It wasn’t Franklin Field, it was Springfield’s Spartan Stadium. It wasn’t 10,000 fans, it was just a couple of thousand. It wasn’t St. Joseph’s Prep, it was Roman Catholic. But for the Cahillites of Roman, it was their biggest victory in years, as the boys from Broad and Vine Streets defeated the La Salle Explorers for the first time since 2007, 27-20, and knocked the Blue and Gold from the unbeaten ranks. Here’s how this upset unfolded:
Roman won the toss, and deferred to the second half. Ndori Jeack blooped the kickoff short of the La Salle deep men, and Matt Mitchell picked up the bouncing ball at the 6 and got it out just to the 16. The La Salle offense started out with a 10-yard gain and a first down on a sweep to the left by Sam Brown. Brown gained just two up a congested left guard slot. QB Alan Paturzo swung a pass on the right side to WR Ryan Sorge for a first down on the Explorer 37. Brown then tried to sweep the left side, but was bottled up for a three-yard loss. Brown gained that back up right guard, bringing up a third and 10 at the La Salle 37. Paturzo tried to find WR Nole Henry deep down the middle, but the pass was overthrown, and La Salle would have to punt. Santi Sturla’s fluttering punt was fumbled but recovered by Cahillite supersoph Tysheer Denmark on the Roman 31, with 9:11 left in the first quarter.
Roman started their series off with a delay of game penalty. Junior RB Mao Howell, former La Salle running back as a freshman, swept the left side for 4 yards, with tackles by Kieran Campbell and Darold Dengohe. Soph QB John Ingram then floated a bomb deep down the left side, and Denmark, a terror all game long, made a one-handed catch to the La Salle 43. Howell cut up the middle for 5 yards before Abdul Carter brought him down. Ingram tried to hit Denmark again deep on the left side, but the pass was overthrown, with coverage by Kelby Hampton. On third and 5 at the La Salle 38, Howell shot up the middle for a first down on the La Salle 27, with tackles by Sean McFadden and Chris Convey. Howell gained just a yard up the middle, as McFadden and Tim Fiedler combined on the hit. Howell gained two more up the middle, as McFadden and Dengohe took him down, setting up a third and 7 on the Explorer 24. Ingram threw a quick sideline pass to Denmark, who bolted to the La Salle 3 for a first and goal. Denmark then went into the wildcat, and went over left guard and swerved into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown. Jeack tumbled the extra point over the crossbar, and the Cahillites surprised the Explorers with their first drive and a 7-0 lead, with 5:10 left in the first stanza.
Jeack’s kickoff to the 11 was returned by Mitchell to the 31, and La Salle would try to even the score. Brown was brought down by an ankle tackle after a 1-yard gain. Brown then went over right tackle through a big hole to the Roman 40 for a first down. Brown tried the same hole, but was stopped for no gain. On play action, Paturzo tossed to Henry on the left side, who followed a good block by Sorge for a first down at the Cahillite 26. Brown swept the right side, and made a good cut for a 6-yard gain, but La Salle was flagged for holding, putting them back to the Roman 35. Brown gained 10 yards back on a sweep right. Paturzo then found EJ Wentz on a screen to the right side for a first down at the Roman 15, and La Salle was in the red zone. Paturzo, in a wide formation, kept the ball up the middle for 7 yards. Ryan Moore came into the offense as the wildcat, but a fumbled high snap resulted in no gain. On third and 3 at the 8, Moore wildcatted up right guard to the 3-yard line for a first and goal. The next snap to Moore was high, and Moore lost 6 yards, as the first quarter ended with Roman on top, 7-0. On play action, Paturzo threw a screen right to Sorge, who gained 4. On third and six at the 5, Paturzo tried to hit Moore on a slant across the middle, but the pass was too long. Sturla came on to try a 22-yard field goal, but Roman was flagged for offsides, and La Salle’s offense came back onto the field with the ball at the 2 ½ yard line. Paturzo handed the ball off to Brown, who took two steps toward a sweep right, but then stopped, and looked for Paturzo racing to the left corner of the end zone. Brown’s pass had a little too much air under it, and the pass was broken up. The long La Salle drive resulted in no points, with 11:16 left in the half.
Denmark, in the wildcat, gained 6 yards up left tackle, with Kevin Hawley making the tackle. Denmark, then gained a first down to the 14, with another takedown by Hawley. Howell gained 8 yards off the left side, as Daniel Ford made the hit. Howell, swept the right side for a first down to the 28, as McFadden made the tackle, as the large Roman offensive line was doing its job. Ingram tossed a pass on the right side to Denmark for 5 yards, as DB Del Jackson made a nice tackle. Howell went left, then cut up the middle for 2 yards, with Dengohe taking him down. On third and 3 at the Roman 35, the Cahillites were flagged for a procedure penalty. Ingram was then sacked for an eight-yard loss by Campbell, aided by an outside blitz by Carter. Finally, a break for La Salle: the snap to punter Jason Patterson was high, and Ford corralled Patterson at the Roman 11, with 7:05 left in the half, and La Salle now in great scoring position.
Brown took a pitch to the right side for 4 yards. Brown then went up right guard for 4 more, setting up a third and two at the 3. Moore, in the wildcat, had to corral a high snap, and his handoff to Wentz wasn’t in sync, but Wentz got to the 1 ½ yard line to set up a fourth and a half yard. Moore, in the wildcat, went up the middle for a two-yard touchdown. Sturla tied the score at 7-7 with his extra point, and 5:06 remained in the half.
Sturla’s kickoff found the end zone. Howell swept the left side and was smeared for a two-yard loss by Carter in hot pursuit. Ingram swung the ball out to Denmark on the right side, and he got a first down out to the 32, with tackles by Ford and Dengohe. Ingram then tossed a screen to the left side to WR Trey Woodley for 2 yards, with Carter and Convey combining on the tackle. Ingram then rolled right and threw out of bounds, setting up a third and 8 at the 34, as Roman called a time out with 2:52 left in the half. Ingram then threw a bomb on the right side to Denmark, rapidly becoming La Salle’s least favorite European country, and Denmark made a fingertip catch, stayed in bounds, ran around a couple of would-be tacklers, and went out of bounds on the La Salle 9 for a first and goal. La Salle had been flagged for a holding penalty that was enforced at the end of the run, and the ball was placed at the 4. Howell was thrown for a one-yard loss by Matt Wills and Fiedler. But Denmark came in for the wildcat position, and blasted his way up the middle for a 5-yard touchdown. Jeack’s wounded duck PAT made it through, and Roman was surprising La Salle with a 14-7 lead, with just 1:38 left in a fast-moving first half.
Jeack’s kick to the 24 was caught by McFadden, who swept the left side to the La Salle 37, as the offense would try to make something happen before the half ended. Paturzo was sacked for a 12-yard loss by a rampaging Jameial Lyons, and the Explorers called a time out with 1:19 left. Paturzo found Brown on a drag pattern across the field, and Brown got out of bounds on the La Salle 43, setting up a third and four. Paturzo found Henry over the middle for a 5-yard gain and a first down, and Paturzo spiked the ball on the next play. Paturzo then threw too low for Henry. On third and 10 at the La Salle 48, Paturzo scrambled to the right, broke a tackle, and went out of bounds on the Roman 39 for a first down, with 43 seconds left. Paturzo screened right to Wentz for a 4-yard gain, and La Salle consumed another time out. Paturzo’s flare pass to Moore on the right resulted in no gain. Paturzo then threw deep to Henry, and Roman was flagged for interference. La Salle now had a first down at the Cahillite 24. Paturzo threw too deep for Moore. Paturzo’s pass to Moore on a long post was broken up, with 8 seconds left in the half. A field goal effort by Sturla would be from 42 yards, but La Salle gave it one more shot from scrimmage. With 5 receivers out wide, Paturzo found a wide-open Sorge down the right slot into the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown. Sturla’s extra point ended the half, and La Salle had crawled back to a 14-14 tie with Roman.
The Explorers just didn’t have their edge in the first half, playing reactive instead of pro-active, and Roman was taking advantage of their lethargy. This happens so often in sports after a big victory, a letdown that everyone knows could happen, but no one seems to be able to stop it. Roman’s offense centered around Denmark, Howell, and Ingram, and La Salle was not able to rattle the soph QB Ingram into a critical mistake. Tying the score at the end of the half provided hope that they could turn things around in the second half.
Sturla’s second-half kickoff found the end zone again, and the Cahillites would come out for a key possession that may alter the momentum of the game. Howell tried to sweep the left side, but the ICBM Carter nailed him down for a 4-yard loss. A look-in pass from Ingram to Denmark was dropped, bringing up a third and 14 at the 16. Ingram tossed to Howell, who scrambled to the left to the 28, short of a first down, but La Salle was flagged for a face-mask penalty, and Roman had a first down at their 43. Howell was stuffed up right guard for just a one-yard gain by Fiedler and McFadden. Roman was then hit for another delay of game penalty. Ingram rolled right, and hit Mekhi Watson on the right side, but the pass was caught out of bounds. Incredibly, the Cahillites were again hit with a delay penalty, setting up a third and 19 at the 34. A pass from Ingram was almost intercepted by Convey. Patterson’s punt was fair-caught by Moore on La Salle’s 34, with 9:07 left in the third, and the Explorers looking to take their first lead of the game.
Moore lined up in the wildcat, and handed off to Brown up left tackle for 5 yards. Moore bobbled an option keeper, and lost 2 yards. On third and 7 at the La Salle 37, Paturzo’s pass to Moore was broken up. Wouldn’t have mattered, because La Salle held on the play. Prior to Sturla’s punt, the Explorers were called for procedure, and they were self-destructing on penalties. Sturla’s punt to the Roman 26 was returned by Denmark, but Matt Mitchell chased him down for a 5-yard loss. But Mitchell was flagged for a face-mask penalty, and Roman would start from their own 36, with 7:32 left in the third period.
Howell gained 8 up right tackle, with Dengohe on the stop. Howell then went off the right side and got out of bounds for a first down on the La Salle 47. On a bad snap, Ingram had to fall on the ball for a six-yard loss. An Ingram-to-Howell screen gained the six back, with Hawley on the hit. On third and 10 at the La Salle 47, Howell banged the middle, got knocked back, and tried again, but lost 2 yards on the “presidential” tackle by Carter and Ford. On fourth down, Patterson’s punt was downed on the La Salle 20, with 4:46 left in the third.
Brown swept the right side, breaking two tackles, and gaining 30 yards to midfield for a first down. Stevie Davis relieved him and gained 6 yards up right tackle. Brown got back in and swept the left side, making a good cut for three yards, setting up a third and one at the Roman 41. Brown then went off left tackle, broke a tackle, did a 360-degree spin to the outside, and blazed down the sideline, leaping happily into the end zone for a 41-yard touchdown, and La Salle’s first lead of the game. Sturla’s PAT was deflected into the upright on a big rush from the outside, but La Salle led, 20-14, with 3:33 left in the third quarter.
Sturla again blasted his kick into the end zone. The Cahillites were called for procedure before the first snap of the drive. Howell went off the right side for six yards, stopped by DB Del Jackson. He gained four more off right tackle, taken down by Hawley and Ford. On third and 5 at the 25, Ingram threw quickly on the right sideline to Denmark, who broke a tackle before being stopped by Fiedler, but Roman had a first down on their own 35. Ingram then dropped back, and arced an aerial down the right side. Denmark jumped to make the catch on the run, and didn’t stop until he scored on a 65-yard touchdown, shocking the La Salle partisans. Jeack’s extra point attempt was wide, and the game was tied at 20-20, with 1:37 left in the third period.
Jeack flubbed the kickoff, which was returned by Wills from the 32 to the 35. Brown swept the left side for a first down at the La Salle 47. Brown danced his way up right tackle for 5 more. Brown tried another sweep, gave ground to avoid a tackle, but lost 7 yards on great pursuit by the Roman defense. On third and 12 at the La Salle 45, wildcat Moore flared a pass to Wentz while under pressure, but it fell incomplete. Sturla punted to the Cahillite 9, and Denmark was taken down by Colin Dunlap, and Roman was guilty of a block in the back, and would start from their own 3, as the third quarter ended with the team knotted up at 20-20.
Out of the wildcat, Denmark gained two up the middle. He then tried left guard for one, with stop by McFadden and Fiedler. On third and 7 at the 6, Ingram rolled right, and overthrew Woodley. Patterson’s punt went out of bounds on the Roman 48, with 10:35 left in the game, and La Salle looking to drive for the lead.
Brown went up left guard for three. With power, Brown gained 5 up right tackle, setting up a third and two at the Roman 40. In a key moment in the game, Brown was stuffed for no gain. La Salle would go for it. Moore, in the wildcat, went off right tackle, but was bottled up for no gain, and the Cahillites would have great field position, with 8:25 left in the battle.
Howell went off right tackle, but lost two yards on a great tackle by the soph Hampton. Ingram tossed to Denmark on the left side. Denmark fell down, but La Salle was hit for a holding penalty, and Roman had a first down on the La Salle 48. Howell gained 4 off left tackle, as Campbell brought him down. Howell got 5 more up left tackle, with Ford and Dengohe combining on the hit. On third and one at the La Salle 39, Howell gained three for the first down, and was taken down by Fiedler and Ford. Howell, the workhorse, gained one up the middle as Ford and Dengohe stopped him again. RB Brandon Mack entered the game, and got four up the middle, tackled by Carter, but La Salle was hit for yet another penalty, a personal foul, and Roman was in the red zone with a first down at the La Salle 16. Mack got one up right guard, as Hawley and the ubiquitous Dengohe made the tackle. The Cahillites were flagged for a procedure penalty. Howell gained just a yard up left tackle, with Dengohe and Ford on the takedown. On third and 13 at the 19, in 4-down territory, Ingram rolled right and hit Woodley on the sideline for a first and goal at the La Salle 6, with 3:01 left. Howell was stopped for no gain by Carter and Ford, as La Salle called time out with 2:40 left. Wildcat Denmark gained two off the left side, with Moore on the stop, but a minor face mask penalty put the ball inside the 2, with second down looming. Denmark was stopped inside the one by Ford and others. On third and goal, Denmark bulled into the end zone to give Roman the lead. Jeack made the extra point, and the Cahillites could smell the victory, leading 27-20, with about 2:05 left (the scoreboard clock was malfunctioning all game long).
Jeack’s kickoff to the 17 was returned by Davis to the 35, and La Salle had their last chance. Paturzo, with good protection, found Henry on the left side, and Henry stepped out of bounds on the La Salle 47 for a first down. Paturzo’s screen to Wentz on the left side was smelled out for just a one-yard gain in bounds. Paturzo then tried a pass into the left flat. The pass was deflected by Jamieal Lyons, who fell to the ground as the ball fell down upon him for an interception. Roman was flagged for a celebration penalty after the play, but it didn’t matter. Ingram knelt down twice, and Roman Catholic pulled the upset by defeating La Salle, 27-20.
Notes
In addition to not playing with their usual edge, the Explorers earned all of the penalties assessed to them. Their stirring victory against the Prep seven days before seemed like a month ago after this game against the Cahillites. The coming week is a bye week, and gives the coaches and the team a chance to get back on track before the last two regular season games. It’s not the worst thing in the world to get your nose bloodied in a game that you fully expected to win. Experiencing the pain of a loss may benefit the team in the long run.
As painful as this loss was, it may end up having no bearing on the overall standings. If La Salle wins their two remaining games against Father Judge and Archbishop Wood, they still will be awarded first place in a tiebreaker against St. Joseph’s Prep due to their win at Franklin Field. But, if things line up properly, they may be playing Roman Catholic again in the first round of the playoffs, a chance for redemption, but a concern to play a team that had beaten you already.
As poorly as La Salle played, it would not be right to not mention the superlative efforts of the Cahillites, who did to La Salle what La Salle did to St. Joseph’s Prep. Sophomore Tysheer Denmark is the real deal, and he gained over 200 yards in receptions, and was all over the field. Mao Howell, as small as he is, is a workhorse halfback with breakaway speed. Soph QB John Ingram was cool in the pocket, and made some critical throws. And the immense Roman line, most having to go both ways, stood up to La Salle, and didn’t get worn down. The Cahillites will be a formidable playoff opponent to anyone, and it may indeed be La Salle.
This coming week is a bye week. La Salle will be back in action on Friday, October 22 at 6 PM at Father Judge. They will be well-rested, and focused on the two remaining league games.
