Phillips, fired-up Crusaders, streak past the Patriots
CONSHOHOCKEN >> Friday’s Catholic League Blue Division clash between Lansdale Catholic and Archbishop Carroll showcased two teams going in opposite directions. The Crusaders earned their third consecutive victory, defeating the host Patriots, 41-12. Carroll, down several key players including record-setting quarterback Russell Minor-Shaw, has now lost three straight.
“No matter if we have guys down, we have to step up,” All-Delco linebacker Richie Kimmel said of the limping Patriots. “We need to go hard every play.”
Carroll can point to injuries as the reason for its stumbles of late. On the other side, Lansdale Catholic used a humbling defeat to turn its season around.
“After we lost to Bonner (40-14), we really had to pick it up,” Crusaders quarterback Jeron Phillips Jr. said. “Our practice changed. Our routine changed. And we had to change. Now we’re on a three-game winning streak.”
The offense really clicked for Lansdale Catholic (6-3 overall, 4-2 PCL Blue). Phillips finished 8-13 for 111 yards and three scores through the air. Danny Dutkiewicz found the end zone twice on 196 all-purpose yards (166 rushing, 30 receiving) while Luke Shrager added two touchdowns and 58 yards on the ground.
“We can score from whatever: Pass, run, special teams,” Phillips said. “That’s what we did tonight. That’s what we bring to the PCL that’s different from everyone else.”
The scoring started early. After Carroll (4-5, 3-3) deferred, the Crusaders established their dominance, needing just six plays to open up a 7-0 lead. Phillips hit Dutkiewicz for a 19-yard screen pass to close the drive.
“We had to send a message and score on the first drive,” Phillips said. “They gave us the ball, and we felt that was disrespectful. We’ve got to score every time we get the ball.”
Lansdale Catholic doubled its advantage when Phillips hooked up with Pat Daly on third-and-goal from the 16 near the end of the first quarter.
Carroll didn’t help itself on its way to trailing 14-0. The Patriots went threeand-out on their first possession, then muffed a punt to set up the Crusaders’ second touchdown.
When Evan Hannings picked off Nick Lamey after Lamey’s intended receiver slipped, it looked like the end of Carroll’s night. Hannings weaved his way down to the Patriots’ 4 before being chased down by Kimmel. But the Patriots’ linebacker forced the ball loose and Carroll recovered.
“No matter what, just give 100 percent every play,” Kimmel said. “Big things will happen.”
The play will look great on tape and give the Patriots something to learn from. Even on Friday, they didn’t give up.
Dutkiewicz’s second touchdown made it 21-0, but Carroll answered before the half, Malachi Hansen snagging Lamey’s throw to reduce the deficit to 15.
Lansdale Catholic was just relentless, though. The Patriots went three-andout to begin the third quarter. Phillips responded with his third touchdown pass of the night, this time hitting Jimmy Casey.
When Carroll got down to the Crusaders’ 8 following four plays of 11-plus yards — the highlight of which was a diving catch over the middle by Jahlil Warren — a short run and three sacks ended any hopes of a comeback.
Drops hurt the Patriots all game, and the big plays (like Warren’s catch and his 40-yard fourth-quarter dash) came sporadically.
Shrager had touchdown runs of nine and six yards to close the scoring for Lansdale Catholic. Lamey, who played better than his numbers (15-for-34, 170 yards) might indicate, hit Stephen Gambone for a 13-yard score to provide consolation points for Carroll.
The Patriots will try to right the ship against Bishop McDevitt, while the Crusaders will look to stretch their win streak to four against Neumann-Goretti.