FOOTBALL: PCL Review- Contenders Prevail in PCL Blue, as Red Takes Down Non-League Foes

By: John Knebels

Photos/Videos: Patty Morgan, James Williamson and Alex Duda (Father Judge)

PCL Football Weekend Review 9/24

PHILADELPHIA –After losing its Catholic League Blue Division opener the previous week, Cardinal O’Hara was in a foul mood all last week. The Lions could not wait to wash away the smell of defeat.

The unfortunate foe to play them next was Archbishop Carroll on Friday night. Paced by a rugged defense and a torrid running game, visiting O’Hara defeated the Patriots, 21-7.

“We know it’s win or go home every week if we want to stay in the running for the PCL ‘chip,” said senior cornerback Max Much. “This win was a great bounce back, and it showed us and everyone our defense is the real deal.”

Much’s interception late in the fourth quarter sealed the victory. Junior Cole Sprague also picked off a pass, the second theft for both teammates and the team’s sixth altogether so far this fall.

While O’Hara (3-1 overall, 1-1 division) pounded the Patriots on the ground, Carroll (2-2, 0-2) could not get on track, as the Lions’ defense stymied the Patriots to 124 yards of yards from scrimmage.

“Our coaches always prepare us each week and put us in the right spots,” said Sprague. “We were able to execute their plans and get a good team win. It was huge. It builds a lot of momentum that we will carry into this week’s game against West Catholic.”

Senior quarterback Luke Sprague only threw six passes. He didn’t have to do too much more thanks to junior tailback Keed Kpoto, who waited for key blocks from offensive linemen Ryan Culp, Lou Perri, John Sheffer, Joe Kelly, and Cole Gehret and collected 164 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Senior teammate Quasir Cottman added 83 and a TD on 22 hauls.

“Our offensive line and backs had an amazing game,” said Sprague. “It was all them. It was great play calling and our guys up front and running backs really executed perfectly.

“It’s really nice that the coaches allow me to have the ability to audible and call plays from the line of scrimmage to help us get the right play in. Our guys did great and our defense played great as well again.”

Kpoto confirmed that the change in mood during practice was palpable.

“We played angry all week,” said Kpoto. “We had a chip on our shoulders.”

Conwell-Egan did something that no Catholic League Blue squad has done since 2016 . . . beat Neumann-Goretti.

With senior Patrick Garwo amassing a Catholic League personal-best 230 yards (his all-time mark is 288) and scoring two touchdowns to five him 10 for the season, the undefeated Eagles (5-0, 2-0) outslugged the host Saints, 42-30.

Senior quarterback Alex Goldsby scored three touchdowns on the ground. Sophomores Andrew Garwo (second of the season) and Sincere Thomas notched interceptions to increase C-E’s team total to six.

In defeat, sophomore Tysheem Johnson (5 catches, 83 yards; two rushing touchdowns), junior quarterback Rausheen Lively (14 of 27, 154 yards, two TDs), and junior Malik Griffin (135 total yards, touchdown) kept the Saints (1-1, 1-1) close.

Touchdown Patrick Garwo!

CEC 42 - NG 24
Q4 1:06 pic.twitter.com/T541NBtPRd
— CEC Athletics (@CEC_athletics) September 23, 2018

Bishop McDevitt (4-1, 2-0) won its third straight, this time via a 17-0 shutout at Bonner-Prendergast (2-3, 0-2). Despite sophomore stud Jon-Luke Parker (17 carries, 85 yards) being unavailable in the second half after spraining his ankle, the Lancers dominated every phase of the game.

Defensively, the unit held the Friars to 133 yards of offense. On offense, Jovan Hinton made the most of his first-ever start at quarterback. The senior turned 18 rushes into 100 yards and a touchdown, and he completed 8 of 15 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown connection to senior Jordan Drew. It was the first passing/receiving touchdown for both players.

“We just fought hard every play,” said junior defensive end Tyrone Fowler. “We didn’t let up, not once. We just couldn’t give them life because we knew those guys were not going to lay down for us.

Bishop McDevitt vs. Bonner-Prendie - Photos by James Williamson

“We talk about shutouts all the time. It’s something we strive for in every game.”

West Catholic used a big second half to upend visiting Lansdale Catholic, 28-7, in a rare Sunday afternoon contest at Drexel University for its fourth straight win. With the score tied at 7-7, the Burrs (4-1, 2-0) scored three unanswered touchdowns, two of them in the final stanza. The Crusaders (1-3, 0-2) struggled to find any rhythm.

Junior quarterback Zaire Hart-Hawkins fired two touchdown passes – giving him nine over the past three weeks – and rushed for another. Junior Shakur Smalls punctuated the victory with an interception return for a touchdown. Senior Nadir Morton-Andrew had made an interception earlier.

“Going in, we knew that it was a must-win league game,” said Hart-Hawkins. “We also knew that it would be a rainy game so we would really have to take care of the ball and not make careless mistakes.

“Our defense came out strong. The second half our defense continued to hold it down and got the ball back in the hands of the offense with several three and outs.”

In a losing effort, Lansdale Catholic junior running back Danny Dutkiewicz emerged beyond fatigued. Not only did he carry 35 times for 123 yards and his team’s only touchdown, but he and junior linebacker Keith Gianoni stood out on defense. Dutkiewicz is also a special team’s stalwart, including work as the team’s punter.

“Yes, I’m very tired,” Dutkiewicz said with a chuckle. “We played hard. Just got a coupe of things to work on like staying with our blocks and keeping our heads up. Our defense kept us in the game. They really bailed out the offense a lot.”

In non-league play involving teams from the Red Division, Archbishop Ryan moved to 5-0 with a convincing 45-20 victory over host Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy. The Raiders, who will begin division play 7 PM Saturday against neighborhood rival Father Judge at Northeast High School, have now scored 38, 41, 41, 45, and 45 points on offense.

Sophomore Tyreek Chappell was once again a force. He converted 14 carries into 221 yards and four touchdowns, giving him 12 for the season. Chappell also intercepted a pass, as did senior Colin Boyd, whose two picks gave him three for the season on a defense that has seven altogether.

Archbishop Wood defeated Maryland’s Archbishop Spalding, 20-7. Junior Tom Santiago rushed for 181 yards on 29 carries for the 2-2 Vikings, who open up division play 7 PM Saturday against visiting Roman Catholic.

In the annual battle of Oblates of St. Francis de Sales schools, Father Judge (1-3)dropped a 21-14 heartbreaker at Salesianum (Delaware). Senior quarterback Shane Dooley threw for 211 yards and added 53 on the ground. He rushed for a score and added another through the air, snatched by senior Katob Joseph(3 catches, 54 yards; 10 rushes, 66 yards). Junior Day Foy caught four passes for an even 100 yards.

The feature bout for the Red Division’s opening weekend takes place 7:30 Friday at Widener University when defending champion St. Joseph’s Prep meets La Salle. In the Blue Division, Friday action comprises Conwell-Egan at Archbishop Carroll and West Catholic at Cardinal O’Hara. Both games begin at 7:00. On Saturday, Neumann-Goretti visits Bishop McDevitt at 1:00. Bonner Prendergast does likewise 5:00 at Lansdale Catholic.