Father Judge Finishes Strong, Drops Harry S. Truman 37-14.

Written by: Bruce Badgley on Monday, April 5th, 2021. Follow Bruce Badgley on Twitter.

PHILADELPHIA – The Spring U10 season races are coming right down to the wire. A key North Division matchup was held on Monday afternoon at Father Judge between the Crusaders and Harry S. Truman. The winner would be in the North Division driver’s seat. The loser would need some major help to reach the League Final in two weeks. Father Judge’s strong running game and 20 unanswered fourth-quarter points vaulted the Crusaders past Harry S. Truman 37-14. A Crusaders win next week against Norristown would likely send Father Judge into the U10 Championship game.

Father Judge and its ground and pound offense controlled the game. The RB tandem of Eric Smith and Billy Whiteley each had two scores on the afternoon. Jake Marquis played solid on defense and had a key 40-yard pick-six in the third quarter.

I caught up with @FJAthletics Head Coach Frank McArdle following @fjfootball27 37-14 #u10 win today over @HarrySTrumanHi1 @EPAFootball @CaryMoyer @HSFBamerica @small_play pic.twitter.com/sOcZ7HIDZt

— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) April 5, 2021

On the left is @FJAthletics Freshman Eric Smith and Sophomore Billy Whitely. This RB tandem for @fjfootball27 ran through and around @HarrySTrumanHi1 today in the Crusaders 37-14 win. @HSFBamerica @CaryMoyer @EPAFootball pic.twitter.com/j37wLzP3UJ

— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) April 5, 2021

Each team tried to impose its will on the other team right out of the gate. Father Judge had the better of things in quarter one and led 7-0.

@FJAthletics on the board first Eric Smith culminating a ground and pound @fjfootball27 drive and it’s 7-0 over @HarrySTrumanHi1 4:00 quarter one @TrumanTigerBTSD @CaryMoyer @BadgleyBruce @small_play @HSFBamerica pic.twitter.com/X3Rt7SUYFB

— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) April 5, 2021

A hard hitting first quarter has @FJAthletics up 7-0 over @HarrySTrumanHi1 @TrumanTigerBTSD @BTSDAthletics @fjfootball27 @CaryMoyer @BadgleyBruce @HSFBamerica #u10beat #pahsfb pic.twitter.com/Bs3RQVdwb2

— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) April 5, 2021

The Crusaders moved the ball well in quarter two. Unfortunately, a field goal was all they had to show for their efforts. It took until the final seconds of the half for the Tigers lethal Delp to Thomas combo to get on track. At the break, it was 10-8, Judge leading.

John Westfield boots it through from 44 yards for @FJAthletics It’s 10-0 over @HarrySTrumanHi1 5:37 until halftime @fjfootball27 @BTSDAthletics @CaryMoyer @HSFBamerica @BadgleyBruce @small_play #u10beat #pahsfb pic.twitter.com/38YgM4yvnk

— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) April 5, 2021

There’s that combo again! Terrell Delp to Sincere Thomas goes 96 yards with ::33 left in the first half for @HarrySTrumanHi1 2 pointer is good and at halftime @FJAthletics still up 10-8 Whew! @fjfootball27 @BTSDAthletics @CaryMoyer @HSFBamerica @BadgleyBruce @small_play #u10beat pic.twitter.com/jJpBVHp2CX

— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) April 5, 2021

Neither team gave an inch coming out of the break. The turning point of the game came in the third quarter when Jake Marquis took it 40 yards to the house on an INT.

HUGE goal line stop by @HarrySTrumanHi1 ! @FJAthletics still up 10-8 over @BTSDAthletics 7:21 quarter three @fjfootball27 @HSFBamerica @CaryMoyer @small_play @BadgleyBruce #u10beat pic.twitter.com/EhVgCO4LwA

— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) April 5, 2021

And just like that a 40 yard pick 6 by Jake Marquis! @FJAthletics now up 16-8 over @HarrySTrumanHi1 6:02 quarter three! @CaryMoyer @HSFBamerica @BadgleyBruce @small_play #u10beat @BTSDAthletics @fjfootball27 pic.twitter.com/h5Y9RYOJRH

— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) April 5, 2021

Plowing in for the score is Kobe Pena for @HarrySTrumanHi1 The 2 pointer is no good and @FJAthletics still up 17-14 over @fjfootball27 2:21 remaining in the third quarter #u10beat @BTSDAthletics @HSFBamerica @CaryMoyer @BadgleyBruce @small_play pic.twitter.com/FwSA94yGDx

— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) April 5, 2021

Father Judge scored on the first play of quarter four and never looked back. The Crusaders 20 unanswered fourth-quarter points made the final 37-14 over Harry S. Truman.

On the first play of the fourth quarter Billy Whitely goes in from 16 yards to make it @FJAthletics 24 @HarrySTrumanHi1 14 @BTSDAthletics @fjfootball27 @CaryMoyer @HSFBamerica @small_play @BadgleyBruce #u10beat pic.twitter.com/6AFzpNGNv7

— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) April 5, 2021

Freshman Eric Smith has played hard on both sides of the ball today for @FJAthletics Eric’s 2nd TD of the day makes it 31-14 over @HarrySTrumanHi1 9:39 left #u10beat @fjfootball27 @BTSDAthletics @HSFBamerica @CaryMoyer @small_play @BadgleyBruce pic.twitter.com/GTA9WRhuGk

— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) April 5, 2021

Billy Whitely in for his 2nd score of the day for @FJAthletics and @fjfootball27 pulls out to a 37-14 lead over @HarrySTrumanHi1 with 6:01 remaining @BTSDAthletics #u10beat @CaryMoyer @HSFBamerica @BadgleyBruce @small_play @END2008 pic.twitter.com/pwX3PRCYmb

— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) April 5, 2021

And that does it from Northeast Philly! @FJAthletics dominant in the 2nd half and beats @HarrySTrumanHi1 37-14! #u10beat @fjfootball27 @BTSDAthletics @CaryMoyer @BadgleyBruce @HSFBamerica @small_play pic.twitter.com/hC0SCPWhIY

— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) April 5, 2021