LaSalle cruises over Ridley, 35-7
Written by: EasternPAFootball.com Staff on Saturday, December 12th, 2009. Follow EasternPAFootball.com Staff on Twitter.
PHILADELPHIA – LaSalle’s defense forced five turnovers and the Explorers scored four touchdowns in the final 17 minutes en route to a 35-7 win over Ridley at Northeast High.
In the first quarter Jamal Abdur-Rahman scored on a one-yard touchdown. Mike Bennett’s kick gave LaSalle a 7-0 lead.
Ridley’s defense would come up with a big play in the second quarter. Cornerback Alex Nicolino intercepted a LaSalle pass. The Green Raiders put together a nine-play, 74-yard drive to tie the game up at 7. Colin Masterson hit Alex Nicolino for a two-yard score.
The halftime score was 7-7.
LaSalle took control of the game in the second half. After a three-and-out by Ridley, LaSalle took over at the Ridley 42.
LaSalle put together a nine-play drive when quarterback Drew Loughery called his own play and went in for a one-yard score. The Explorers led in the third quarter 14-7.
The Explorers scored the final three touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Loughery got his second one-yard score early in the fourth quarter, capping a nine-play drive.
LaSalle scored two more times in the quarter. Abdur-Rahman scored on a one-yard run and Tim Wade finished the scoring with a nine-yard run.
Loughery finished the game by completing 10 of 13 passes for 104 yards. He had two rushing touchdowns.
Abdur-Rahman rushed for 123 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 20 yards.
The Explorers (13-1) are the first District 12 4A team to advance to the state finals. They will take on State College, who won over Cumberland Valley 35-13.
LaSalle head football coach Drew Gordon said, “This is great for the kids. Very few teams get this opportunity. The kids earned it.”
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December 18th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Give me a break with the recruiting garbage; I live in the North Penn area. Do you think that the NP staff and all the feeder program coaches don’t point the best players AWAY from Lansdale Catholic and the private schools TO North Penn? You don’t believe kids are pressured to “stay with your friends”? It goes on all the time in every public school district; I’ve coached in many feeder programs for two different sports and know what really goes on.
The fact is, LaSalle kids and their families make a great sacrifice so their kid can go to a great academic school; that’s what is important to them as a family.
Recruiting has nothing to do with it.
December 17th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Knew the “R” word would rear its ugly head sooner or later. Look, Catholic teams can do it and others cant but why doesnt anyone complain about the Public League? Its complete open enrollment in the city with players openly being recruited and transferrring. OH wait a second, thats right, everybody kicks the Public leagues butt so noboby cares. If your gonna complain about teams that win when they recruit you better complain about the ones that lose as well……….Anyways the PIAA is opposed to seperate state tournaments for public/catholic so it never gonna happen.
December 14th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
I am a high school football fan. I was cheering for Ridley but I like watching all these well coached, talented kids. I could be wrong, but I do not believe it makes a major difference with Catholic schools being able to recruit. Does it make some difference, possibly, but you watch in the coming years when in the finals it will be all public schools coming out of the east. I believe things like this are cyclical. I think coaching and establishing a winning identity as a team and school has a lot more to do with molding these kids into a winning football team than anything else. Ridley had a great year and it looks like a very good coaching staff for years to come. They will be back. I believe when the competition gets better it makes everybody better. Having the Catholic schools in the Eastern Division will only make the Public schools better only if they want to compete and not make excuses for when they lose. Unfortunately for Ridley they did not play their best game and even if they did play their best, it does not mean they would have won that day. Lets not forget they were playing a very good team called LaSalle. Anyhow, its one and done. Dennis Decker said it well,”The better team won today.”
Good Luck LaSalle!! Win it for Eastern PA!!
December 14th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Mike, I think you’re right. Recruiting definitely gives the private school a big advantage against the public school. I would like separate playoffs for public schools and private that recruit. Of course the term recruiting is vague, especially in high school, but something should be done. Also, I’d like, if this change was to happen, that it would happen in both the normal districts and the WPIAL( or whatever the Pittsburgh district is).
December 14th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Hey Mike!
Why don’t we just say they are better and more disciplined whether in the classroom or on the field.
December 13th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Well Nice win by Lasalle, was I watching the same game and why did the ref’s not see the holding by Lasalle and the DE on lasalle lined up off sides the whole game, and the push in the back by lasalle in front of the ref these ref’s had horse blinders on, the PIAA should look at the tape and see the way the ref’s did the game, oh yea and the spotting of the ball, not good, but Lasalle did win and I will not take that from them Congrats to them. PIAA als need to make the game played at a place where they can handle a crowd of the size that was at the game PIAA should be embarressed of where this was played…
December 13th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
haha told you ridley fans lasalle was going to win. would of been the same result if it was at night or against north penn.
December 13th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
5 catholic high schools are now in the finals of the state champs for football. Does this mean catholic schools are better or just hold a decided advantage in recruiting better players? I think they and other private schools should have their own championships to level the field of play.
December 13th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
First off, congrats to La Salle for a VERY convincing win! Also conrats to Ridley for a great season-no shame in losing to La Salle.
La Salle, go get the Gold in Hershey and make Southeastern Pa. and Philly Catholic fans proud!
One more thought-if O’Hara does drop to AAA, as BFlem27 says, lookout! They will be a force, and will be in the mix for a State Title at that level most years. O’Haras’ only losses this year (3) were to La Salle (2) and St. Joe Prep (1). All of those games were fairly tight.
December 13th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
La Salle played a great game, Ridley just forgot to play how they can. You have to play rain or shine, night or day. That’s what the great teams do. Can’t wait to have the Explorers bring a nice trophy home. Fight for the Blue and Gold!
December 13th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Thanks BFlem27, for the information.
December 13th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
AAA PCL is going to gain two teams from the AAAA ranks based on the new enrollment numbers. O’Hara and Bonner should drop to AAA.
December 13th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Sounds like sour grapes from the Ridley fans. Do they practice at night????
Nice going La Salle, you played well and deserved the win.
December 13th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Ridley, were you looking ahead or looking back? Not the same team that played North Penn. LaSalle, you got one more game to play. Win that, then MAYBE you can brag. Until then, it’s very unbecoming.
December 13th, 2009 at 6:13 am
With all the banter now going about the PCL, has anyone heard about any prospective realignment of the league? Word is that the AAA division will be wiped out with North closing and C-Egan and Lansdale Catholic moving to AA; leaving Wood and Neuman-Goretti as the only AAA teams. The move of CE and LC will of course, replace Dougherty and KK keeping status quo in AA as for numbers.
December 13th, 2009 at 1:46 am
Ridley can’t play in the day, this team thrives during the Friday Night Lights. Given the fact LaSalle plays during the day all the time, I think this game could have come out differently if played at night.. you never know. Congrats LaSalle on a well earned win.
December 12th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
RIDLEY DID NOT LOOK LIKE THE SAME TEAM THAT PLAYED NORTH PENN. BUY ANYWAY VERY GOOD SEASON RIDLEY AND SEE YOU NEXT YEAR…..