Plymouth-Whitemarsh, PA – By the time the first quarter ended, the victor was already decided. By halftime, the only question was when the running clock would begin.
Such was the case of Archbishop Wood’s 37-0 pasting of Academy Park Friday night at Plymouth-Whitemarsh in the PIAA Class 5A state semifinal.
“It was important to get a lead and then control the clock,” said Wood coach Steve Devlin. “It was to our advantage that they had to play from behind.”
Increasing their winning streak to 10, the Vikings (10-2-1) seized a 17-0 lead in the first quarter on a pair of seven-yard touchdown runs by senior phenom Raheem Blackshear and a 26-yard field goal by senior Dan Zanine.
Running back Raheem Blackshear takes a carry for Wood - PSD photo by Kate Roman
The second quarter was more of the same. Blackshear scored on a one-yard plunge, and sophomore quarterback Jack Collar did likewise a few minutes later. Blackshear finished with 178 yards on 20 carries; Colyar with 111 yards passing and one touchdown on 13 tosses. After Colyar connected with senior tight end Kyle Pitts (4 catches for 67 yards) on a 16-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, the remaining 21 minutes were conducted with a running clock.
On Friday night in Hershey, the Vikings will try to win their fourth state title in six years and third in the past four when they face Harrisburg High School in the state final. If there was ever a doubt about Harrisburg’s ability, it was extinguished in the state semis when the 11-3 Cougars shocked previously undefeated West Allegheny, 42-10.
Wood vs. Academy Park (22 Photos by Kate Roman)
Anthony Diodato, a first-team All Catholic at both offensive and defensive line, said he and his team don’t necessarily focus on another team’s resume.
“Our strategy is to just keep playing tough and with high intensity every play,” said Diodato. “Harrisburg has a ton of really good athletes on their team that have to be accounted for. If we continue to play tough with high intensity, I think we will be fine.”
After an 0-2-1 start, Wood has regained its sense of urgency and confidence, hallmarks of a program trying to snare its fourth state crown in six years and third in the past four.
“We started off slow and lost two games and it hurt us as a whole,” said senior running back Shawn Thompson, who had collected 412 yards and five touchdowns on 20 carries in Wood’s two previous games. “We were able to get back on track. We all came together and became a lot closer as a team.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 PM.
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com.)