EASTON – St. Joseph’s Prep relied on a strong defensive performance and the kicking of Colin Stoner to defeat La Salle 13-3 in a hard-fought Philadelphia Catholic League showdown.
Stoner connected on two field goals, while Ameen Williams scored the game’s only touchdown as the Hawks held the Explorers scoreless over the final two quarters.
For St. Joseph’s Prep head coach Tim Roken, the defensive battle was no surprise, considering the familiarity between the two programs and their coaching staffs.
“Yeah. You know, the familiarity with us over the years and Coach Gordon and myself and our staffs, you know, obviously long tradition, right, of us playing against each other,” Roken said. “You’re always going to get each other’s best in this game. We’re so familiar with each other. So, I’m not surprised.”
The Hawks’ defense set the tone throughout the contest, limiting La Salle to a second-quarter field goal and keeping the Explorers out of the end zone.
St. Joseph’s Prep struck first when Stoner connected on a 24-yard field goal with 8:39 remaining in the opening quarter, giving the Hawks a 3-0 advantage.
The Hawks added to their lead later in the quarter when Williams powered his way into the end zone on a one-yard touchdown run with 5:26 remaining. Stoner converted the extra point to extend the advantage to 10-0.
La Salle responded early in the second quarter.
Jackson Laufler connected on a 33-yard field goal with 10:03 remaining before halftime, cutting the deficit to 10-3.
La Salle had another opportunity to put points on the scoreboard later in the quarter, but a 29-yard field goal attempt with 4:06 remaining was unsuccessful.
The missed opportunity allowed St. Joseph’s Prep to carry its 10-3 advantage into halftime.
Neither team managed to score in the third quarter as both defenses continued to control the game.
Roken acknowledged that the close contest reflected the competitive nature of the rivalry between the two Philadelphia Catholic League programs.
“I’m not surprised by the score today and being a close battle,” Roken said. “And who knows, right, with four teams in the Catholic League playoffs? Maybe we see them again, maybe we don’t, right? But at the end of the day, it’s about us right now. We got things that we got to clean up.”
The Hawks added some breathing room early in the fourth quarter, thanks to another field goal from Stoner.
Stoner initially missed a 39-yard field goal attempt, but a running-into-the-kicker penalty gave him another opportunity. He took advantage, connecting on a 34-yard field goal with 11:04 remaining to extend Prep’s lead to 13-3.
That would be the final score of the contest.
Stoner finished the game with field goals of 24 and 34 yards, along with an extra point, accounting for seven of the Hawks’ 13 points.
The victory was built around St. Joseph’s Prep’s ability to capitalize on its scoring opportunities and a defense that never allowed La Salle to reach the end zone.
Despite the victory, Roken emphasized that the Hawks remain focused on improving as the season progresses, particularly with the postseason approaching.
“We’re taking strides,” Roken said. “You know, the focus for us is, regardless of what happens here, right, in the month of October, we all make the playoffs.”
Roken stressed the importance of continuing to develop rather than becoming too focused on individual regular-season results.
“So, we got to focus on ourselves and make sure that we’re getting better each and every single week,” he said.
For St. Joseph’s Prep, the 13-3 victory was another example of the Hawks’ ability to win a defensive battle against a familiar opponent.
After a second-quarter field goal, the Hawks kept La Salle off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game to secure the victory.
With the Catholic League playoffs on the horizon, Roken knows his team still has work to do. But for now, the Hawks can take satisfaction in another hard-fought victory over one of their longtime rivals.
Scoring summary:
| Teams | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
| St. Joseph’s Prep | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| La Salle College HS | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
1st Quarter:
SJP – Colin Stoner 24-yard field goal good 8:39
SJP – Ameen Williams 1-yard run (Colin Stoner kick good) 5:26
2nd Quarter:
L – Jackson Laufler 33-yard field goal good 10:03
3rd Quarter:
No scoring
4th Quarter:
Colin Stoner 34-yard field goal good 11:04