UPPER DARBY: Heading in the 2008 season Episcopal Academy Head Coach Bill Gallagher wanted to give his team a new identity since it moved from Merion Station to Newtown PA. That’s exactly what they did when they added Monsignor Bonner to their there schedule. “We want to schedule and play Bonner every year, we want to Upper Darby and Archbishop Carroll because there local teams.” Saturday Night the Churchman took a big step with their new identity by defeating the Friars 14-7 at Upper Darby Memorial Stadium.
The Friars would strike first in the first quarter when Jr. Eric Petransky punched in from two yards out. The PAT was good giving the Friars the early 7-0 lead. From there the Churchmen defense stepped up and didn’t allow the Friars to score another point in game despite being put in difficult situations all night
On their last drive of the first half the Churchmen cut the Friars lead when Ryan Klein hooked up with Sean Toner for a 15 yard touchdown. The extra point would be no good giving the Friars the 7-6 halftime lead. The touchdown seemed to give the momentum to Churchmen. After holding the Friars to a three and out on the opening drive setting up the offense for the game winning drive which went 65 yards on 11 plays before Sr. Stephen Faulkner powered his way in from 5 yards out. Klein would find Toner in the end zone for the 2 point conversion giving the Churchmen the 14-7 lead.
From that point on the Churchmen defense would continue to dominate while Sr John Gormley would run out the clock Gormley would finish the game with 122 yards on 19 carries after the game Gormley was quick to give to his teammates saying “I thought the team played really the line played tough.”
Up next for the Friars is with the Lions of Cardinal O’Hara on Friday night at Memorial Stadium. While the Churchmen will travel up to the Hill School Saturday Night
