SPRINGFIELD, PA--Exhilarating and excruciating are two distinctly different adjectives.
After Friday night’s Catholic League Blue Division showdown, Neumann-Goretti is feeling the former while Cardinal O’Hara is dealing with the latter.
Such extremes are common after a football game that ends, 22-21, the score by which visiting Neumann-Goretti triumphed and clinched the Blue Division title.
“It was a really close win,” said junior wide receiver and defensive back Tre’Sean Boui. “O’Hara came to play. Our penalties almost cost us the game. During halftime Coach Albie (Crosby) said we were gonna comeback. Everybody took that and came in the second half of the game with a killer mindset.”
The Saints relied on their running game, and for good reason. They only threw the ball nine times and completed only two passes for 13 yards. So the game plan became power left, power right. The post-game numbers were a bit staggering.
Neumann-Goretti engineered 46 rushes and amassed 320 yards, a scary average of seven yards per carry. The Saints also scored three rushing touchdowns and converted a pair of two-point runs.
The trio of seniors Chris Wells (16 carries, 149 yards, two touchdowns), Leddie Brown (15 for 87, touchdown, two two-point conversions), and Quadir Monroe (12 for 75) was unstoppable.
“We went into the game feeling confident and certain about our efforts and what we could do,” said senior linebacker Jayvonne Campfield. “We never doubted our coaches and put our unwavering trust in them. The team also leaned on one another, which ultimately let us win the game.
“We weren't concerned, seeing as we as teammates had each other and the fact that our coaches are good at what they do. Even though we weren't expecting the well-done job of the opposing team, we were never concerned, yet not conceited, either. A shout-out to (coaches) Crosby, Townsend, DT, Gore, Keem, Ant, Jay, Earl, Gabe, Ron, Jimmy, and Polly. We couldn’t have done it without them.”
Cardinal O'Hara vs. Neumann-Goretti photo gallery by Aaron Mitchell
CARDINAL O'HARA vs. NEUMANN-GORETTI photos by Aaron Mitchell
The mood was much more somber in O’Hara Land. The Lions fully believed they would win, and even though they were overwhelmed (333 yards to 186) statistically, the Lions put a pre-Halloween scare into the undefeated Saints.
That, however, was of little solace.
“We got tired at the end and they started making some plays and we didn’t know how to capitalize,” said senior two-way lineman Tom Wertz. “We struggled on offense after they started to catch on to our tendencies.
“I think the difference was our inability to finish the game. We played a greet game and fought a great fight and just did not finish. They are a great team, though, with tons of talent, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they go all the way and win a state title.”
(John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)
Reporter Courtney McGuigan was on the sidelines as Neumann-Goretti wins Blue Division after 22-21 victory over Cardinal O'Hara.