Mornhinweg Does it Again

Written by: Willie McGonigle on Sunday, September 27th, 2009. Follow Willie McGonigle on Twitter.

WHITEMARSH TWP: When your father is Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg one can assume there’s pressure to perform well on the gridiron but don’t tell that to Skyler Mornhinweg because he’ll respond “ Not at all I just go out and try play good football, my dad is real supportive he always helps me so there’s no pressure at all.” Skyler the 6’3 187 pound Sophomore Quarterback for St. Joseph might not had the best start to his fourth career start, but it’s how you finish that matters, and younger Mornhinweg didn’t disappoint as he completed 7 of 19 passes for 99 yards while leading his Hawks back from a 17-12 deflect in the final four minutes to down the defending Philadelphia Catholic League AAAA Division and arch rival LaSalle Explorers 24-17 in front of pack house at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School.

After Hawks defense forced the Explorers for the second time all game with just a little more than three minutes left in the game Mornhinweg took the field with his team down 5 and orchestrated a five play forty-one yard drive in which he completed a big 22 yard pass on third and nine from the 40 to Pete Hurley after a run for no gain Mornhinweg again took to the air and connected Bobby D’Orazio on a post corner for an 18 yard touchdown giving the Hawks the 18-17 lead. Mornhinweg pass would fall incomplete on the two-point conversion attempt.” I was thinking it was going to be a touchdown” is what D’Orazio would say when asked about what was going through his mind as the ball was in the air.

The Explorers 3-1 overall and 0 and 1 in the Catholic League would open the scoring on the games first drive thanks in large part to the big arm Sr. QB Drew Loughery. On the games opening drive Loughery’s arm accounted for 66 yards on 5 of 9 passing including a 20 yarded to Sam Feleccia. Feleccia would also haul in the 6-yard touchdown.

The Hawks (3-1 1-0) would responded with a potent rushing attack led by Desmond Peoples and Garrett Compton accounted for 34 of the 79 yards on the 13 play drive. Mornhinweg and Hurley would account for 34 yards through the air, but it would be Mike Labor that capped the drive with his one yard plunge.

The Explorers would respond on the ensuing drive driving all the way down to the Hawks 14 before a penalty pushed them back to 21 which is were they would stall forcing Mike Bennett to come on and nail a 32 yard field goal. Tim Wade who was put into action when starter Jamal Abdur-Rahman was forced to sit this game out with an injury led the Explorers on the drive. Wade responded well to this role rushing for 157 yards on 29 carries. After the game Hawks head coach Gil Brooks credited Explorers Head Coach Drew Gordon and his son Offensively Coordinator Brett Gordon saying “They had nice little scheme going and (Brett) that little seem.” He would add “ they (LaSalle) is at their best because you can’t necessary line up against the pass.”

The Hawks defense would set up the Hawks in final minutes of the first half when Steve O’Hara intercepted Loughery and return forty yards to the Explorers 11. Three plays later Mornhinweg would connect with Peoples for an 11-yard touchdown that took an extra effort from Peoples to get in.

In the second half the Hawks defense shut down the mighty Explorer offense forcing two turnovers including an interception by Kushmir Miller at Hawks one-yard line. The Hawks would fail to capitalize on the opportunity however the Hawks would capitalize on a fumble on the Explorers second to last possession. Labor would punch it from 10 yards out giving the Hawks the 24-17 lead with 1:02 left in the game.

The Explorers would have one last chance and drove down to the Hawks 19 before turning it over on downs.

Up next for the Hawks is the Crusaders of Father Judge while the Explorers will take on the Raiders of Archbishop Ryan.

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