on West Catholic set-up first-and-goal from the five and O’Hara followed up on second-down by stretching over the goal line to make 18-12.
West Catholic running back Calil Wortham puts the Burrs up 6-0 with a four-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
West Catholic QB Da'vion Kidd-Jackson makes it 26-20 in double overtime with a seven-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ahmad Kent.
Cardinal O'Hara defensive back Justin Santilla picks off West Catholic quarterback Da'vion Kidd-Jackson in the fourth quarter.
Cardinal O'Hara quarterback Tommy O'Hara plunges in for a four-yard touchdown to tie the game 26-26 in double overtime.
The Lions decided to go for two and Santilla switched directions, blazed by every defender in sight without being touched and took the two-point conversion to the opposite side of the end zone to make it 20-12, forcing West Catholic to go for two.
West Catholic would answer initially in the first overtime, but running back Calil Wortham was stuffed at the line of scrimmage in double overtime after they went ahead 26-20.
It wasn’t long until Calamita put his stamp on it.
“This year, nobody believed in us,” O’Hara said. “We kind of took the role of the underdog and loved it. We loved that people doubted us. It really gave us a drive and it really motivated us. Just to come back tonight means a lot for us and a lot for this program moving forward.”
Until the Lions scored on their first possession in overtime, they trailed West Catholic for almost three quarters.
West Catholic controlled the clock with a rushing attack that primarily featured Wortham.
Cardinal O'Hara kicker Kevin Calamita said it was crazy to see everyone storm the field after game.
Kevin Calamita said he knew he was going to redeem himself after missing a PAT earlier in the game.
On West Catholic’s first drive, they gashed the Lions by rushing 60-yards down the field in seven plays. Wortham scored his first of two touchdowns of the night by putting West Catholic up 6-3 with 1:07 left in the first quarter.
Wortham finished the game with 81-yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.
After getting an early lead in the first quarter, the Lions either punted or turned the ball over downs on half of their drives.
However, the Lions caught a break in the third quarter when Santilla’s punt bounced off a West Catholic player and was recovered by Max Much.
A roughing the passer call on the following play, then allowed O’Hara to pull within one possession. The drive ended with Calamita hitting his second field goal of the night.
“They got kids man,” Hogan said. “They got good athletes and they just get after it and they did a great job. It was just tough for us all night and we made some plays in the passing game. That’s one of the best teams we’ve played all year without a doubt.”
The Lions, who are 9-0, 6-0, will face Bonner Prendergast next week at home in the playoffs.
“Last year, at this time we would fold,” Hogan said. “… Now, our kids are fighting and they know they have a chance because they’re believing in each other. I can’t coach that, my staff can’t coach that. That’s what’s crucial.”