PHILADELPHIA: Heading into Saturday’s afternoons PIAA AAAA District XII Championship contest the Philadelphia Public League Champions George Washington Eagles defense they would have a difficult task of stopping the high power 1 attack of the Philadelphia Catholic League Champions LaSalle Explorers. The Eagles defense stepped up and made the big plays to allow the Eagles come away from Northeast’s Charles Martin Stadium with their first City title in schools history by a score of 23-14.

The Eagles defense would make their first big play on the opening series of the game when Sr. Safety Jamaal Williams intercepted a Drew Loughery pass and return to it to the Explorer 25 yard line. Two plays later Sr. RB Kyle Glenn would put it in the end zone 22 yards out. Will McFillin would add the extra point giving the Eagles the early 7-0 lead.

On the next Eagle drive the Eagles would take a page out of the Explorers playbook and air it out. It paid off as Aaron Wilmer would hook up with Omar Hunter for 48 yard touchdown. McFillin would add the extra point giving the Eagles 14-0 lead.

The Explorers would respond on the ensuing drive behind the arm of Loughery. After Loughery hit Connor Hoffman for a 48 yard gain that put the Explorers at the Eagle 3 yard line Loughery would hit Mike Donohoe form 3 yards out. Mike Bennett would add the extra point cutting the lead down to 14-7.

The Eagles defense would again set up the next touchdown as freshman Nate Smith intercepted Loughery setting up the Eagles at the Explorer 20 yard line. Four plays later Glenn would punch it in from 9 yards out. McFillin would add the extra point giving the Eagles the 21-7 lead. From there the Eagles took over and took the lead into the intermission. The Eagles defense was led all day by Jr. Martin Haynes, Jr. Shariff Floyd and Sr. Lorenzo Adams. “Its all our coaches they preach techniques it all techniques thanks to the coaches, we came together at the beginning of the team we weren’t close but we came together and today we did” is how Haynes would describe his team their defensive effort

In the third quarter the Explorers showed their big play power as Loughery would throw a bomb to Sam Feleccia who would take it for an 81 yard touchdown. Bennett would add the extra point cutting the lead to 21-14. Loughery would finish the game with 248 yards on 12 completions 2 touchdowns. Feleccia would finish the game with 3 catches for 134 yards.

The Eagles special teams would putting the icing on the championship when 6 foot 4 300 pound lineman Shariff Floyd got through the Explorer punt protection to block Donohoe’s punt the ball would wind up flying out of the end zone for safety. Giving the Eagles the 23-14 lead. “Coaches stress getting extension, I didn’t getting get down I just got extension made a swim move had my eyes close” is how Floyd would describe the block.

The Explorers were able to put one final drive together driving down in Eagle territory before Adams intercepted Loughery who was hit on the play by Haynes. The interception was the Eagles third interception of the game and it sealed the victory with 26 seconds left. When asked about the interception Adams responded “It feels great, two weeks ago against Northeast in the Public League Championship I picked the ball in triple overtime to give us the win it feels great. After the game Eagle coach said “The defense came up big “

Up next for the Eagles is a date with the District 11 champions Bethlehem Liberty at a date and time to be determine at Northeast High School

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