La Salle blanks Ryan in Pclopener
Possibly as early as next seasonI Jimmy Herron will be La Salle High’s starting quarterback.
rntil thenI the sophomore is busy being the Philadelphia Catholic League’s most versatile skill player.
Saturday afternoonI Herron had his hand in just about every aspect of the Explorers offenseI catching a touchdownI running for a touchdown and throwing for a touchdown as La Salle captured its PCL Class AAAA openerI PN-MI over host Archbishop Ryan.
Herron wasn’t alone in offensive heroics. nuarterback Chris hane threw for 29T yards and a touchdown and running back Jared Herrmann found the end zone twice as the Explorers stretched their unbeaten record to R-M.
“The coaches put me in whatever position they think I’ll best help the teamI” said HerronI “and I’m just trying to make plays.”
Herron made a play on La 6DOOH’V fiUVW VQDS RI WKH EDOO - and it likely turned the game completely around.
Ryan’s Bobby Romano grabbed the opening kickoff and bolted T9 yards to the La Salle NR before being shoved out of bounds by kicker Ryan tinslow.
The RaidersI who came into the game having won three in a rowI were thinking early ambush. InsteadI when Explorers lineman Tom Spiteri sacked Ryan quarterback jark Ostaszewski at the La Salle N2 on third downI the home team had WR VHWWOH IRU D fiHOG-JRDO DWtempt. And when Joe Stock’s kick sailed wide leftI the ear- ly momentum was gone.
One play laterI the Explorers were on top to stay when hane dropped back and found Herron down the right sideline.
Eighty yards laterI that Ryan momentum was in the archives and the Explorers were in front.
“Sometimes when we don’t get off to the best startI we like to take a shot downfiHOG,” HHUURQ VDLG. “7KH pass could have gone to either me or EteammateF Sean EColemanFI and it was just a great pass by Chris.”
“The way they were defensing usI that play was openI” said La Salle coach Drew GordonI dismissing the suggestion that the Explorers went for the jugular DIWHU 5YDQ’V GHflDWLQJ fiUVW possession. “The play is designed to go to the leftI but Chris took his chances with the one-on-one coverage and threw a nice ball.”
After a Ryan three-and-out on the ensuing possessionI hane and the Explorers went right back to workI motoring 49 yards on eight playsI with Herrmann taking care of the fiQDO VHVHQ WR GRXEOH WKH VLVitors’ lead.
tinslow tacked on three more points at the end of a 4S-yardI nine-play march at the outset of the second quarterI chipping a 2N-yard fiHOG JRDO WHOO RXW RI WKH HQG zone.
Then after La Salle tight end Jon Naji ended the Raiders’ best drive of the day by tipping and intercepting an attempted screen pass at the Explorers 2RI Herron went back to work.
After seeing a PT-yard WRXFKGRWQ UXQ QXOOLfiHG EY a holding penaltyI Herron snared an NU-yard pass from hane to move La Salle to the Ryan 2P.
Two plays laterI taking the snap out of the wildcatI Herron rolled left and southpawed a strike to Herrmann in the left corner of the end zone to send the Explorers into halftime with a 24-M lead.
“I’ll get a decent amount of reps at quarterback in practiceI” Herron saidI “and that was the best play to run in that situation. Brett ELa Salle offensive coordinator Brett GordonF signaled the play in from the sidelines.
“It’s really been good for me because EhaneF really knows the offense and he’ll give me tipsI too. If I have a questionI I know I can go to him.”
tith a 24-point cushion at the breakI the Explorers came out and played what Drew Gordon calledI “horrible offensively” in the second halfI with penalties and poor execution heading the list of deterrents.
HerronI howeverI got to complete his end zone hat trick when he scored on a P-yard run with RWMR left in the third quarter.
And despite a challenging scheduleI La Salle was a gaudy R-M.
“I think it’s mostly coachingI” Herron saidI when asked about the Explorers’ success. “te work hard every week in practiceI and no matter the opponentI we come to work every week.”
EuTRA POINTSW The Explorers are still not at full strength. Spiteri and fellow lineman Andrew Carlone played only sparinglyI while center David Geppert was still unable to go due to injury.