FOOTBALL: Six Teams Take the Field In Must-Win Games in This Week's PCL Review

PHILADELPHIA CATHOLIC LEAGUE: Several blowouts and one tight game. Such was the bill of fare for this past week’s Catholic League football.

Regardless of how this past week turned out, however, six teams will next compete in must-win situations if their goal of winning a Catholic League championship is to be realized.

After La Salle defeated Father Judge, 55-20, the Explorers remained alive. With upcoming games against Archbishop Ryan on Saturday and Archbishop Wood the following Friday, La Salle needed a bounce-back performance after losing big to St. Joseph’s Prep.

Senior Manny Quiles rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown for the Explorers (2-4 overall, 1-1 Red Division) while freshman running back Sam Brown scored three touchdowns and gained a career-best 129 yards.

Father Judge (1-5, 0-2), which on Saturday visits Roman Catholic, showed zing behind senior quarterback Shane Dooley(14 of 22, 221 yards, three TDs), junior Darrell Tripline(6 catches for 117, two scores), and junior Dan Foy(four catches, 82 yards).

St. Joseph’s Prep allowed 162 yards of offense, most of it when the outcome had long been sealed, and coasted past Roman Catholic, 48-7. Freshman Josh Barlow took full advantage of significant playing time in relief of junior Kolbe Burrell (four carries for 93 yards), gaining 106 yards and his first-career two touchdowns on 10 hauls.

Roman Catholic vs. SJP - Photos Chris Evangelist

Roman Catholic vs. SJP - Photos Chris Evangelist

Sophomore quarterback Kyle McCord completed six of nine passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Mike Alexander intercepted his second pass of the season. For the Cahillites (0-6, 0-2), junior quarterback Saroun Cummings scored their only touchdown.

Next up for the Prep is Archbishop Wood, 1 PM Saturday at William Tennent High. The Vikings are coming off of an impressive 27-7 victory over Archbishop Ryan. As for Ryan, the Raiders take on visiting La Salle 1 PM Saturday at George Washington High School.

In the Blue Division, a thoroughly relieved Archbishop Carroll notched its first league win, 32-26 over defending champion Neumann-Goretti. The Patriots (3-3, 1-3) put six different rushers in double digits while junior Russel Minor-Shaw tossed a pair of touchdowns to senior Koran Butler.

Ryan vs. Wood - Photos Kathy Leister

Ryan vs. Wood Photos by Kathy Leister

Defensively, the Patriots surrendered only 42 yards rushing. Neumann-Goretti (1-3, 1-3) relied on junior quarterback Rausheen Lively, who connected on 17 of 28 passes for 258 yards and a touchdown pass to sophomore Tysheem Johnson. Junior Malik Griffin scored twice. Carroll’s next bout is Friday night at Bonner-Prendergast; the Saints face visiting Cardinal O’Hara 6 PM Saturday.

“The win this week was huge,” said Carroll junior Richie Kimmel, who contributed two interceptions. “With it being our Homecoming game, playing a great team like Neumann-Goretti, and not winning a Homecoming game in years, it made the win even better. The win put us back on track and placed us back in the win-column.”

Cardinal O’Hara (4-2, 2-2) exhibited season-best defense in its 27-9 victory over Lansdale Catholic. The Lions held star LC junior Danny Dutkiewicz (643 yards in his previous four performances) to a season-low 86 yards rushing on 24 carries and allowed a paltry 35 yards through the air.

The Lions’ offense dominated. Senior quarterback Luke Sprague was 9 of 13 passing for 205 yards and a touchdown to senior Chris Kirby (3 catches for 120 yards), who had missed significant time recovering from an ankle injury.

“It was a huge win to get us back on track,” said O’Hara senior Derrick Patrick, who snared three passes for 65 yards. “Our offense still has more to show, but this week gave us a lot of confidence moving forward. It was a good hard-fought win.”

Behind the offensive line of seniors Ryan Culp and Louie Perri, and juniors Joe Kelly, Cole Gehret, and John Sheffer, junior Keed Kpoto(20 carries for 139 yards) and senior Quasir Cottman(9 for 112, two scores) kept the Crusaders (2-4, 1-3) off the field.

“I worked all week with the trainer because I did not want to miss the game,” said Kirby. “He did a great job helping me get back on the field. Also my teammates did a great job stepping up when I wasn’t out there.”

West Catholic stunned the rest of the division in its 41-0 win over Bishop McDevitt. It wasn’t so much that the Burrs (6-1, 4-0) won the game, but by 41 points? The Lancers (5-2, 3-1) had been playing outstanding ball, but they were only able to muster 156 yards of offense, partly thanks to West Catholic junior Shakur Smalls’ third interception of the season.

“Honestly, we were already going into the game pumped up, and while we were on the bus going up to Widener we saw them talking trash and that just ignited the fire in us even more,” said West senior Aaron Jenkins. “We saw their weaknesses early on and attacked them with our strengths.”

West Catholic vs. Bishop McDevitt - Photos by James Williamson

West Catholic vs. Bishop McDevitt - Photos by James Williamson

West senior Kha’Jey Frazier wasn’t surprised by the lopsided margin.

“We knew what we were capable of,” said Frazier. “They talked a lot and looked very good on film. We practiced just as hard so we can come in knowing we would dominate this game.”

The Burrs spread the wealth on offense. Junior Zaire Hart-Hawkins (11 of 17 for 190 yards and three touchdowns) hit eight different receivers. On the ground, senior Jacir Savoy rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown. Junior Zahir Booker added 60, and junior Nelson Mandela Mensah came off the bench with 56 yards and his first touchdown.

The Burrs have allowed only 19 points over the last three games, setting up an opportunity to pretty much clinch the Blue Division this week as they tackle Conwell-Egan 7 PM Friday at Truman High School.

The Eagles had no problems with Bonner-Prendergast, holding the Friars to negative-three yards rushing and 57 passing. Senior Patrick Garwo’s 209 yards and three touchdowns (one from 81 yards, another from 50) on 17 carries elevated him to quadruple digits on the ground (1,163 yards) and increased his TD total to 17.

Conwell-Egan vs. Bonner Prendie - Photo by Kevin Murphy

Senior Terome Mitchell scored twice, giving him 11 for the season via a remarkable six different methods – four receiving, three rushing, kickoff return, punt return, interception return, and fumble return.

For Bonner-Prendergast (2-5, 0-4), sophomore Chilekasi Adele intercepted a pass and classmate Derrick Johnson III recovered a fumble.

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