St. Joseph's Prep win fourth PIAA title in six seasons, 40-20 over Harrisburg, in 6A final - PA Prep Live

St. Joseph’s Prep win fourth
PIAA title in six seasons,
40-20 over Harrisburg, in 6A
final
HERSHEY >> Fending off a considerable challenge from underdog
Harrisburg, St. Joseph’s Prep won its fourth PIAA football
title in six seasons Saturday night with a 40-20 conquest of
the District 3 champion Cougars, at Hersheypark Stadium.

The Hawks finished off a perfect 13-0 run with a pair of
fourth-quarter touchdown drives, culminating in Marques Mason
capping both off. Harrisburg had clawed to within 27-20 midway
through the third quarter.

“It’s an amazing experience and feeling going through journey
this with this group,” ninth-year Prep head coach Gabe Infante
said, “because every group is different. Very proud of what
our guys accomplished. The kids were resilient, and like most
teams we’ve had here, they care about one another and care
about one another. They did collectively what needs to be done
to win football games.

“Love and trust. That’s what we believe in. We’re willing to
sacrifice for one another and we believe in one another.”

St. Joseph’s Prep celebrates their PIAA Class 6A championship
victory over Harrisburg at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, PA
on Saturday, December 8, 2018. Mark Palczewski/For Digital
First Media.

Infante moved his Prep coaching record to 91-22, an .805 clip,
with the win.

Prep has appeared in Hershey five of the last six seasons,
with only 2015 missing from the resume. The Hawks rebounded
from a 41-21 loss to Pine-Richland in this spot a year ago.

Marvin Harrison Jr. (8) of St. Joseph’s Prep dives for extra
yardage against Harrisburg in PIAA Class 6A championship game
action at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, PA on Saturday,
December 8, 2018. Mark Palczewski/For Digital First Media.

Saturday’s fourth title in five tries was a scrappy and sloppy
affair and far from a lock for the Hawks, who had to deal with
slippery Harrisburg quarterback Kane Everson. Everson was a
senior-year transfer from Central Dauphin East last summer who
led the Cougars (13-2) to a revenge win over District 1 power
Coatesville in the 6A semifinal a week ago, three months after
getting thumped by 31 at home by the Red Raiders in the season
opener.

“That’s a very good football team,” Infante said of the
Cougars. “Everson is a special player and their coaching staff
did a tremendous job with those young men. They’ve got a lot
to be proud of on the sideline. I’ve been on that side and
know how it feels like. We just came up with one or more big
plays and I can’t say enough about that program.”

Kolbe Burrell (24) of St. Joseph’s Prep eludes Jahmir Plant
(5) of Harrisburg while on his way to a long TD run in PIAA
Class 6A championship game action at Hersheypark Stadium in
Hershey, PA on Saturday, December 8, 2018. Mark Palczewski/For
Digital First Media.

But Everson hadn’t yet met up with Prep defensive back Anthony
Rightley. Rightley introduced himself with three
interceptions, including one in his own end zone at the pylon
with 23 seconds left in the first half that snuffed out a
promising Harrisburg drive.

Everson finished 17 of 27 for 201 yards and led the Cougars in
rushing with 71 more on 16 totes.

“It’s a team game and we got the ‘W’ and that’s all that
matters,” Rightley said, while declining to discuss his own
exploits. “It was confidence that put this thing away. We
started thinking about this game in the summer.”

Rightley   also   caught   a   touchdown   pass   from   sophomore

quarterback Kyle McCord late in the first quarter, a 13-yard
grab that capped a quick six-play, 55-yard drive that extended
Prep’s lead to 20-7.

Zach Bouggess (5) of St. Joseph’s Prep celebrates a sack
against Harrisburg in PIAA Class 6A championship game action
at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, PA on Saturday, December 8,
2018. Mark Palczewski/For Digital First Media.

McCord showed poise beyond his years on the biggest stage in
the state, completing 26 of 37 attempts for 284 yards and two
scores. He overcome a pick-six on Prep’s second series, a 25-
yard return for a score by Jai Burney that gave Harrisburg an
early 7-0 lead. McCord had touchdown tosses of 13 yards to
Rightley and Johnny Freeman while finding pay dirt a third
time, with his legs.

“Our young quarterback is special and now we can start talking
about where he ranks,” Infante said of McCord. “He’s led us to
the promised land.”

The Hawks were not careful with the football but displayed the
kind of irresistible firepower to overcome it. Prep fumbled
the ball away three times, with all three recovered by Burney
— a 5-foot-6, 210-pound fireplug who played Rightley’s role
for the Cougars.

“I’m proud of our group,” Harrisburg coach Cal Everett said
shortly after being denied a title for the second time in
three seasons. “We were within seven in the fourth quarter
against the No. 8-ranked team in country. What more can you
ask. … Jai’s a monster with his heart. Heckuva player. His
heart is 6-5 and he’s only 5-6.”

Prep responded to Burney’s opening strike with seven-play, 53-
yard drive culminating in McCord hitting Freeman for the tying
score. The Hawks took the lead on Kolbe Burrell’s 59-yard
scamper through Harrisburg’s defense with 4:10 left in the
opening frame, then moved it out to 20-7 on their next series,
with McCord tossing to Rightley for six. The conversation
failed.

Burrell rushed for 147 yards on 17 carries and that score, but
fumbled twice.

Kyle McCord (6) of St. Joseph’s Prep throws against Harrisburg
in PIAA Class 6A championship game action at Hersheypark
Stadium in Hershey, PA on Saturday, December 8, 2018. Mark
Palczewski/For Digital First Media.

Harrisburg put together its best drive of the night as a
response: A 15-play, 71-yard march capped by Jahmir Plant’s 1-
yard run. Plant, Harrisburg’s best running back, was later
nicked up and his effectiveness waned.

Prep came right back, however. McCord went in from a yard out,
the capper to a nine-play, 59-yard campaign that pegged the
halftime score at 27-14.

Everson pulled off his finest play of the evening on fourth-
and-10 at the Prep 25 in the third quarter, a 25-yard deep
curl and run to Donte Kent with 7:38 to play in the period to
make it a 27-20 contest.

Prep piled up 509 yards of total offense, to Harrisburg’s 307.

Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (54) and Anthony Leneghan (45) of St.
Joseph’s Prep tackle the Harrisburg runner in PIAA Class 6A
championship game action at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, PA
on Saturday, December 8, 2018. Mark Palczewski/For Digital
First Media.

PIAA 6A championship

at Hersheypark Stadium

St. Joe’s Prep 40, Harrisburg 20

H –   7    7   6   0 — 20

SJP –     20   7   0   13 — 40

First quarter

H – Jai Burney 25 int return (John McNeil kick), 8:58

SJP – Johnny Freeman 13 pass from Kyle Mccord (anotnio Chada
kick), 7:02

SJP – Kolbe Burrell 59 run (Chada kick), 4:10

SJP – Anthony Rightley 13 pass from McCord (kick blocked), :27

Second quarter

H – Jahmir Plant 1 run (McNeil kick), 8:11

SJP -McCord 1 run (Chada kick), 5:40

Third quarter

H – Donte Kent 25 pass from Kane Everson (pass failed), 7:38

Fourth quarter

SJP – Marques Mason 4 run (kick failed), 10:54

SJP – Mason 4 run (Chada kick), 2:31

First downs

SJP 27, H 15

Rushing

SJP 39-225, H 37-106

Passing

SJP 26-37-284-1, H 17-27-201-3

Total yards

SJP 509, H 307

Fumbles-lost

SJP 3-3, H 1-1

Penalties

SJP 8-74, H 10-60

Punts

 SJP 1-24.0, H 4-33.6

Upper Dublin stopped in PIAA
5A semifinals by Manheim
Central
LOWER GWYNEDD >> It would prove to be Upper Dublin’s final
offensive play of the night: running back Lucas Roselli
gathered in a short pass from quarterback Mike Slivka, made a
quick cut to evade a defender, and then darted into the end
zone.

One final moment for the District One Champs…

“It was a really good run,” Roselli said of the Cardinals’
journey through the Class 5A bracket. “I wish we could still
be playing.”

A remarkable season for Upper Dublin came to a close against
Manheim Central Friday night, as the Barons won 34-12 to
advance to the PIAA final against Penn Hills.

Upper Dublin’s Mike Slivka embraces Matthews Shields after the
Cardinals’ loss to Manheim Central in the PIAA 5A semifinals
on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)

“We lost to a good football team tonight,” said Cardinals
coach Bret Stover, who guided his team to the state semis in
2015 (4A) and again this fall. “And we didn’t play our ‘A’
game unfortunately. You always wanna play your best game in
these games and we just didn’t. They forced us out of our ‘A’
game.

“They didn’t give us anything we didn’t expect, on either side
of the ball. They just did it better than we saw on film.”

Manheim Central will face Penn Hills, which dethroned two-time
defending state champ Archbishop Wood, 20-13.

“I’m just so happy. It means so much, to the team and the
program,” said Barons two-way standout Tyler Flick of moving
on.

#FOOTBALL: 6:11 3Q Manheim Township 28, Upper Dublin 6. Will
 Rivers breaks a number of tackles then dashes down the
 sideline    for   a   78-yard    TD   from    Evan   Simon.
 pic.twitter.com/Be68TGeeAg

 — Mike Cabrey (@mpcabrey) December 1, 2018

Flick rushed for 87 yards and a score and cut an even more
menacing figure on defense. The linebacker was part of a
swarming Central defense that squeezed Slivka’s pocket tight
all evening long.

“Mike was on the run all night,” Stover said. “They brought
the house and they’re very athletic.”

Manheim Central’s defense didn’t allow a first down until
midway through the second quarter. By then, the Barons had
built up a 14-0 lead, courtesy of a Flick TD (four yards) and
a five-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Evan Simon.

Simon threw for 180 yards and a pair of scores and also rushed
for 75 and a touchdown.

Upper Dublin’s Jason Scott reaches for a tipped ball in the
end zone for a touchdown during the Cardinals’ PIAA 5A
semifinal against Manheim Central on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018.
(Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)

Then came a scary moment.

Upper Dublin’s long snapper, Jackson Rock, was down motionless
on the field following an Upper Dublin punt. Rock left the
field on a stretcher, but regained consciousness and was
pumping his fists, trying to fire up his teammates on the
Upper Dublin sideline.

The Cardinals scored on their next possession, using an 11-
play drive to navigate 49 yards, reaching the end zone on a
15-yard hookup from Slivka to Jason Scott.

Scott caught a deflected pass in the end zone, on a 4th-
and-13. The Cardinals did not convert on the two-point
attempt, leaving the score 14-6.

 #FOOTBALL: 2:10 2Q Manheim Central 14, @UpperDublinFB 6.
 Jason Scott with a great catch on a tipped pass for 15-yard
 TD pass from Mike Slivka on 4th down. 2-point conversion
 intercepted. pic.twitter.com/DrOHLbydzj

 — Mike Cabrey (@mpcabrey) December 1, 2018

The touchdown looked to be a big boost for Upper Dublin going
into the half, but the Barons got a long kickoff return by
Colby Wagner, setting up Manheim Central at the Upper Dublin
45.

The Barons needed just five plays, scoring on an 11-yard pass
from Simon to Ben Wagner. Manheim Central went into the half
in firm control, up 21-6.

“They settled things down whereas if it’s 14-6, and we’re
getting the ball coming out of the half, it’s a whole
different mindset,” Stover said.

Simon stayed hot in the third quarter, hitting Will Rivers
along the sideline, and then Rivers broke a pair of tackles
and raced out of a crowd, pulling away to a 78-yard score that
widened the gap to 28-6. Central added two field goals to put
the game out of reach.

Upper Dublin’s Mason Novak finds running room as Manheim’s
Isaac Perron goes for the tackle during their PIAA 5A
semifinal on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. (Gene Walsh/Digital First
Media)

But Upper Dublin (12-2) battled late into the fourth, using a
nine-play, 71-yard drive that was capped off by Roselli’s
nifty burst into the end zone.

Said Stover: “These kids held up. They didn’t back down from
anybody.”

Rock was up and about by game’s end, returning to his team on
the sideline.

Special              teams           doom         Upper
Dublin
LOWER GWYNEDD >> Upper Dublin knew it was going to have a
battle on its hands Friday night against a Manheim Central
team loaded with talent on both sides of the ball.

The game became even more difficult when the Cardinals special
teams mistakes started adding up.

Three of Manheim Central’s four touchdowns were set up by
great field position in the 34-12 PIAA Class-5A semifinal at
Wissahickon High School.

The District 3 champion Barons blocked two punts in the first
half and turned the great field position into touchdowns both
times.

“You can’t give them special teams points,” Upper Dublin coach
Bret Stover said. “That’s the bottom line.”

The first came midway through the first quarter. The Cardinals
were punting from their own 24-yard line and the ball was
partially blocked, setting Manheim Central up at the Upper
Dublin 45.

Four plays later it was 7-0.

Early in the second quarter, Upper Dublin lined up to punt it
away from their own 27. This time Manheim’s Tyler Hartl got
all of it. He blocked it back behind punter Chris Barbera and
jumped on it at the six.

Three plays later the Barons made it 14-0.

“It would have been a different game if none of that (stuff)
happened,” Cardinals senior Lucas Roselli said.
Upper Dublin scored its first points with just over two

minutes left in the first half, cutting its deficit to 14-6
and in line to receive the opening kickoff in the second half.

But Manheim returned the ensuing kickoff across midfield to
the Cardinals 45.

A five-play drive resulted in another touchdown and the teams
went into the half, 21-6.

“The kick return was big before halftime,” Stover said,
“because if we can go in 14-6 it’s a whole different mindset,
it’s a whole different game. To their credit they were able to
number one get it to midfield and then they were able to put
it in the end zone. It’s unfortunate, but that’s football.”

Upper Dublin needed a spark to start the second half and
appeared to get it when Roselli returned the opening kick
inside Manheim’s 20-yard line. The momentum was short-lived,
however, because the play was called back for holding and the
ball was spotted way back at Upper Dublin’s 23.

“It was tough,” an emotional Roselli said of seeing his return
get called back.

The hold was one of Upper Dublin’s 10 penalties in the game,
totalling 70 yards. Manheim committed three penalties for 20
yards.

Defense     dominant    as
Archbishop Wood rolls past

Hollidaysburg                     in       PIAA          5A
quarterfinals
HERSHEY >> Archbishop Wood defensive lineman Luke Stengel and
the rest of the defense went into halftime Friday very happy
with how they were playing.

The Vikings defensive unit had every right to be happy, seeing
as it had just held Hollidaysburg to five total yards of
offense in the first half. After the game, the defense was a
little upset it had allowed the Golden Tigers to score but if
it was any solace, that had come long after Wood had made its
point.

A crushing defensive effort led the Vikings to a 38-7 win over
Hollidaysburg in their PIAA 5A quarterfinal game Friday at
Milton Hershey School.

“We knew they had a strong run game, but we have a strong run
defense so we thought it would be a good matchup,” Wood
defensive end Bill Cook said. “Every game, we’re going out
there trying to keep a zero on the board. We haven’t done it
yet, but we’re always looking to shut everyone out and give
our offense that opportunity.”

Archbishop Wood’s Ryan D’Ambra runs upfield as Hollidaysburg’s
Rocco Grassi pursues during their PIAA-5A quarterfinal on
Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)

Things couldn’t have started better for Wood. Hollidaysburg
opted to defer to the second half and kicked off to start the
game, only for Wood safety Ryan DiVergilis return the kick 54
yards. On the first snap of the game, Tom Sanitago ran 40
yards for a touchdown and Wood led 7-0.

“There was a wide open hole, great job by the kick return
team, so I made a move and went out to the sideline with it,”
DiVergilis said.

That was as close as Hollidaysburg would get the rest of the
game. After allowing a nine-yard run on the Tigers’ first
play, the Vikings forced a punt to get the ball back then
scored on a four-yard run by Cardel Pigford.

Wood’s defense then imposed its will on the game. On the
following Hollidaysburg drive, Stengel stuffed a first down

run for no gain, then dropped a runner three yards behind the
line on second down. The Tigers tried a screen pass on third
down, which was completed but the runner dropped immediately
for George Mazzacano for no gain.

“We were a lot faster than them up front, so we kept beating
them off the ball,” Stengel said. “Since the (St. Joe’s) Prep
game, we didn’t play very well that day so we looked at
everything we messed up and having been working to improve
ever since.”

Archbishop Wood’s Sean McHugh zeros in on Hollidaysburg’s
quarterback Brady Walters during their PIAA-5A quarterfinal on
Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)

Hollidaysburg, helped by a couple penalties against Wood, held
on the next drive but even that worked out in the Vikings’
favor when Ryan Woertz downed the punt at the Tigers’ one-yard
line. The defense took the field thinking safety but got maybe
the next best thing.

A host of players including Dylan Urbanowski swarmed to the
ball on a run, jarring it loose with Kevin Otto recovered at
the Hollidaysburg four-yard line.

“That was huge, it just boosted the whole team,” Cook said.
“This was the best week of practice we’ve had so far and we
can just keep getting better.”

Wood got a 25-yard Bob Hennessey field goal off the turnover,
then forced another punt with Colin Murt picking up a third
down sack for a six-yard loss. A good return allowed Santiago
to carry twice, scoring on a three-yard run, to increase the
Vikings lead.

Stengel added to the sack total with a third down stop for a
five-yard loss to end the next Hollidaysburg drive, forcing
yet another punt. The Vikings turned that stop into another
scoring drive, capping it off with a six-yard drive by Leroy
Pendleton.

 FOOTBALL 3:59 Q1: Archbishop Wood 14, Hollidaysburg 0
 Cardel Pigford 4 run pic.twitter.com/gUnezJxKYX

 — Andrew Robinson (@ADRobinson3) November 23, 2018

Aside from causing havoc defensively, Stengel is on Wood’s
offensive line and helped clear paths for the runners all
game. The Vikings lost standout left tackle Connor Bishop to
an ankle injury in the first quarter, but although he sat the
rest of the game, it didn’t slow Wood’s rushing attack.

“We have a very versatile group, we can play anywhere on the
line,” Stengel said. “I feel like Tom and Chris (Blackstone)
played really well, they saw a little hole and just took it.
They made a lot happen down the field.”

The Vikings went into the half up 31-0 and had a 232-5
advantage in total yards of offense. Of course, the defense

wasn’t done.

Hollidaysburg got the opening kick of the second half and had
managed to move the ball for the first time all game, getting
across midfield and then to Wood’s 17. Urbanowski dropped
quarterback Brody Walters for a two-yard loss on second down,
then DiVergilis, an outfielder on Wood’s baseball team,
tracked down a fly ball for an interception.

“I saw his shoulders    turned and just went for it, honestly,”
DiVergilis said. “We    played good, solid defense all around.
Our goal was to get a   shutout, we didn’t get that but we still
played outstanding on   defense.

“We’re communicating more and playing as more of a unit on
defense.”

Archbishop Wood quarterback Max Keller looks to pass during
the Vikings’ PIAA-5A quarterfinal against Hollidaysburg on
Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)

Jack Colyar connected to Jake Ross for a 51-yard touchdown
three plays later and Wood had itself a running clock the rest
of the day.

Santiago finished with 103 rushing yards, Chris Blackstone had
91 on the ground and Pigford chipped in 25 to pace Wood’s
ground attack. Colyar didn’t have huge numbers but completed
5-of-7 passes for 74 yards and a score.

Wood will face West Allegheny or Penn Hills in the semifinals
with the two District 7 schools meeting Friday night.

“We’re always trying to beat down our opponent, we don’t want
them to score,” Stengel said. “Today they did, but we still
feel really good about how we played and in getting a win.”

Delco Football Friday: Turay,
Penn Wood say they’ve learned
from Rustin mistake
LANSDOWNE — Penn Wood’s Aliyoh Turay remembers the pain and
frustration of watching a second-half lead slip away against
West Chester Rustin in September.

The Patriots’ only loss of the year was to the team they’ll
see Saturday at Kerr Field in a District 1 Class 5A semifinal
game. Kickoff is 6 p.m. Originally scheduled for Friday night,
the game was postponed a day due to the worse-than-expected
snowstorm that blasted the region Thursday.

“For me, I’m excited to play them again,” Turay said at
practice Wednesday. “In that first game, it was ours but we
beat ourselves mentally. It’s great to have a second chance to

play them.

“Also, the last time we played them, I pulled my hamstring …
and just tried to play through it. But I knew I couldn’t sit
down and watch. I had to get out there with my team.”

Turay, a talented senior linebacker, was dealing with another
injury that limited his practice time this week. Don’t worry,
he said, because there’s not a chance he’s missing this one.

“Oh, I’ll be playing,” said Turay, who leads the top-seeded
Patriots in total tackles (127) and tackles for loss (six).

Penn Wood’s defense is among the top units in the county.
Dashawn Brickle, with 12 sacks, has been a monster in the
trenches. And the secondary is second to none in Delco, led by
Edmund Dennis and Omar Ba, who have blanketed opposing
receivers all season long.

Rustin had the Patriots’ number in the second half of a
comeback win in September. It was a bitter result, one that
knocked Penn Wood off its tracks. The Patriots (11-1)
rebounded from that defeat, winning every game since. They
captured their second straight Del Val League title and became
the first team in program history to win a district playoff
game.

“For us it’s more about the mental than it is the physical. We
know how good we are, physically, but when you understand
something mentally you become dangerous,” Turay said.
“(Rustin’s) speed on offense is really good … but we refuse to
get blocked by anybody. We know how to recognize plays. One
thing I realize about Rustin is they like to use No. 2
(Michael Covert) a lot with their jet plays, so we’ll be
ready.”

Covert scored four touchdowns (two runs, two catches) in No. 5
Rustin’s 42-6 shellacking of fourth-seeded Academy Park last
week.

“As long as we know their tendencies and all of that, and
everybody knows what they’re doing, we’ll be good,” Turay
said.

The Patriots overcame the initial shock of a 21-0 deficit to
No. 9 Interboro last week. Three touchdown passes to Kennedy
Poles from Desman Johnson Jr. in the third quarter enabled the
Patriots to recover. They came back to score a 44-28 victory.

“That shows a lot about the character of the team. If that
happened in the beginning of the season we would probably be
arguing and start to fall apart,” Johnson said. “In the first
half, we were down but nobody was blaming each other. We came
back out and came together as a team, got the momentum back.
Nobody wanted to go home. We are having the best season ever
at Penn Wood.”

As Johnson noted, the first game with Rustin and last week’s
contest against Interboro are comparable in some ways.

“Similar to the Interboro game. When we heard about Rustin, we
didn’t think they would be a big factor,” Johnson said. “We
had a good lead (against Rustin), then they basically did to
us in the second half what we did to Interboro. We were
winning at halftime, people thought we got this game in the
bag, but they came back out and put up a couple of touchdowns.
They stopped us a couple times and we lost.”

The Patriots feel that Rustin didn’t beat them the first time.
Rather, they beat themselves.

“We had a couple drives in that first half where we were in
the red zone and didn’t finish. In the second half, we lined
up wrong a lot and we lost discipline,” coach Ato Troop said.
“Our two worst halves of football this season were the second
half against Rustin and the first half of last week against
Interboro. We came out last week and we were flat and
Interboro played really well. We fixed some things and were
able to come back. We can’t do the same thing this week.”

Rustin, after all, loves to play possession football as
evidenced by its domination of Academy Park’s defense last
week. The Golden Knights (9-2) held the ball for 36 plays in
the first half.

“We have to come out and be ready to play well all the way
through. The first time against Rustin, we were up two scores
going into halftime and we ended up letting that slip,” Troop
said. “You never want to lose any game, but I think we learned
from it. We were kind of arrogant in that game, but the
players learned.”

Johnson is on the verge of breaking Delaware County’s single-
season passing record. It’s not a matter of if, but when he
will take down Anthony Paoletti of Marple Newtown’s record of
2,793 yards. Johnson (2,771) is 23 yards away from setting the
mark.

Poles has both the county’s single-season and career receiving
records. Penn Wood has made plenty of history in 2018, from a
program and an individual level. None of the records personal
accolades will matter very much to the Patriots if they fail
to extend their season beyond this weekend.

“Even though Kennedy has a couple of records, and I might
break a record soon, it would feel so much better to have a
district and state championship with all of that,” Johnson
said. “That is our main goal as a team.”

In a District 1 Class 6A semifinal Friday:

Garnet Valley            (12-0)         at      Coatesville
(12-0), 7
This is the rematch      a   lot   of   Delco   fans   have   been
anticipating.

The third-seeded Jaguars and No. 2 Red Raiders slugged it out
in the 2017 district final. Avery Young’s pick-six in the

waning minutes of the fourth quarter was the difference in a
35-28 Coatesville win.

Many of Coatesville’s star players from last season’s champion
squad are back and better in 2018. Led by outstanding junior
quarterback Ricky Ortega, the Red Raiders are averaging 46.5
points per game. They scored their fewest points of the season
in last week’s 38-19 trouncing of Downingtown East.

Garnet Valley’s defense, which is led by All-Delco lineman
Cade Brennan (7.5 sacks) and Evan Hrvinak (9.0 sacks), is
capable of limiting Coatesville’s high-powered offense.

Offensively, the Jags will rely on a stellar line headed by
senior Kyle McCullough, senior quarterback Cole Palis, and a
balanced rushing attack that produced 455 yards in a 49-14
thumping of Quakertown in the quarterfinals. Colin Robinson,
Dom LaBricciosa, Dan Bradley and Greg Reynolds have all
thrived in the Jags’ run-heavy system.

The winner plays either No. 4 Downingtown West or top-seeded
North Penn in the district final.

Record-breaker Poles strings
late TD catches to bring Penn
Wood back
YEADON — Five weeks ago Interboro came to Kerr Field and was
overmatched by host Penn Wood. So Saturday’s rematch in the
District 1 Class 5A quarterfinal round, the Patriots assumed,
would be an uneventful sequel.

At first, they were wrong.

Penn Wood, however, had a second half to correct its mistake.
When it ended, it was 44-28 in favor of the hosts, with all 44
of those points coming unanswered after Interboro jumped out
to a stunning 21-0 lead.

The top-seeded Patriots, now 11-1, continue their historic
season and advance to the district semifinals next week to
face No. 5 West Chester Rustin.

“We did kind of underestimate them a little bit because the
first time we blew them out,” said wideout Kennedy Poles, who
broke Delaware County’s single-season receiving yards record
in this contest. “We came in slacking. That’s why they gave us
their best (in the) first half. We had to make changes … we
rock ‘n’ rolled.”

Ninth-seeded Interboro (6-6), 50-29 losers to the Patriots
back on Oct. 5, jumped out to a surprising three-touchdown
lead in the first half behind the stout legs of tailback Mike
Moore and a brilliant defensive scheme. Penn Wood was beyond
frustrated.

After Moore’s third touchdown, the Patriots finally had a
breakthrough via, what else, the Desman Johnson Jr.-to-Poles
connection. Their 20-yard touchdown late in the first half
gave the Patriots life. They went into halftime with momentum.
Words were shared in the locker room.

“Lot of arguing in the first half,” Johnson said. “We were
just arguing, weren’t on the same page. Had a big talk at
halftime, stepped up our game.”

It started, luckily enough, with lineman Keivon Stevens
recovering Johnson’s fumble in the end zone. The Patriots QB
followed that near gaffe in short order by hitting Anauri
Hankey down the sideline for a 55-yard score. Penn Wood was
down by a mere point.

The defense was shutting down Interboro’s tricky Power-I and

the offense was revving up. In the fourth quarter, it became
the Poles show. He caught three touchdowns then from 57, 55
and eight yards to flip the game.

 Why not? Poles catches his third TD of the quarter. Penn Wood
 is going to win. This is now 38 straight points. Patriots up
 38-21    on   Interboro,      434   left    #Delcofootball
 pic.twitter.com/RCVPQgfNjO

 — Todd Orodenker (@ToddO243) November 11, 2018

The first was a bomb down the middle of the field. The second,
he displayed his wheels by catching a short pass and racing
diagonally to the opposite pylon. The third was a simple jump
ball the 6-foot-2 receiver high-pointed. In all, Poles had
nine receptions and 207 yards and vaulted past Josh Hannum’s
1,266-yard mark, set in 2000 for Strath Haven. He now has
1,307 yards this season.

“If I’m full and I know my teammates are going to back me up,
we got the best receiving core in the state, best quarterback
in the state,” Poles said. “That’s how it should go every
game, everybody eating.”

Johnson threw for 349 yards (he’s now 14 yards shy of Marple
Newtwon’s Anthony Paoletti’s single-season record of 2,793
yards in 2016), added 59 on the ground, and had six total
touchdowns. Elijah Gleplay had 152 rushing yards. Penn Wood
totaled 561 yards. Most of it came after halftime.

“It just shows the kind of character they have,” coach Ako
Troop said. “Contrary to belief, I don’t go in and yell at
them at halftime. We talked, I calmed them down, we coached
them up and we played football.”

 FINAL SCORE Penn Wood 44, Interboro 28. Historic season just
 keeps getting better for the Patriots. They are 11-1 and are
 heading to the district semis/state tourney. Rustin next.

#Delcofootball pic.twitter.com/BlUKdZ20WG

 — Todd Orodenker (@ToddO243) November 11, 2018

So now Penn Wood will ready for Rustin, the only team to beat
them this season. The 43-28 setback was in September. This one
will be at home. A lot has changed since then and a lot has
changed overall at Penn Wood. The program is 26-8 the past
three seasons. It was 5-48 the previous five.

Now, the Patriots have playoffs wins, league titles and are
hosting a district semifinal. This was thought to be
impossible, but expectations have changed in 2018.

“I can’t describe in words what it means, just what it means,
just for the players here, for the alumni that come and watch
us, so proud,” Troop said. “People in the community, the pride
it brings. Even when the little league kids come and watch,
now they (say) ‘I can’t wait to come to Penn Wood.’ It just
fills that pride and is going to continue to grow. It’s
uncharted territory.”

Interboro, which will now ready for its traditional
Thanksgiving game with Ridley, got 152 rushing yards from
Moore before he succumbed to injury. He had touchdowns of 22,
five and five yards in that first half.

“They’re explosive, we know they’re explosive,” Interboro
coach Steve Lennox said. “The second half we couldn’t keep it
going there, unfortunately. They made some plays and obviously
we didn’t make the plays in the second half.”

Garnet Valley defense ‘fills
holes,’ shuts down Quakertown
CONCORD — Nick Gabos and Danny Bradley each tried to avoid
taking credit for a pass break-up in the second half of Garnet
Valley’s District 1 Class 6A quarterfinal game against
Quakertown.

“It definitely wasn’t me,” said Gabos, pointing to his
teammate. “It was Bradley.”

Bradley smiled and nodded in affirmation, then said, “Let’s
just say it was a team effort.”

That is the Garnet Valley way. That is oneness.

Doing things well on an individual basis pales in comparison
to winning as a team.

 . @GarnetValleyFB defense with a huge stop on 4th and goal.

 35-14 GV 5:00 3Q #Delcofootball pic.twitter.com/mfhVUvutPR

 — Matt Smith (@DTMattSmith) November 10, 2018

Bradley’s tip in the end zone on fourth down halted a
Quakertown drive at the 2-yard line. Quakertown had four shots
at it, too.

That one play encapsulated third-seeded Garnet Valley’s
defensive resurgence following a shaky start. Bradley and
Gabos were partially responsible, but so were linemen Adam
Oldrati, Cade Brennan, Alex Westburg and many others.

After allowing 11th-seeded Quakertown to score touchdowns on
its first two possessions, Garnet Valley’s ever-improving
defense put the clamps down. The Jaguars scored 35 unanswered

points en route to a 49-14 shellacking, the second straight
week they’ve won by that result.

“We just fixed our scheme and adjusted on the line,” Bradley
said, “and we were able to fill the holes.”

It was the type of effort that coach Mike Ricci has come to
expect. Even when things aren’t going well in the early going,
Ricci trusts that his veterans on defense will right the ship.

“We have such great leadership from our seniors,” Ricci said.
“There was never a doubt that they were going to get it
straightened out. In fact, they told Coach Al (Jeff Allison),
our defensive coordinator, ‘Coach, don’t worry about this. We
know what we’ve got to do.’ When leadership comes from the
team, like these guys do, it makes the job as coaches easy.”

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST
MEDIA
Quakertown quarterback Brad
Bryan, center, gets a pass
off ahead of hard-charging
Jaguar Cade Brennan, right,
in the third quarter Friday
night at Garnet Valley. The
Jaguars advanced to the
Class 6A district semifinals

via a 49-14 victory.

At one point in the second quarter, a Garnet Valley defensive
player implored his teammates to be better. This happened
after Garnet Valley marched in for its second touchdown. It
was clear Quakertown had no answer for Garnet’s high-octane
offense, so it was up to the defense to wake up and start
playing like it was supposed to.

“Quakertown is very disciplined and physical. I like their
quarterback and a lot of their skill guys hit the hole fast.
They came out and did exactly what we were afraid they would
be able to do early on,” Ricci said. “We had a couple of
misreads and a couple guys … who were not fundamentally sound.
Our coaches got on them about it and I love that they
responded.

“They competed, their teammates picked them up. That’s not
easy to do mid-game.”

After halftime, the Jags forced a pair of turnovers on downs
and Gabos intercepted quarterback Brad Bryan, whose ability to
extend plays with his feet gave the Jags’ defense issues in
the first half.

“Once we adjusted and we learned what they’re capable of, we
kind of came together and played as a team,” Gabos said.

Bryan (11-for-19, 110 yards) ran for 32 yards, including 35 in
the first half. GV’s defensive front swallowed him up behind
the line of scrimmage three times in the second half.

“It was just a great effort by everyone,” Gabos said.

When the second quarter ended, Quakertown (9-3) found itself
trailing by three touchdowns. Bryan was sacked by Brennan on
the final play of the half. Suddenly, the Panthers were out of
their element against a superior Jags team determined to get
back to the District 1 6A semifinals for the third year in a

row.

“They made adjustments,” Bryan said. “They were stacking the
box a lot. They were fast, off the ball, their D-linemen were
all just really fast.”

Quakertown’s top ball carrier, Christian Patrick,      had 82 of
his 91 yards in the first half.

“We knew we could start shutting them down,” Gabos said. “They
have good athletes, but we made the right adjustments and
started playing really well.”

Because Garnet Valley has so much depth, it’s unusual to see
many two-way players. Bradley, then, is a rarity. He not only
excelled in the defensive secondary but also flourished in the
backfield, one of a half-dozen guys who can take handoffs and
bust loose for the end zone on any given play. Bradley was one
of four rushers to amass at least 70 yards on the ground,
racking up a game-high 149 yards and two touchdowns.

The Jags totaled 519 yards of offense, including 455 on the
ground. That facet of the game was brilliant. If the defense
hadn’t figured things out, the “O” was locked and loaded,
prepared for a shootout.

That wasn’t going to be a problem.

“When they came out in the first quarter and scored right
away, we stuck together,” Bradley said. “Our D-line gets
everything going, just like every other game. Once they got
going, we picked it up in the secondary and just balled out.”

Next week that same defense is going to get its biggest test
of the year, a rematch of last season’s district final with
second-seeded juggernaut Coatesville.

Garnet Valley line enables
Reynolds and Co. to rap
Quakertown
CONCORD — One of Garnet Valley’s defining traits as a program
over the past decade or so is the Jaguars’ ability to wear
down even the most fit of opponents.

Friday night at Moe DeFrank Stadium, Garnet Valley looked a
very competitive Quakertown squad right in the eye and
proceeded to impose its will. Behind a mauling offensive line
and persistent rushing attack, the Jaguars bashed the Panthers
49-14.

“We knew Quakertown was going to come out and play with a lot
of confidence,” Jaguars coach Mike Ricci said. “They’re
disciplined; I really liked their offense, their quarterback,
and what they do. We had a couple of things that we needed to
get cleaned up on defense, but we have really been executing
our offense at a high level. Of course, that starts up front,
but the quarterbacks have to make their reads and Cole (Palis)
does such a good job of that.

“The kids play with such a passion and such a togetherness.
That first half was as well as we have executed all year.”

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST
MEDIA
Garnet Valley linemen, Kyle
McCullough (72) and Lance
Schwartz (62) congratulate
Jaguars running back Greg
Reynolds (31) after he
scored a touchdown in the
first     half     against
Quakertown in a District 1
Class 6A quarterfinal game
Friday night at Garnet
Valley.

Garnet Valley’s offensive precision was, indeed, near flawless
on the night. Aside from one punt and one lost fumble, the
Jaguars were sensational. The teams traded scores early to
make it 14-14 as Dan Bradley (149 yards) and Greg Reynolds
(110 yards) each had scoring runs for the Jaguars, while the
Panthers were paced by a scoring pass from quarterback Brad
Bryan to Tim Garlick and also an 11-yard scoring run by Bryan.

“Our mentality was just sticking together, being one and being
a family,” Reynolds said. “When they scored, we got right back
on the field and did our job and put points on the board.”

At that point, Garnet Valley’s defense began to buckle down a

bit, while the Jaguars’ offense was just hitting its stride.

“We noticed that a lot of their players were going both ways,
so we knew there would be a point where they would get tired
and where we would be able to physically dominate them,”
Garnet Valley offensive lineman George Wiesendanger said.
“When it was 14-14, we were also able to dominate them because
we stuck together. We knew our defense struggled a little at
the beginning, but we stuck by their side and they stuck by
our side.”

After his 55-yard scoring run earlier in the half, Reynolds
added a 17-yard touchdown jaunt, while Colin Robinson (75
yards) and Bradley each had additional scoring runs. The
Jaguars’ backfield was electric.

“Greg is a really fast back and he’s a really hard worker,”
Ricci said. “We’ve been rotating four backs with Robinson,
Bradley, Reynolds, and (Dominic) LaBriccioso all year, and
with our offense you never know who’s going to get the ball.
It really just depends on what the defense gives us. Greg just
works really hard. He’s only a junior who is going to be a
really good back and you could see his speed tonight.”

Mixed in-between those touchdowns were a plethora of big
plays. Cole Palis hooked up with Adam Oldrati for a 64-yard
pass, while Bradley had a 60-yard run. LaBriccioso also played
a part in the victory with 70 yards rushing. It was a
thoroughly dominant offensive performance from the Jaguars.

Dan Bradley breaks a 61 yard
                                 run for Garnet Valley in the
                                 first     half      against
                                 Quakertown.

“When you have linemen like Jake Colelli and Kyle McCullough
and they’re making great holes for us, we can put any back in
there and they’ll get yardage every single play just because
we have such a good line,” Reynolds said. “(Quakertown) had a
very explosive and strong d-line, but the only things we were
focused on were Cole making the right reads and our line
blocking the right guys, so our backs could get yardage.”

Despite the lopsided final score, Quakertown (9-3) was no
slouch. The Panthers had quality athletes at the skill
positions and across the offensive line, led by Bryan, running
back Christian Patrick and wideouts Tim Garlick and Tyler
Merwarth. Bryan threw for 110 yards and ran for another 32
yards, while Patrick accumulated 92 yards on 19 carries to
pace the Quakertown attack.

“Defensively, we were making a couple of mistakes; we were
over-pursuing, we were getting too far upfield a little bit,
we weren’t making clean reads in a couple spots,” said Ricci,
whose team improved to 12-0. “As I told the kids after the
game in the huddle, I was really impressed with the guys who
the coaches got on; they responded, they competed, and they

didn’t sulk. The other kids picked them up and I was really
proud of the way they responded.”

The Panthers, like so many others, tried to trade haymakers
with the deep, talented, and speedy Jaguars. Like so many
other teams, ultimately they could not keep up.

“We knew they were an all-around great team and we kind of
stuck to our own game plan and pounded them with the run,”
Bryan said. “We were going to throw a couple and it was
working good for the first quarter. They have a lot a lot of
depth, so they kind of wore us down.”

North Penn’s defense pours it
on, clinches District 1-6A
quarterfinal     win     over
Neshaminy
LOWER GWYNEDD >> North Penn’s Evan Spann “found the curl,” and
his 30-yard interception return for a touchdown locked down a
rain-swept, 13-6 victory over Neshaminy in the quarterfinal
round of the District 1-6A Playoffs Friday night.

“We were telling Evan all week, ‘find the curl, find the
curl,” Knights coach Dick Beck said, “and finally he found the
curl. And (quarterback Brody McAndrew) threw it a little late
and Evan got the pick six.”

The top-seeded Knights (12-0) go thundering into the
semifinals to take on Downingtown West next week at Crawford
Stadium. No. 8 Neshaminy, its season bookended by close losses

to North Penn, finished its season 8-4.

“Credit North Penn for a really good pass rush,” Skins coach
Steve Wilmot said, “and they were covering us pretty well
too.”

North Penn’s Shamar Edwards gains yardage during the Knights’
District 1-6A quarterfinal game against Neshaminy on Friday,
Nov. 9, 2018. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)

It was an evening in which Neshaminy running back Chris James
gained 139 yards on the ground — 107 in the first half alone —
but North Penn’s defense refused to cede precious points.

Even without the services of standout linebacker           Erik
Laughlin, NP’s leader in tackles, the Knights persisted.

“We knew we were gonna start off a little weak because

Laughlin got hurt in pregame warmups,” Spann said. “So the
next man had to step up and we kept fighting, didn’t give up.”

And that next man was Julian White.

Said Beck: “Julian has never played that position before, and
we just put him in and said ‘make plays.’ I’m just so proud of
the kids. It’s a great group.”

“We don’t stop fighting until we get what we needed done,”
Spann said. “It feels great (to advance). I’m excited.”

Neshaminy’s Chris James runs the sideline during the Redskins’
District 1-6A quarterfinal game against North Penn on Friday,
Nov. 9, 2018. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)

James’ first three carries went for 19, 11 and 22 yards on the
drenched Wissahickon turf, helping to drive Neshaminy to the
North Penn four.

But ultimately, the Knights would force a field-goal attempt,
which sailed wide, keeping the game scoreless. Neshaminy drove
to the North Penn 22 on its next series but this time turned
it over on downs.

McAndrew was under siege.

“Their pass rush was very good,” Wilmot said. “They were kind
of keeping Brody on his toes back there and he really wasn’t
able to set his feet and throw the ball.”

Behind the running of James, the Skins again mounted a drive
late in the first quarter, cashing in with a four-yard
touchdown run by Oleh Manzvk. The extra point was blocked by
the Knights.

North Penn’s Jon Haynes is tackled by Neshaminy’s Oleh Manzyk
during their District 1-6A quarterfinal game on Friday, Nov.
9, 2018. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)

North Penn answered in the second quarter, an eight-yard TD
run by quarterback Solomon Robinson pushing NP ahead 7-6.

There it stayed for most of the rainy evening. Neshaminy drove
to the North Penn 16 in the third quarter but again the North
Penn defense held, forcing a turnover on downs.

“(James) is a real talented kid and things were clicking with
the run game,” Wilmot said. “(North Penn) came out with a
five-man front against the pass and we were having a tough
time blocking them.”

The Knights had a chance to extend their lead with three

minutes left but weren’t able to get off a field-goal attempt
on a broken play.

Neshaminy’s final two possessions ended with interceptions,
the second by Kaleem Corbin in the final moments.

“Two great programs. North Penn did a great job and I
congratulate them on moving on,” said Manzvk, a Skins senior.
“Our offensive line did a great job early and (North Penn)
caught up to what we were doing, like a great team does, and
they countered.”

Neshaminy’s Oleh Manzyk runs into the end zone for a touchdown
during the Redskins’ District 1-6A quarterfinal game against
North Penn on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. (Gene Walsh/Digital First
Media)

It would be a night of missed opportunities for Neshaminy, and
one giant opportunity seized by Spann and the North Penn
defense.

“I saw an open lane and I just ran, as fast as I could,” Spann
said of his mindset once he clutched the game-sealing
interception.

“I thought our secondary,” Beck said, “against a heck of a
quarterback, really had a good night.”

Spragues’ brotherly                               bonds
keep O’Hara going
MARPLE — Luke and Cole Sprague have been tossing a football to
each other for as long as they can remember.

“It goes way back,” Luke said. “Flag football at Springfield
Youth Club.”

They have played sports together pretty much their entire
lives. They thrived in CYO at St. Francis in Springfield and
eventually became teammates at Cardinal O’Hara.

“It’s been great playing with him in high school,” said Luke,
the Lions’ senior quarterback. “Can’t ask for anything
better.”

Cole is a junior wide receiver and defensive back. They admit
that there isn’t much of a brotherly rivalry. It’s all pretty
normal. They enjoy the opportunity they have to play football
and baseball at O’Hara.

“It’s been awesome,” Cole said. “The first football I ever

caught was from my brother.”

Their time on the gridiron is winding down. O’Hara hosts
Archbishop Carroll Saturday in the Catholic League Class 4A
final. The winner will play either Imhotep Charter or Bartram
for the District 12 championship next week. The loser goes
home for the season.

“I want to be playing in high school for as long as I possible
can,” said Luke, who has thrown for 791 yards and seven
touchdowns. “Our first goal is to win this week and then to
win out, to keep going as far as we can.”

Cole has caught eight passes from his brother for 80 yards and
a touchdown. He’s done a lot of damage in the defensive
secondary as he is among the Delco leaders in interceptions
with five. Thanks in part to Cole’s performance, the Lions
defense is allowing only 12.5 points per game.

“It’s all because of the coaching,” Cole said. “Just a lot of
hard work and great coaching.”

The Sprague boys are the ideal Cardinal O’Hara student-
athletes. Coach B.J. Hogan praised them for their talent,
dedication and leadership qualities.

“They’re two kids that you want to have in your program,”
Hogan said. “The family is awesome, they’re your typical
O’Hara family. They’re good athletes, they’re tough kids and
they’re program kids.”

Luke became the starting quarterback midway through his junior
year and hasn’t looked back.

“He’s a quiet kid, but he’s real sharp,” Hogan said. “He
didn’t play his sophomore year, then came back and is really
only about 12 games into his football career. I wish he would
have played his sophomore year because who knows how good he
can be.”

Luke has emerged as the captain of an offense that has been
dependent on solid run-blocking. When called upon, though,
Luke can make a difference with his arm. He has completed 55.5
percent of his throws.

“He saves us so much on offense,” Hogan said. “We give him a
lot of freedom at the line of scrimmage to get us in and out
of plays. I haven’t seen too many kids at the high school
level who can get you in the right plays.”

With injuries to leading rushers Keed Kpoto and Quasir
Cottman, Luke Sprague might have the opportunity to air the
ball out against Carroll (5-5). In the teams’ regular season
meeting, O’Hara (6-3) earned a 21-7 victory.

Cole Sprague could fill in for his brother under center, if
the situation called for it. Before making the transition to
wide receiver, Cole was a quarterback his sophomore year.

“He’s a big-bodied kid. Every time I see him I swear he’s
getting bigger and bigger,” Hogan said. ”He has made some big
catches and defensively he has a bunch of picks. He’s done
some really good things. We’ve still got to bring him along,
because he hasn’t played a ton of defense in his career … but
he does a lot and makes some pretty big plays.”

The Spragues are due for a pass-and-catch connection Saturday
night.

“I think there are certain things Luke knows that I can do,”
Cole said with a smile. “He knows to look for me, that I’ll be
open.”