AMBLER – Cardinal O’Hara senior Justin Santilla lie on the turf, tended to by a team trainer. A few minutes later, he was helped to his feet and ambled toward a bench behind the players.
A gentle stretch turned into a more challenging stretch. A simple jog turned into a moderate sprint. Santilla grabbed his helmet. One half of football still needed to be played.
“I’m good to go,” he said.
The same could have been said about his entire team.
Already with two touchdowns in his pocket – one on a scoring reception and another on a fumble recovery – Santilla returned to Saturday afternoon’s Catholic League Blue Division tilt between the Lions and Lansdale Catholic at Wissahickon High School and didn’t skip a beat.
Behind Santilla, an interception touchdown return by senior Taseer Jones, torrid running by senior Nick Kutufaris (15 carries for 129 yards, touchdown) and Jones (10 for 80), and a bend but don’t break defense, O’Hara defeated the Crusaders, 31-0.
Lansdale Catholic vs. O'Hara
The victory kept the Lions (5-1 overall, 2-1 league) alive in their pursuit of successfully defending their Catholic League crown. If O’Hara can defeat Conwell-Egan on Friday, first-place Neumann-Goretti the following week, and then West Catholic to close out the regular season, they would win the title because even though Neumann-Goretti would have the same record, the Lions would get the nod because of beating the Saints head-to-head.
But first things first.
“Lansdale Catholic played well,” said Santilla. “They have a very good running game and they picked up a lot of yards. We did a great job keeping them off the scoreboard.”
O’Hara coach B.J. Hogan agreed.
“Any time you shut a team out, that’s a great accomplishment,” said Hogan. “It wasn’t our best game of the year, but the guys worked hard. They did a nice job and beat a good football team.”
Two-way senior tackle Tom Wertz performed admirably on both sides of the ball. Looking exhausted but satisfied, Wertz was all business before, during, and after the victory.
Wertz was also a young man of uncommon class. As the final seconds ticked away and the Lions prepared to meet the Crusaders (1-6, 1-3) in the post-game handshake ceremony, Wertz loudly reminded his troops to treat Lansdale Catholic with respect.
“Just say ‘Nice game,’ guys,” said Wertz. “Don’t say anything else.”
After losing its division opener, a 10-7 shocker against Bishop McDevitt, O’Hara has regrouped, and in a big way. The Lions blanked Bonner-Prendergast, 21-0, and then Lansdale Catholic. Four of O’Hara’s wins have been by shutout, and in the other, the Lions allowed only one touchdown.
“We have one goal in mind, and that’s to win the Catholic League championship,” said Santilla. “We played well and deserved the win. We continue to take every team as a playoff game because we can’t afford to lose. We’re focused on what we need to do.”
Justin Santilla scored two touchdowns to help O'Hara stop Lansdale Catholic
Jamir Redd helped spearhead the O'Hara defense to another shutout
Tom Wertz led both off and off the field in O'Hara's win over Lansdale Catholic
(John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)