WHITEMARSH: With a rematch only a week away in the Semifinals of the Philadelphia Catholic League AAAA division one couldn’t help but to wonder what to expect when the Lions of Cardinal O’Hara and the Explorers of LaSalle met up on Saturday afternoon at Plymouth Whitemarsh. One certainly couldn’t expect the high power attack of LaSalle to jump out to an 21-0 lead on the defense of O’Hara who entered the game with one of the top defense in all of the Catholic but that’s exactly what happened has Explorers celebrated their Senior day with a 24-14 victory.
The first play from scrimmage the Explorers set the tone with a draw play to Tim Wade that went for 25 yards and put the Explorers at the Lions 35 yard line. Five plays the dangerous quarterback/ receiver combination of Drew Loughery and Sam Feleccia would strike from 13 yards out giving the Explorers the 7-0 lead.
After the Explorers forced the Lions to punt, the Explorers were given excellent field position thanks to 34-yard punt return that set them up at Lions 29 yard line. After two Loughery to Feleccia completions that went for 15 and 13 yards respectfully, Loughery put the Explorers up by 14 with his one-yard sneak.
The Explorers would extend their lead to 21 thanks to a seven play 77 yard drive with help of a 43 yard scamper by Wade that put the Explorers at the Lions 20 yard line. Four plays later Loughery would connected with his tight end Steve Jones for the 9 yard score on the last play of the opening 12 minutes. In the opening, frame the Explorers racked up 167 yards of total offense. In the opening half Loughery would go 13 for 19 for 177 yards and would finish 13-22 177. Feleccia would be the target for six of those completions and turned them into 101 yards. When asked about how important the first quarter was Loughery responded, “ It proved to be very important everyone came out fresh it was so critical.” Feleccia would add “after the first quarter the offense died down but the defense kept it up.”
The Lions would respond on the second play of the second quarter when with the help of pulling guard Kardell Pressley who allowed the Lions playmaker in Ohio State bound Corey Brown race for the 73 yard score that cut the Explorers lead down to 21-7 heading into the half.
On the opening, drive of the second half the Lions QB Ryan Laughlin would be intercepted by Vinny Migliaresse that would lead to the Explorers adding to their lead with a 24-yard field goal by Mike Bennett.
Brown would cut into the Explorers lead when he capped a eight play 57 yard drive with his 15 yard plunge. Brown would finish the game with 166 yards on 20 carries.
The Lions and Explorers won’t have to wait long to get another crack at each as they will see each other in 2-3 match up this week.
