Lansdale Catholic eases by U.merion
They were two teams on two separate missions Friday night.
One, visiting Lansdale Catholic was seeking to continue the momentum from a thrilling season-opening wLn — WKH fiUVW Ln KHDG FoDFK 7oP .LUN’V fiUVW JDPH since taking the reins from legendary coach Jim Algeo — against Prep Charter in Ocean City, N.J.
The other, host Upper Merion, was out to end a dubious string of 21 consecutive losses.
When the dust setted, it was mission accomplished for the Crusaders, who hung a decisive 38-14 loss on the Vikings.
“It feels great,” said Kirk, who was missing two starting defensive linemen going in, who added his team did not have a good week of practice and that he was “concerned” coming in.
“When you get used to winning, winning starts to take care of itself.”
Though undermanned on the defensive side of the ball, the Crusaders pitched a shutout through three quarters, leading 31-0 heading into a finDO IUDPH EHVHW Ey SHnDOties and sloppy play by both teams.
But the Crusaders had made their statement well before then, holding Upper Merion tailback Hassan Gardner, who had 116 yards last week against Penncrest, to 26 yards on 10 carries in WKH fiUVW KDOI.
“That was our game plan,” said Kirk, who had a balanced, ball-control offense directed by quarterback Pat Duggan to complement the swarming defense. “We knew it was going to be won or lost by our defensive line. We knew (the Vikings) were faster than we are, and we couldn’t let them get going.”
With the Vikings pretty much passing in the second half, quarterback Carmen Fortino was 12 for 30 for 160 yards, with two touchdowns to speedy Michael Grant and one interception. GDUGnHU finLVKHG wLWK MuVW 36 yards on 14 totes. Adding in three catches for 32 yards and 23 yards on a pair of kick returns, his all-purpose sum was 91 yards.
While understanding the season is in its infancy, Kirk acknowledged that winning one game by a point (27-26 over Prep Charter) and another with relative ease was important.
“That’s good for us, to win both types of games,” said Kirk, whose team scored all fivH oI LWV WouFKGownV on WKH ground.
Ten different Crusaders carried the ball, with Kevin Sabo leading the way with 63 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Three others — Duggan (12 carries, 45 yards), Joe Schmid (7 carries, 42 yards), Mike Iacono (5 carries, 43 yards) and James Ward (8 carries, 40 yards and a nifty 30-yard run) — all had more than 40 yards.
Duggan, did not let a pass hit the ground, completing IouU SDVVHV, DOO Ln WKH fiUVW half, for 79 yards.
Ward, who opened the second half with a 67-yard kick return to set up Sabo’s second touchdown run, also had a disputed 32-yard catch along the Upper Merion VLGHOLnH on WKH fiUVW SODy oI the second quarter to set up a 15-yard touchdown run by Duggan that turned what had been a tight game into a decisive 17-0 stranglehold for the Crusaders with 7:06 left