CATHOLIC LEAGUE GAME OF THE WEEK

Who: La Salle at St. Joseph’s Prep  

When: 8:00 PM Friday, September 28 

Where: Widener University

Records: La Salle 1-3, 0-0; St. Joseph’s Prep 2-0, 0-0 

Most Recent Performance: La Salle crushed Haverford School, 58-28; St. Joseph’s Prep held off Our Lady of Good Counsel (MD), 34-27.   

Importance: The Catholic League Red Division begins. Every single year, these are the two large-enrollment schools that figure to be standing at the end. Indeed, since 2008, La Salle has seized six titles, including a five-year streak from 2008 through 2012; St. Joseph’s Prep has taken four of the past five . . . Since the regular season determines the champion, this is considered an early-season title bout . . . Both squads enter the contest well rested, having enjoyed a bye week.

All-Time Record: St. Joseph’s Prep leads the revered series, 51-36-5. 

La Salle Notes: After losing three straight to formidable foes, the Explorers exhaled in their victory over Haverford School. Still, the Explorers defense allowed 28 points and has surrendered 118 in four games . . . With junior quarterback Jack Machita injured, senior Sean Daly has taken the reins and relied mostly on his running ability (32 carries, 165 yards, two TDs) to move the offense . . . Senior Manny Quiles (28 carries, 233 yards) and junior Jalen DeVose (36-216) join Daly in orchestrating the running game . . . Junior TJ Meachum is coming off a two-interception game and has three of La Salle’s five team picks. 

St. Joseph’s Prep Notes: It’s an extremely tall challenge to stop the Hawks from scoring. If standout QB Kyle McCord (50 of 79, 623 yards, 6 TDs) is being hassled as he tries to find senior Johnny Freeman (15 catches, 224 yards, 3 TDs), sophomore Marvin Harrison, Jr. (13-141-2), or senior running back Marques Mason (13-175), the sophomore will just hand it to the backfield tandem of junior Kole Burrell (44 for 231, 3 TDs) and Mason (20-80-2) . . . Though arguably not as dominant up front as in years’ past, the Prep’s secondary has intercepted five passes, two by senior Nick Rios. 

EXPLORER CHAT:

“This rivalry is 100 percent still alive,” said senior linebacker Dillon Trainer. “I know that every game is important, but knowing the history of this game gives it a special meaning. If we're going to beat this team, we have to be consistent and mentally poised. We have not scratched the surface of what we can do talent-wise and we have to play as a unit and trust each other in order to win.” 

This date is always circled on our calendars year in and year out. Everyone on the squad knows what’s on the line here and everyone is juiced up ready to go. I think we just need to play disciplined La Salle football.”

“The rivalry is very much still alive,” said senior wide receiver Luke Hardy. “It is always a good game between us two teams. I would say this game is the biggest regular-season game we have all year. However, nothing is going to change. Yes, we will make adjustments for them, but we view this game as just another game and we’re focused on going 1-0 this week. Coach (John) Steinmetz and Coach (Joe) Wade are going to put us in the best situation to win. As long as we just play with poise and play La Salle football, we will have no problem competing with any team.”

“The rivalry is still well alive here on campus,” said senior offensive lineman Ronnie Ross. “Practice is different in how serious it is and how the coaches respond; everyone in school talks about the game and there is a general excitement from everyone. This game means everything to me and the team, because they are the ‘big bag dawgs’ from our state that goes to Hershey, and for us to beat them is huge and sets us up to accomplish one of our goals . . . to win the PCL. I will have to be fundamentally sound on offense so there are no negative plays and we will pound the rock. Also on defense, stopping screens and no big plays. Overall we can’t let up as a team and have to be ready for four hard-fought quarters to win the game.”

HAWK CHAT:

“To be honest, the rivalry has died down just a little bit,” said senior cornerback Mike Alexander. “I think it was at its peak going into the 2016 season after our loss in 2015 in the playoffs. But since it’s La Salle, it will always have a little bit more meaning than other Catholic League game. In order for us to win, we have to stop their perimeter runs and just treat this like any other game.” 

But to us this game is just as important as any other game on our schedule. What matters most is executing and taking the next step.”

“We treat all of our opponents the same,” said senior running back Marques Mason. “We don’t look at it as a rivalry. We look at it as a way to get better. To beat them, we’ll just play our game. Be aggressive, make plays, fly to the ball, play Prep Football.”

“The rivalry is definitely still alive,” said senior middle linebacker Cooper Kim. “The history between our two teams is that we always play each other hard and with great physicality and intensity. In 2015, we lost to La Salle and that was personal for a lot of guys . . . This game doesn’t mean much more than others because it’s just the next game, but the amount it means to the school, alumni, and all of my teammates might make this game a little more personal for us as a team. If we are going to beat them, we just need to have a great week of practice and keep playing our game the way we know how to do it with speed and toughness. Our biggest opponent is ourselves this week, so if we play the way we know how and do our thing like we have, we should be in good shape.”

Prediction: On paper, the Prep should win handily. The Explorers have allowed almost 30 points a game (albeit against quality offenses) and are playing a squad that has scored 69 in two games against vaunted opposition. The Hawks are also more experienced at virtually every position. La Salle will make its presence felt, but dominant stretches push Prep to a 37-20 victory.

(John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.comor on Twitter @johnknebels.)