Special Coverage: Overbrook Chargers outmuscle South Philadelphia Ravens, 14-0

Papa Playground, West Philadelphia - The general feeling was that the Overbrook Chargers, the defending Delaware Valley Independence Football League champions, were just not themselves. A tough 1-2 start combined with the turmoil from health problems of their head coach Terry Henderson had the naysayers and critics ready to pounce. But if there was one kind of game that could not only give the team something to build on, but also keep the critics at bay, was a smashmouth victory over a first place team, and that's what happened Sunday afternoon as the Chargers defeated the South Philadelphia Ravens (now 2-2) 14-0.

The two teams slugged it out in the first quarter; neither team was able to get the upperhand over the other. It seemed that the Ravens had struck first after a long touchdown pass in the secound quarter. A penalty, however, erased the touchdown and seemed to take a lot of air out of the Ravens and their fans in attendance.

The Chargers got on the board in the first half after a 1 yard keeper by quarterback Reggie Manly. The extra point attempt failed, keeping the score 6-0. The Chargers had another chance to score before halftime but a fumble forced and recovered by the Ravens near the goal line ended that drive.

The second half was just as hard hitting as the first, and the fans in attendance became louder with each play. Reggie Manly started to take over with scrambles to the left and right, and added to the Chargers lead with a great run that saw him break a couple of tackles before getting into the end zone.

The Ravens were unable to do much on offense afterwards, and a safety in the fourth quarter (Akins was unable to handle a low snap) put the finishing touches on the scoring, making it a 14-0 game.

As time ran out in the game, one Overbrook Charger yelled at the Ravens sideline, "We're back!" Whether that is true or not remains to be seen, but in a long season where one game can turn around everything, the Chargers may have gotten the type of grind-it-out victory that can lead to a great things. Only time will tell.

QB Reggie Manly (#12) was the star of the show, scoring two running touchdowns to lead the Chargers to a 14-0 victory over the South Philadelphia Ravens.

Digitex-U Player of the Game: Jim McGoldrick from St. Joe's Prep

A punt return for a touchdown. A kick return for a touchdown. An interception. All in the first game back from a serious face injury. We think that such a 1-game resume more than earns St. Joe's Prep SR. HB/DB Jim McGoldrick Digitex-U Player of the Game honors, wouldn't you agree?

After the game we caught up with McGoldrick.

Video Highlights of Lasalle vs. St. Joe's Prep

St. Joe's Prep gets revenge on Lasalle, 48-7

Plymouth Meeting, PA - It was just a little less than a year ago when the Lasalle Explorers shocked the St. Joe's Prep Hawks and won the Catholic League Red championship. Last Saturday night's game between the two rivals, however, made that championship game seem like it happened many moons ago.

Behind proficient play on offense, and hard-hitting and aggressive play on defense, St. Joe's Prep made a statement to the tough Red division with a 48-7 victory over defending champion Lasalle.


The Prep got the ball rolling early with a short touchdown pass in the red zone from QB Aaron Haas to WR Tim Edger on a beautifully executed slant play; a play very similar to the one West Catholic executed on Lasalle just last week. The game looked like it would get ugly quickly when senior Jim McGoldrick returned a punt from 57 yards out for score in a game that marked his return from physical injury.


Lasalle stayed in the game with a drive full of good breaks; Punter Mike Donahoe ran 23 yards for a first down on a punt after a low snap, and then RB Sam Feleccia caught a 31 yarder that was batted in the air. The Explorers eventually scored on a 2 yard touchdown pass from John Harrison to WR Joe Migliarese. Unfortunately for the Explorers, this touchdown was quickly countered by another special teams return by McGoldrick, this time on the ensuing kickoff, going for 87 yards.


It was all Hawks from this point forward, as Haas tossed two more touchdowns to Edger, and the defense sacked Harrison 8 times and picked him off twice, one by McGoldrick and the other by DB Greg Castillo off of a tipped pass. A late score by RB Michael Yeager from 6 yards put the finishing touches on the 48-7 game.


St. Joe's Prep improves to 2-2 and go on to face 4-0 Father Judge in a huge matchup next week, and the now 1-3 Explorers look to end their three game losing streak against 2-2 Archibishop Ryan.

Highlights

The Prep gave everyone in the Catholic League Red notice that they will be tough to beat this year in an impressive 48-7 victory over the Explorers

Video Highlights from West Catholic/Lasalle

Video Highlights from Friday night's game with play-by-play by Marcus Wright

Digitex-U Sports Player of the Game: Rob Holloman of West Catholic

INTERVIEW VIDEO IS NOW UP!


Versatility is the name of the game here, as an excellent game on the ground (16 carries, 71 yards), recieving (3 catches, 82 yards, 1TD), and even on special teams returning kicks earned West Catholic Jr. RB Rob Holloman Digitex-U Player of the Game honors, as he helped West Catholic hang on for a hard fought 24-14 victory over Lasalle Friday night. In addition to being on the recieving end of perhaps the play of the game (a 56 yard touchdown pass from Curtis Drake where Holloman persevered through a bump before he caught the ball, stayed on his feet despite several Lasalle players looking like they had him, and scurried to the end zone). A great all around game for Holloman where Player of the Game honors were well deserved.



(Error correction: We originally had Holloman as grabbing the game-sealing interception, but it was actually #82 Haleem Hayward)

After the game, we caught up with Holloman. We have the video of the interview posted below. We also have the audio link (mp3 file) below that.

Holloman Postgame Interview (only the audio)

West Catholic holds on against Lasalle, 24-14

Note: (Article has now been updated with official yardage and stats).

Springfield Township High School, Erdenheim, PA - The Catholic League Red and Catholic League Blue are all about pride, and there was plenty of it on the field Friday night as the defending Blue Division Champ West Catholic hung on to defeat the defending Red Division champ Lasalle, 24-14.

Jr. QB Curtis Drake, Jr. RB Rob Holloman and fellow Jr. RB Raymond Maples were all key players for the Burrs, as their ground game carried the way. Curtis Drake, the athletic and elusive quarterback that he is, was a problem for the Explorer defense the entire game due to his speed. He ran in what turned out to be the game deciding 3-yard touchdown at the 2:28 mark of the 4th quarter, but he also contributed with his arm for two of the other West Catholic touchdowns. One passing TD was a 26-yard beautiful snare of a pass to Sr. TE Pre'Andre Watson at the 6:24 mark of the second quarter on a crossing route that for a second looked like it would be intercepted. His other TD, which came at the 4:12 mark of the third quarter, was a long pass from near-midfield to Rob Holloman, who not only made the catch, but impressively brushed off interference, escaped tackles and scampered another 20 yards to finish the touchdown play (altogether 56 yards).

Speaking of Holloman, he had another great all-around night, as he could be seen everywhere from returning kicks, to making clutch runs, dragging defenders along, to that great TD catch. The other member of the key trio, Maples, was the one who got the ball rolling for West Catholic by scoring the first TD of the game at the 3:24 mark of the first quarter with a run from 3 yards out.

Lasalle had trouble in the first half getting a flow going; Sophomore RB Sam Feleccia, who has been having a good year, fumbled on Lasalle's first drive and then fumbled again later that half. SR QB John Harrison was throwing with a good sense of steadiness, but a few of his passes were dropped early in what would be a recuring trend throughout the game.

This slow start allowed West Catholic to jump to a 12-0 lead (from Maple's touchdown and then Watson's) and hold on to that going in to halftime. But Lasalle, as all well-coached teams do, came out of the gate in the second half inspired, and got on the board when Sr. TE Ryan Warrender caught a beautifully thrown 13 yard pass from Harrison for a TD at the 6:54 mark in the third quarter, making it 12-7. After West Catholic answered with Holloman's spectacular touchdown to make it 18-7, Lasalle sruck back at the 2:08 mark of the third with a 50 yard TD pass from Harrison to Sr. WR Joe Migliarese to make it 18-14. But the comeback dreams were cut short by a great ball control drive by West Catholic in the fourth quarer that led to Drake's game clinching touchdown. A final attempt at a comeback by Lasalle ended with an interception by Jr. WR/DB Haleem Hayward at the 1:32 mark of the 4th quarter.

So West not only got to win this battle of champion vs. champion, but also avenged their 42-34 loss to Lasalle last year. West moves on to face Bishop McDevitt next week, and Lasalle, in a game in which many people refer to as their biggest game of the year, face St. Joe's Prep.

*Error correction: We had originally credited Rob Holloman for the game ending interception, but it was actually Haleem Hayward who got the pick*

The Burrs of West Catholic hung in a gritty matchup between champion vs. champion and avenged last years 42-34 loss to Lasalle