PHILADELPHIA: The last time the Cardinal O’Hara Lions and the Father Judge Crusaders met at Charles Martin Memorial Stadium it was the Crusaders who ended Lions season with a 30-14 victory behind the rushing efforts of Curt Wortham who broke school by rushing for 294 yards but that was last year and on Thursday night the Lions got their revenge thanks to their star Running Back Corey Brown. All Brown did was rack up 305 yards of total offense as the Lions routed the Crusaders 49-10.
The Lions would attack first on their second drive of the game when they drove 81 yards on seven plays before Jr. QB Ryan Laughlin connected with Brown for the 39 yard score. On the drive Brown accounted for 60 of the yards needed to give the Lions the 7-0 lead.
The Lions next score would come following Tony Smith being intercepted by Andrew Oniumus who returned the ball to the Crusader 31. On the ensuing play Laughlin would again connect with Brown for the 31 yard score giving the Lions the 14-0 lead.
The Crusaders would respond thanks the legs of Wortham when he capped a two play 75 yard drive with his 26 yard scamper. Wortham would finish the day with 18 carries for only 60 yards
The Crusaders would cut the Lions lead down to just four on their next possession when Owen Radtke would cap a 10 play drive with his 26 yard field goal.
The Lions would add to their lead on their final series of the first half when their bulldozer FB Dan O’Hara powered his way in from two yards out that capped five 71 yard drive that included a 33 yard scamper by Brown on the first play of the drive. O’Hara’s score gave the Lions the 21-10 heading into the half.
The Lions wasted little time adding to their lead in the second half as on the first play from scrimmage the ever dangerous Brown found space in the Crusaders defense and it was off to the races he went racing 72 yards for the score.
On the next Lion drive Jr. Adam Dempsey found some space in defense and he too was off to the races this score covered 50 yards and gave the Lions the 35-10 lead.
On the ensuing Lions drive the Laughlin-Brown connection would strike again this time it was 56 yards out that capped a two play 62 yard drive. Brown would finish the game with 5 catches for 148 yards to go with his 11 carries for 158 yards. Laughlin would finish the game with 6 of 10 for a season high 175 yards. After game Lions head coach Dan Algeo when asked about Brown receiving ability “He’s very, very versatile, He’s just a super receiver.”
O’Hara would cap the scoring with his one yard plunge.
With the win the Lions are now set up to meet the defending Philadelphia Catholic League Champions LaSalle Explorers in back to back weeks with the winner of the first game being crown the number two seed in PCL AAAA playoff. Kick off is schedule for 2 pm Saturday November 8
