Seniors lead way as La Salle rolls Archbishop Ryan
FORT WASHINGTON >> Tyson Goldstein saw the chance and didn’t hesitate.
The La Salle senior linebacker laid out a massive hit on Archbishop Ryan’s punter four plays into the game, giving his team a short field and putting his entire
sideline in a frenzy. The Explorers celebrated their seniors on Friday but they were far from the only ones to make some noise.
For the second straight week, La Salle turned in a dominant performance, defeating the Raiders 49-0 at Upper Dublin High School.
“I saw him pick up the ball and it was my chance to make a big play, so I went in and hit him,” Goldstein said. “After that loss (to St. Joe’s Prep), we’ve been working some different defenses and took our chances to try them out.”
Ryan tried to get some early momentum and opted to receive the opening kickoff. The Raiders don’t have many guys on their roster but they certainly played with maximum effort down to their final few snaps.
La Salle stopped the initial drive to force a punt. A bad snap went over the punter’s head and
after he bobbled the ball trying to field it and run, Goldstein came flying in for a crushing hit to give the offense the ball on Ryan’s 12yard line.
“It feels amazing,” Goldstein said. “It let us start the game off right.”
For the second straight week, La Salle’s first-team defense posted a shutout. In total, the Explorers have given up just seven points in wins over Father Judge and Ryan and that’s without standout senior linebacker Dillon Trainer, who sat those two games with an injury.
Sophomore Chris Thompson has been terrific filling in alongside fellow sophomore Abdul Carter and seniors Jalen DeVose and Goldstein. The defensive line has been good getting push and the secondary has firmed up.
Ryan did have some success throwing the ball, with senior quarterback Cole Lowe showing resolve while under pressure, absorbing a few hits and gutting out a nagging injury. But overall, Goldstein felt the coverage was solid and the Raiders didn’t get in the endzone.
“Our coverage has been way better, we really got exposed in that game against Prep so we wanted to tighten up what we did wrong,” Goldstein said. “Chris Thompson is a young guy but he’s been calling the defenses out well and he’s been amazing.”
Goldstein as his classmates wanted to make their Senior Night a good one, then focus on building off the performance with two weeks left before the postseason.
“It’s one of our last times being together, it’s the only Senior Night we have so we couldn’t mess it up,” Goldstein said. “I want us to dominate and get better each week as we work towards our goal, which is a state championship.” SHOWSTEALER >> Kenny O’Kane had no idea it was coming.
The senior offensive linemen knew he’d have some extended family in the stands when he was introduced with his parents on the field. What he couldn’t have known was that more than a dozen family members had crammed into a section of the UD bleachers to greet him.
As soon as his name was announced, someone in the party blasted an airhorn, another held a cutout of his face outlined by blinking lights and a few more signs went up.
“All of that was a huge surprise for me,” O’Kane said. “I couldn’t believe it, I was awestruck. I think I said ‘what is going on?’ but it was just awesome.”
O’Kane and his fellow linemen helped the Explorers score on five of their six first half possessions, with senior quarterback Jack Machita tossing touchdowns on two of them.
“It was great for all the team, the coaches, all of us and even the second string, it brings a ton of energy to the sideline,” O’Kane said. “It’s all the way we come together. Prep was a tough loss, but we decided we had to take it one week at a time and just prepare as best we can for the week in front of us.”
After the loss to the Prep, O’Kane and the rest of the line decided they needed to be more aggressive but also stay humbled.
By doing that, they’ve also opened up playing time for the backups. Gavin Daly led two touchdown drives, 11 different players carried the ball and plenty of guys got reps on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
Having worked his way up from backup to firstteamer, O’Kane always appreciates when the reserves get in.
“You just have to play one play at a time like it’s your last play, our coaches stress that to us a lot,” O’Kane said. “Once the second string came in, the starters didn’t drop off in energy, we were pretty loud cheering for them. When I leave, I’ll know they have our backs and keep the program strong.”
As for that raucous welcome, O’Kane’s classmates let him know what thought.
“Some guys were joking around so that was pretty cool,” O’Kane said.
VESPE DOWN THE MIDDLE >> Every senior wants to have a good game on their Senior Night and Brad Vespe was able to say he did.
The senior is listed as a tailback and defensive back, but he can pretty much line up anywhere on offense. It paid off Friday with a pair of touchdown grabs, including a 36-yarder down the middle of the field from fellow senior Jack Machita.
“It felt great, I haven’t run for a long one like that in a while so it was a pretty cool feeling,” Vespe said. “I just do what’s needed because it’s for the best of the team and I love playing football.”
Vespe summed it pretty simply that “Jack just finds us when we’re open,” but with so many options on offense, the senior also said everyone’s gotten much more comfortable in their roles.
The play down the middle has been a staple for Vespe and Machita and it set up perfectly for the two seniors on Friday.
“Before the play, the two safeties were split wide and I saw a seam down the middle,” Vespe said. “Jack just did a great job to find me. It just comes from playing with Jack for a while, he always finds me.” they