WHITEMARSH : If there’s an NFL teams that needs a Quarterback to guide them to a late fourth quarter come back they might want to contact Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and ask him if they can borrow his son Skyler. The younger Mornhinweg may know a thing or two about leading a comeback after all in St Joseph Prep’s first six games prior to Saturday night Philadelphia Catholic League AAAA Division game against rival Cardinal O’Hara Mornhinweg led the Hawks to three second half comebacks. On Saturday night the 6 foot 3 187 sophomore signal caller made notched his fourth career fourth quarter comeback victory as the Hawks prevail from the soggy turf of Plymouth Whitemarsh High with the 21-14 victory over the upset minded Lions who enter the contest undefeated with a 7-0 record. “He’s a special player, we had a couple at couple at Quarterback and he’s just a special player.” Is what Hawks Head Coach Gil Brooks would say about Mornhinweg.
Down 14-13 with 1:33 left in the ball game, the ever-poised Mornhingweg took the field with 79 yards to go and zero times. All Mornhinweg did on the 10 play drive was connected on four passes including drive saver on fourth and ten on their own 32 yard line in which he connected with Pete Hurley whose three receptions of the game would come on this drive including the 35 yard touchdown that put the Hawks up 19-13 with the two point conversion. Mornhinweg would connected with Dan Pellicciotti on the two point conversion giving the Hawks the 21-14 lead with 30 seconds remaining. When asked the confidence Hawks have in Mornhinweg Hurley responded, “ So much confidence, he being a sophomore has nothing to do with it we know what he can do.”
On the ensuing drive the Lions were able to drive down to the Hawks 17, yard line behind the arm of Junior Ryan Laughlin and the hands of Ohio State bound Corey Brown and Dan Curry. However just as time expire Laughlin was hit as he attempted a bomb to end zone breaking the hearts of the Lion faithful.
Desmond Peoples got the scoring started with his 14-yard touchdown plunge that came after Mornhinweg used his legs to pick up 66 yards. Peoples would finish the game with 23 carries and 109 yards. Mornhinweg would finish the game completing 8 of 20 passes for 122 yards to go along with 10 carries for 79 yards.
The Lions would respond in the second quarter with a 10 play 71 yard drive that capped with a five yard touchdown plunge by Brown who was returning to action after missing last weekend 56-0 rout of Archbishop Ryan with a sprained knee.
From there both teams turned the game over to their defenses and it wasn’t until Mornhinweg used his legs to cap a five play 45 yard drive with a five yard plunge. The snap would be bobbled on the extra point giving the Hawks the 13-7 lead. Mornhinweg who is in his first season as the starter and already verbal committed to Stanford is receiving high praise from his head coach drawing comparisons to two of better Quarterbacks in the Hawks history in former Oakland Raider Rich Gannon and Chris Whitney whose the starting signal caller from the nationally ranked Villanova Wildcats.
The Lions would capitalize on bad snap on a punt that went over the punters head giving the Lions the ball at Hawks 27. Three plays later Laughlin would connect with Brown for a 20-yard touchdown. Mike Granta would nail the extra point giving the Lions the 14-13 lead with 2:41 left in the ball game.
The Lions who drop to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in Catholic League AAAA Division play won’t have to wait long to get the bitter taste out of their mouths as they take on the Father Judge Crusaders kickoff is schedule for 7 pm Thursday night at Northeast Charlie Martin Stadium. The Hawks (6-1,4-0) will travel to Upper Darby High School to take on the vast improve Monsignor Bonner Friars who are coming off a 49-17 slacking of the Crusaders.
