PHILADELPHIA, PA — Mekhi Wharton rewinds the play in his head, he says, almost every day. A few inches to the right, a step to the left, being more decisive for a split-second, and things could have been far different.
Neumann-Goretti’s 6-foot-6, 205-pound senior quarterback was inches away from scoring the winning touchdown in last year’s PIAA Class 3A state championship game last year against Belle Vernon when he fumbled the ball away on fourth down.
Regrettably, Wharton blamed himself a while for the loss. He also found solace and inner strength he might not have known he had.
He vowed if given another chance, he would not falter again.
So far this season, Wharton is guiding the Saints (9-1) back in the same direction he had them last year. Only he’s doing it with far greater confidence, a far greater command of what he is doing and seeing on the field, and becoming such a dual-threat that he is a terror for opposing teams to stop.
On Sunday, Neumann-Goretti once again captured the Philadelphia Catholic League Class 3A championship with an 18-7 victory over gutsy Conwell-Egan. The Saints have now won nine straight games and grabbed two titles for the price of one victory, also repeating as PIAA District 12 Class 3A champions.
Kipp-DuBois Collegiate Academy, the Public League champion, will not have enough players to compete in the District 12 3A championship after numerous Kipp players were suspended after an altercation in their 16-0 victory over Vaux on Saturday night, awarded the title to the Saints, according to the Philadelphia Public League (powerhouse Neumann-Goretti beat Kipp 52-0 in last year’s District 12 Class 3A championship).
Against Conwell-Egan (6-5), Wharton rushed for 118 yards, including a decisive 74-yard third-quarter score that sealed the Neumann-Goretti victory and passed for 198 yards, completing eight of 16, including a touchdown.
Belle Vernon’s Aiden Johnson pounced on the loose ball at the one in last year’s Class 3A state title game, giving the Leopards a narrow 9-8 victory and their first state championship in school history.
Wharton had the ball jostled from his arms as he tried to ram forward toward the goal line.
“I do think about that play almost every day,” said Wharton, who carries a 4.6 GPA and is being considered by Ivy League Cornell, Syracuse, Howard and Fordham. “It was hard to deal with. I did blame myself. I was emotional after that game. I knew I had to come with a different mindset this year. I think that play has helped me learn and grow a lot.
“I remember being emotional on the bis ride home, and then I fell asleep. This year it’s one game at a time, and I do want to get us back to the state title game.”
Wharton carried quite a bit of the load, but he got some help, from Wisconsin-bound Khamir Prescott, who had two big catches and will play in the Neumann-Goretti Thanksgiving Day against South Philadelphia High School. Prescott will not be eligible to play in the PIAA postseason since he transferred in from Northeast High School.
Prescott closed his high school career as a Public League champion, Philadelphia Catholic League champion and repeat Public League champion winner.
“This isn’t easy, nearing the end,” Prescott said. “I’m emotional because it’s near the end. I have one more game to play and it’s not going to be the same being on the field. I feel as they this team has a brotherhood. We all lift each other. I want to be playing with my teammates and it feels different because I really love the game.”
Saints’ coach Albie Crosby stressed how important Prescott has been to the Saints this season—and how he will continue to be impactful.
“We look forward to seeing Khamir playing on Saturday for Wisconsin, and he will continue to be important for us,” Crosby said. “He’s still going to practice with the team and he will help us prepare for the state playoffs. He’s going to lift his teammates the rest of the way.”
The game was lopsided for the most part. By halftime, the Saints had gained 252 yards of total offense to Conwell-Egan’s 40. The Eagles did not get their first first down of the game until there were 1.7 seconds left in the half. Their first four drives were three-and-outs.
Yet, they hung around and made it competitive on the scoreboard, when Tayshaun Thenor scored a three-yard run with 3:39 left in the third quarter.
“We were always in the game, but after we got the seven points, that one play (by Wharton) broke our back,” Eagles’ coach Jack Techtmann said. “This was a great group of kids, and they gave everything they had. We hung in and in the second half, we moved the ball. We wanted to stay close and hang in at the end, but that one play broke and they have a really great team other there.”
The play Techtmann was referring to was the Wharton TD run with 4:30 left in the third quarter.
“Mekhi is playing well, and he’s grown physically, mentally, he read the backside on the touchdown run, and he read the play,” Crosby said. “We have a tough road ahead, but we have Mekhi leading us. He had a very negative situation last year and has turned it into an extremely positive. He makes us extremely tough to beat.
Neumann-Goretti is expecting Khari Reid back from injury for the Saints’ state title run.
It means more headaches for teams who may be facing the Saints ahead.
Scoring Summary
Conwell-Egan (6-5) 0 0 7 0-7
Neumann-Goretti (9-1) 6 6 6 0-18
1st Quarter
NG – Carter Bashir 17 pass from Mekhi Wharton (run failed), 2:17
2nd Quarter
NG – Terrance Page 1 run (pass failed), 4:30
3rd Quarter
CE – Tayshaun Thenor 3 run (Johnny Austerberry kick), 3:39
NG – Wharton 74 run (pass failed), 4:30
Joseph Santoliquito is a hall of fame, award-winning sportswriter who has been covering high school football since 1992 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be followed on Twitter @JSantoliquito. Follow EasternPAFootball.com on Twitter @EPAFootball.
