La Salle downs O’Hara in an Offensive Explosion
Written by: Willie McGonigle on Saturday, November 1st, 2008. Follow Willie McGonigle on Twitter.
CHESTER: Heading into Friday evenings Philadelphia Catholic League AAAA Regular season finale with the LaSalle Explorers one could not wonder what kind of offensive production would the Cardinal O’Hara Lions be able to mustard without their top offensive weapons in QB Tom Savage and RB Corey Brown. The Lions responded big time by posting 391 yards of total offense however that wouldn’t be enough to down the visiting Explorers who behind a 290 yard passing effort from Drew Loughery to down the Lions 48-21 in an offensive showcase that netted a combine 888 yards of offense and 24 first at Widener’s University Lesile C. Quick stadium.
The Lions would start off with a bang as on their first drive they only need three plays for 68 yards to do something they weren’t able to do in the last two games and that’s put points on the board. The points came compliments of 62 yard touchdown by full back. Anthony McCloskey. Alex Penza would add the extra point.
The Explorers would respond on the ensuing drive with a good balance of run and pass to march 50 yards 5 plays before Jamal Abdur-Rahman would bust through for an 3 yard score. Mike Bennett added the extra point tying the game at 7.
The Lions would respond behind the running of Sr. Billy Morgan who would put 41 yard drive with his 33 yard run giving the Lions the 14-7 lead
Loughery’s arm would tie up at 14 as he connected with Connor Hoffman for a 38 yard strike.
After an interception of a Loughery’s pass by Morgan and a penalty pinned the Lions deep into inside their own 1 yard line. Morgan and he Lions showed a glimpse of their quick strike potential as Morgan busted through the Explorer defense and raced down the sideline for the 99 yard touchdown giving the Lions the 21-14. “ The hole was there, Spike ( McCloskey) had a good kick out and I cut it left and just my speed to get down sideline” When it was all set and done Morgan would finish with a career high 205 yards on 14 carries and 2 TDs. After the game Morgan said “it’s little disappointing for his career high to come in lose but its alright didn’t have all our players, we got good senior leadership and we are just going to come out next week and get the “W”.
From that point on the Explorer defense took over. Allowing them to score 34 unanswered points. A 26 yard field goal by Bennett cut the Lions lead down 21-17.
Following a three an out the Explorers offense and Abdur-Rahman would show their quick strike potential and speed with a 64 yard touchdown run to give them the 24-17 lead. Abdur Rahman would add a 3 yard scamper to give the Explorers the 31-21 half time advantage.
Following an interception of Soph. QB Ryan Laughlin by Kevin Farrington the Explorers would march down to the Lions 12 before having to call on to Bennett to extend the lead to 13 with his 30 yard field goal.
Abdur-Rhaman would make the most of his last carry as he took it 72 yards with help of an escort from WR Connor Hoffman to end zone to put the game out of reach for the Lions. After the game Explorer head coach Drew Gordon gave praise to his WR saying “ Hoffman played fantastic, he blocked two guys and escorted him in” Abdur-Rahman would finish the game with 12 carries for 181 yards and 4 touchdowns. After the game Rahman gave credit to his line saying “it was all thanks to line”
Not to be out done Loughery final completion would go for 61 yard strike to Mike Donohoe. Loughery would finish the game completing 15 passes for 290 yards and 2 TDs. After the game Loughery said that Abdur-Rahman as all of his confidence and called him a great dimension.
Up next for the Lions who enter the Philadelphia Catholic AAAA Playoffs with 4th seed is 1st Father Judge who defeated the Lions 13-0 last week. The Explorers have the 2nd seed and will the 3rd seed St Joseph Prep Hawks who will be looking to revenge their 31-17 lost to the Explorers which ended a 55 game regular season winning streak for the Hawks.
La Salle 14 17 10 7 48
O’Hara 14 7 0 0 21
First Quarter
O’H McCloskey 62 yard run Penza Kick 9:05
Las Abdur-Rahman 2 yard run Bennett Kick 6:47
O’H Morgan 33 yard Run Penza Kick 4:40
Las Hoffman pass from Loughery 38 yards Bennett Kick
Second Quarter
O’H Morgan 99 yard run Penza Kick 10:16
Las Bennett 26 yard FG 5:31
Las Abdur-Rahman 64 yard run. Bennett Kick 2:49
Las Abdur-Rahman 3 run. Bennett kick :56
Third Quarter
Las Bennett 30 yard FG 6:29
Las Abdur-Rahman 72 yard run Bennett kick
Las Donohoe 61 yard pass from Loughery Bennett Kick
Rushing
La Salle : Abdur-Rahman 12-181, Donohoe 3-6, McKenney 3-4,Loughery 2-9,Phillips 1-2
O’Hara: Morgan 14-205, McCloskey 6-82,Laughlin 6-9, Everett 4-46, Dempsey 2(minus-1)
Passing Completions Attempts, yards TDs Int
La Salle Loughery 15-21-290-2-1
Ridley Laughlin 9-13-50-0-1
Receiving
La Salle: Donohoe 4-29Hoffman 3-108, Abdur-Rahman 3-74, Feleccia 3-31
O’Hara: Royal 5-35, Morgan 2-14, Dempsey 1-1, Laughlin 1-0
Las OH
First Downs 13 11
Rushes/yards 21-197 32-341
Completions/yards 15/21 9/50
Total Yards 487 391
Punts/ Average 1/46 3/25
Fumbles/Lost 0/0 0/0
Penalties/ Yards 3/20 6/31
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November 7th, 2008 at 9:03 am
I could have sworn I was watching a Big 12 game !
Doesn’t anyone play defense? Lots of media hype for Philly Catholic League teams. They won’t be there for the PIAA quarterfinals let alone the PIAA finals. What a joke !