St. Joseph’s Prep defeats La Salle
North Penn, La Salle suffer season-ending defeats on the road
GLEN MILLS » Ryan Gallagher scored on a two-point conversion with just 46 seconds to play, completing a wild fourthquarter comeback and 36-35 victory for Garnet Valley Friday night over North Penn.
The third-seeded Jaguars rallied from 28 down to advance to next week’s District 1-6A semifinals, against Pennridge, who defeated Perk Valley 25-0.
The sixth-seeded Knights, with four touchdown passes from quarterback Steve DePaul to Justis Henley, led 35-7 but struggled in the fourth.
Garnet Valley rallied back with the running game, got a key takeaway, and got to within 35-34 on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Gallagher to Danny Guy. Gallagher then ran in for two, and one stop by the defense ended it.
The Knights scored on each of their first three possessions and each was a pass from DePaul to the speedy Henley for a touchdown.
DePaul hit Henley for a 36yard score to quickly put North Penn in front 7-0. Shortly after, DePaul hit Henley for 49 and the margin doubled to 14-0.
After a one-yard plunge by the Jaguars’ Matthew Lassik trimmed it to 14-7, DePaul hit Henley for 33 and a 21-7 lead. Running back K.J. Cartwright dove in from 10 to stretch the Knight advantage to 28-7 at the break.
DePaul connected with Henley for a fourth time in the third quarter, but Garnet Valley’s comeback was lurking.
St. Joe’s Prep 17, La Salle 3
PHILADELPHIA » St. Joseph’s Prep beat La Salle, 17-3, Friday night at Northeast High School in the District 12 Class 6A semifinals.
The Hawks, ranked No. 1 in PA Prep Live’s top 20, will face the winner of Northeast and
Central in the city championship next week.
The Prep scored two touchdowns in the second half to break a 3-3 tie. Kolbe Burrell plunged two yards for a score late in the third quarter and Lansdale native Marquez McCray scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak on the second play of the fourth.
McCray finished with 76 yards passing and 82 yards on the ground.
The Explorers, ranked No. 6 on PA Prep Live, took a 3-0 lead with 5:13 left in the first half when Daniel Karrash hit a 37-yard field goal.
The Hawks tied the game just before halftime on a 30-yard field goal from Anthony Tigano.
La Salle quarterback Isaiah Jones threw for 64 yards and rushed for 65.
The loss ends the Explorers season. — Ed Morlock
Upper Dublin 17, Academy Park 12
SHARON HILL » Fifth-seeded Upper Dublin survived later miscues in a game filled with turnovers to knock off No. 4 Academy Park 17-12 in the District 1-5A quarterfinals Friday night.
The Cardinals (8-3) took a 17-6 lead on Julian Gimbel’s 4-yard touchdown run with 10:29 left in the fourth quarter. But Devon Golds’ 23-yard fumble recovery for six had the Knights (7-4) within 17-12 with 3:57 to go.
UD recovers the onside kick but a bad snap on its punt gave Academy Park to ball at the Cards 25. The Knights converted one first down but UD held on as Skylor Gillis’ fourth-down pass to the end zone was incomplete.
Upper Dublin advances to face No. 1 seed Springfield-Delco
Academy Park took a 6-0 lead on Nate Holmes’ 8-yard TD run at 9:46 in the first quarter.
Adam Jefferson-Jones’ 20-yard fumble recovery for a TD put UD up 7-6 at 7:08. Chris Barbera’s 27-yard field goal as time expires in the first quarter made it 10-6.