PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – Maybe St. Joseph’s Prep should consider changing its nickname.
Yes, they’re called the Hawks. But why not lend consideration to something like, say, the Hornets, because the Prep’s defensive unit swarmed, smothered and stung LaSalle College High School all night long.
The Hawks (6-0) rode their strong defensive unit to another impressive victory – forcing turnover after turnover after Explorer (6-1) turnover and limiting the three-time District 12 AAAA champs to 178 yards of total offense in a 24-16 victory Saturday night in a key Philadephia Catholic League AAAA clash from Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School.
It was estimated that more than 7,000 fans were in attendance for the game, though no official figures were provided. But the large crowd, if they didn’t already know, witnessed a clinic put on by the host Hawks in gang tackling, forcing turnovers and forcing LaSalle’s hand.
“We wanted to stop their offense,” said sophomore defensive back John Reid, who already holds six Division-1 verbal scholarship offers. “We always want to shut the opponent down.”
Reid posted a pair of interceptions for the Prep – Todd Jones had the other (which resulted in a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown) and the Hawks’ defense jumped on four LaSalle fumbles. In all, St. Joe’s forced seven turnovers, including a recovery of a muffed kickoff in the fourth quarter and another fumble on a hook-and-lateral play.
“They’re good,” said LaSalle head coach Drew Gordon. “Absolutely (they’re good), sure. But we turned it over and we played stupid.”
While the Prep made life miserable for LaSalle offensively, St. Joe’s found itself a reliable running back who could shoulder a full workload if necessary – sophomore Olamide Zaccheaus. And, as fate would have it, it was necessary for the sophomore to shoulder the burden of the Hawks’ rushing attack.
“Vince Moffett (a junior) wasn’t feeling 100 percent, and the coaches wanted to keep him healthy for the remainder of the season,” Zaccheaus explained. “So the coaches put the ball in my hands and they believed in me. I believed in my offensive line, and that’s what happened.”
Moffett finished with 52 yards on 14 carries, twice checking out of the game for minor injuries. But with Moffett not at full strength, it allowed Olamide to showcase his rising potential.
What happened was Olamide ripped LaSalle’s defense apart for 183 yards and back-breaking 38 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to seal the Prep’s victory. Olamide, using a mix of cuts, jukes, ducks, and even his hands for balance to prevent from falling down, never gave the Explorers a good, clean chance to tackle him.
“We do drills in practice – the third leg drill – where we go down on one hand,” Olamide explained. “It helps us improve our balance when falling.”
“We missed probably 150 tackles (defensively),” Gordon said.
If only LaSalle could have enjoyed such balance. The Explorers finished with only 30 yards rushing on 21 carries and normally accurate senior quarterback Chris Kane finished with 148 yards passing and three interceptions on a 17-of-34 night.
But yet, the Explorers held a 7-3 halftime lead thanks to the motor of Mike Eife, who returned a Chris Martin interception 80 yards for a touchdown with 7:26 left in the second quarter. LaSalle also grabbed a 16-10 lead in the third quarter thanks to a Kane throwback pass to Jared Herrmann from 29 yards out.
“It’s been there all season, and you never want to use it (in a game like tonight), but we had to,” Gordon said.
Yet every time LaSalle punched, St. Joe’s punched right back, especially in the fourth quarter. The Hawks forced three LaSalle fumbles in the period and stole back control of the game with touchdown runs of 1 yard from Chris Martin, a junior quarterback, and Olamide. Martin’s run was set up by a 42-yard pass-and-catch from Martin to Peter Brooks.
Kicker Kyle Battin got the Prep on the board initially with a 35-yard field goal and converted three extra points.
The win over LaSalle was St. Joe’s first since 2009, but Olamide wasn’t quick to label the victory anything other than just another game.
“This means absolutely nothing – we just have to focus on the next game on the schedule,” Olamide said. “We have to keep working hard every day.”
And ask Reid about the Hawks’ defense, and he’ll strike a similar tone.
“I think our defense can be very good,” Reid said. “But I don’t quite think we’ve played that perfect game yet.”
Yet, the Hawks’ record might just indicate otherwise.
NOTES: LaSalle entered the game ranked No. 23 in the nation in the USA-Today Super 25 poll while St. Joe’s Prep is No. 17 in the nation according to Maxpreps.com. LaSalle is more than likely to drop out of the USA-Today poll, where only two other Pennsylvania programs – Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg) and North Allegheny (Wexford) grace the “Best of the Rest” section……Martin threw for 134 yards for the Prep, while completing 8-of-21 passes……Reid couldn’t recall how long it has been since the Prep has allowed a rushing touchdown this 2012 season, but did acknowledge it “seems like forever” since it happened…….Winslow converted a 27-yard field goal, his fifth of the season. His season-best for successful field goals converted is seven, established in 2011…….the Hawks’ pep band wore pink shirts in honor of breast cancer awareness and both the Prep and LaSalle made ceremonial check presentations to a breast cancer research fund at halftime. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
LaSalle College HS 0 7 9 0 – 16
St. Joseph’s Prep 0 3 7 14 – 24
Scoring
2nd quarter
SJP – FG, Kyle Battin 35
LS – Mike Eife 80 INT return (Ryan Winslow kick)
3rd quarter
SJP – Todd Jones 45 INT return (Battin kick)
LS – FG, Winslow 27
LS – Jared Herrmann 29 pass from Chris Kane (kick failed)
4th quarter
SJP – Kyle Martin 1 run (Battin kick)
SJP – Zaccheaus Olamide 38 run (Battin kick)
LS SJP
Rushes-yds 21-30 52-258
Passing 17-34-3 8-21-3
Pass yds 148 134
Total offense 178 392
1st downs 10 20
Penalties 11-78 6-55
Turnovers 7 5
Individual statistics
RUSHING: LS: Jordan Meachum 6-23; Jimmy Herron 4-5; Jared Herrmann 4-9; Mike Eife 2-3; Chris Kane 4-minus-9; TEAM 1-minus-5. SJP: Zaccheaus Olamide 22-183 TD; Vince Moffett 14-52; Chris Martin 14-21; Deluliis Dillon 1-2; TEAM 1-0.
PASSING: LS: Kane 17-34-3-148 TD. SJP: Martin 8-21-3-134.
RECEIVING: LS: Sean Coleman 7-70; Herrmann 4-39 TD; Herron 2-21; Meachum 2-10; Jon Naji 1-5; Andrew Halton 1-3. SJP: Peter Brooks 3-82; Olamide 2-13; Moffett 1-20; Shane Williams 1-4;
