NEWTOWN SQ: Heading into Sunday’s afternoon Philadelphia Catholic League AAAA division game against the visiting Archbishop Ryan Raiders it could had been understandable if the Cardinal O’Hara Lions offensively struggled after all they were forced play to without one of the biggest threats in the state in senior RB Corey Brown who was sideline with an injury. However even without the services of Brown, the Lions had no problem dispatching the Raiders 56-0 at Marple Newtown’s Harry R. Harvey Field. The main reason was the play of Jr. Adam Dempsey and Sr. Dan O’Hara after all the duo did was rack up a combine 254 yards rushing on just 19 carries. “We got good backs in Adam (Dempsey), Danny (O’Hara), Corey (Brown), you can throw in Demiere Shaw, Major Everett, Tom Familetti we are really fortunate to have good depth at running back.” Is what Cardinal O’Hara Head Coach Dan Algeo would say when asked about the depth of his backfield.
After both teams traded three and outs on their opening possessions Dempsey would get the Lions on board when he found a hole in the Raiders defense and off to the races he went racing for the 69 yard score.
On the ensuing kickoff the Lions attempted an onsides kick and it paid off as Major Everett would recover it at Ryan 49 yard line. The onsides kick would set up seven play 49 yard drive that ended when Ryan Laughlin looked to his back and hit O’Hara out on a swing pattern for a the 14 yard touchdown giving the Lions the 14-0 lead in the first quarter. D O’Hara would finish the game with three catches for 40 yards and seven carries for 67 yards.
Two possessions later, the Lions would attack again, and again it was Dempsey this time from 12 yards out. Dempsey would add a four plunge right before half giving the Lions the 28-0 lead heading into the locker room.
A 60 yard kickoff return by Familetti on the opening kickoff of the second half would put the Lions in position to invoke the mercy rule and on the very next play Dempsey would give the Lions the 35-0 lead with his 45 yard touchdown in which he showed off his speed. Dempsey would finish the game with 187 yards on just 12 carries. After the game, Dempsey was quick to give his blocking all the credit saying “the win was good, I definitely got to hand to the blocking if it wasn’t for the receivers, line blocking I wouldn’t been able to done what I done.”
On the next Lions drive the Lions let their bench get some work and showed no drop off as they drove 64 yards on nine plays before Sr. Major Everett powered his way in from three yards out.
On the ensuing drive Demiere Shaw would intercept Dillion Cave and returned it 49 yards for the touchdown. Famieltti would cap the scoring as he raced 40 yards. When it was all set and done the Lions racked up 387 yards on 37 carries.
With the win, the Lions improve to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in Catholic League play. Up next is a showdown with the traditional powerhouse of the Philadelphia Catholic League St. Joseph Prep Hawks will enter the contest undefeated in league play. Kickoff is set for 7 pm Saturday night at Plymouth Whitemarsh High school. The Raiders (0-6,0-3) will look to get on a win when they play the Cahillites of Roman Catholic.
