In the summer of 1958, La Salle head coach John “Tex” Flannery, age 36, was a disciple of the offense of Colonel “Red’ Blaik, Army’s head coach, and Tex ventured up to West Point to learn something new.
The “something new” was the Lonesome End, where the split end lined up just one yard from the sideline, sometimes not to be seen, but mainly to take a defensive back out of a play to the inside.
In the fourth quarter, La Salle, trailing by one, drove to the Panther 12, and faced a third down and 7, within field goal range. They lined up in a “trips left” formation, and wide receiver Ryan Moore, also the wildcat quarterback, was wide to the right on his own. Though he wasn’t way out as a lonesome end, he wasn’t within 20 yards of a defender when the ball was snapped; maybe he had a garlic and onion wrap for lunch. QB Alan Paturzo spotted Moore waving frantically, and the 12-yard TD pass put La Salle ahead to stay in a 13-8 victory over a tough Imhotep team. Here’s how the game went down:
La Salle won the toss, and deferred to the second half, trusting their defense to keep the Panthers from scoring. Santi Stula’s booming kickoff found the end zone. QB Mikal Davis came out throwing, but he had to scramble for 3 yards on right side, with stop by Daniel Ford. Davis threw to Amir Valentine on the left side, but CB Amir Anderson jumped the route and the pass fell incomplete. On third and 7 at the 23, Davis was sacked for an 8-yard loss by the rampaging duo of linebackers Abdul Carter and Chris Thompson, who would have great games. Will Robinson tried to punt, but the kick was shanked. However, La Salle was called for a running into the kicker, and Robinson got to punt again, but it came off his foot like one of my pitching wedge shots, out of bounds at the Imhotep 30, with 10:02 left in the initial stanza.
La Salle came out with a seven-man front, eliminating the ends and trying to run the ball down the throat of the Panthers. Sam Brown went up the middle with some power for 8 yards. Brown gained two yards and a first down at the 20 with another middle run. Stevie Davis came in and gained a yard up left tackle. La Salle went for it all as Alan Paturzo threw an alley-oop to the left corner of the end zone to Brown, but the pass was intercepted by a leaping Rashaan Wright, and the great field position went for naught.
Again at their own 20, Imhotep this time ran the ball, as Corey Wright-Downing went off left tackle and found a lot of open space to the Panther 47. Tre McLeod went up the middle for 4 yards, with stops by Thompson and Sean McFadden. La Salle then jumped on a hard count, bringing up a second and one. McLeod went up the middle for three yards and a first down on the La Salle 41, as Matt Wills and Thompson combined on the tackle. McLeod was stopped for no gain off left tackle by Ford. Davis ran an option keeper up the middle for 4 yards, knocked down by Carter. On third and 6 at the La Salle 37, on play action, Davis was blasted down for a 5-yard loss on a blitz by Carter. Davis’s punt rolled out of bounds at the Explorer 5, with 4:19 left in the first period.
Paturzo, on possibly a busted play, kept the ball for a 2-yard loss. Brown went off right tackle for 2, setting up a third and 10 at the 5. Ryan Moore came in at wildcat, and zig-zagged for a first down at the 15. Brown went off left tackle and cut back for 6 yards. On play action, Paturzo found EJ Wentz on a slant-in for a first down at the La Salle 40, and the Explorers were moving. Brown stepped left, then went right for just a yard. Off of a fake jet sweep, Paturzo threw wide left to Moore, who dropped the ball, and just as well because Imhotep was right on him. On third and 9 at the 41, Paturzo tossed to Brown in the left flat for a 9-yard gain and a first down at midfield. Brown gained two up the middle. The wildcat Moore ran an option up the middle for 6 yards as the scoreless first quarter ended. Brown ran off right tackle, and cut up for 6 yards and a first down at the Panther 36. Brown was hit immediately for a three-yard loss on the left side. Paturzo found Wentz in the left flat for 6 yards. On third and seven at the Panther 33, under a rush, Paturzo calmly threw a post pattern to Brown crossing from the left, and Brown scored from 33 yards out, finishing off a 95-yard, 16-play drive. Sturla’s extra point was true, and La Salle had a 7-0 lead, with 10:03 left in the half.
Sturla found the end zone again on the kickoff. Robinson hit the middle for 3 yards, with Thompson taking him down. Robinson went off right tackle, and broke a tackle before being brought down by DB Mekhi Johnson at the 33 for a first down. Robinson was brought down roughly by Carter up the middle for no gain. Davis bootlegged to the left, and tossed a pass downfield that was broken up by the ubiquitous Thompson. On third and 10 at the Panther 33, Davis’s pass fell harmlessly incomplete, as Carter and McFadden hit him during the throw. Talik Burton punted, and the ball was either shanked, deflected, or both, and the ball rolled dead on the La Salle 38, with 7:46 left in the half.
Brown swept the left side for 8 yards, but La Salle was flagged for one of their several holding penalties. Paturzo faked a jet sweep, and threw out to Moore, and the pass again was incomplete, and happily so, as the ‘Tep was all over this play. Paturzo was sacked for a 2-yard loss, as no one was open. On third and 23 at the La Salle 49, a screen to the right to Wentz gained about 10 yards, but the Explorers held again, setting up a lovely third and 38 at the La Salle 34. Paturzo threw an arcing medium-range pass to Ryan Sorge, who bobbled the ball up high, and Imhotep’s Maurice Beverly intercepted the ball at the Panther 47, with 5:54 left in the half.
Good field position benefited the ‘Tep here. McLeod gained a yard, with tackle by Thompson. McLeod swept the right side, but Darold Dengohe and Sam Ross belted him down for no gain. On third and 9 at the Panther 48, Davis threw deep to Wright-Downing, and the pass was broken up, but La Salle was tagged for a ticky-tack pass interference, and Imhotep had a first down at the La Salle 37. Jabree Wallace-Coleman broke through a hole at right tackle for 14 yards, but now Imhotep was called for holding. ‘Tep called time out, with 3:10 remaining in the half. Wallace-Coleman found a hole up the middle for 11 yards, with stops by McFadden and Brennen Miller. Wallace-Coleman gained two up the middle for a first down, as Carter made another tackle. McLeod powered up the middle through a big hole to the La Salle 3, with Carter and Del Jackson on the TD-saving tackle. McLeod blasted up right guard for a 3-yard touchdown. Imhotep would go for two, and McLeod continued his surge through the La Salle line with a 2-point play, and Imhotep led La Salle, 8-7, with 1:57 left in the tense first half.
The kickoff went to the 13, and Stevie Davis ran it out to the 31, and he was blasted out of bounds with Imhotep garnering a roughness penalty. On their own 46, La Salle’s Wentz got no gain up the middle. Paturzo kept the ball on the right side, but was stopped for a 4-yard loss, as Imhotep called a time out with 54 seconds left, and a third and 14 at the La Salle 42. Paturzo found Brown across the middle on a drag pattern, but the ball was dropped. Sturla’s punt to the 13 was returned by Wright-Downing to about the 39, but Imhotep was flagged for a block in the back, and would start at their own 20, with 42 seconds left.
Robinson found an opening up the middle for 13 yards, with Miller on the stop, and Imhotep hurried off another play, with Robinson finding a hole on the right side for 9 yards before Carter brought him down fiercely. Imhotep called time out, with 21 seconds left. Robinson scrambled up the middle to the La Salle 47, and Imhotep spiked the ball. Robinson scrambled for no gain, with tackle by soph Kieran Campbell. A procedure call while the clock ran to zero caused some consternation with the officials, but the half was over, and the Panthers were clinging to an 8-7 lead.
La Salle’s offense was bitten by two interceptions on seemingly good throws by Alan Paturzo, but they seemed able to move the ball. The Blue and Gold defense were tested by the powerful Imhotep offense, but they kept the Panther running game from breaking any big play, and they stormed the quarterback in passing situations. One concern was that the Panthers seemed to have found a spot on the line to attack with their rushing game.
Keon Wylie kicked off for ‘Tep to start the second half, and McFadden returned the ball from the 18 to about the 25. Moore started the second half in the wildcat position, but La Salle was flagged for procedure before getting a play off. Moore bootlegged right, and lost two yards. Paturzo got back in the saddle, and threw a bubble screen to Moore on the right side for 8 yards. On third and nine at the 26, Paturzo was sacked on the blind side, and fumbled the ball, but he recovered it. Sturla’s punt was almost blocked, but he got a great roll to inside the Imhotep 40, but the ball was ruled touched by La Salle at the Panther 45, where they would take over.
Robinson tested right guard for two, tackled by Miller and Dengohe. Robinson went off left tackle for two more, as Carter and Kevin Hawley, subbing for the injured Thompson, combined on the hit. On third and 6 at their own 49, McLeod went up the middle for 6 yards and a first down, as Campbell and Dengohe brought him down. Wallace-Coleman gained 5 off the right side, as Hawley and Carter made the stop, but Imhotep was driving. Wallace-Coleman swept the left side, but Hawley made a great ankle tackle for a 2-yard loss. On third and 7 at the La Salle 42, Imhotep was called for procedure. Davis then hit Rohjhli Atkinson in the left flat for a first down to the La Salle 33, as Matt Wills made the takedown. Robinson tested the middle for two with tackles by Dengohe and Hawley, but the Panthers were flagged for holding, sending them back to the La Salle 45. The next snap to Davis occurred earlier than expected, and he was sacked for a 5-yard loss by Ross and Wills. Then Davis was sacked again, on a roll to the right by Dengohe, for a 6-yard loss. On third and 33 at the Imhotep 44, Robinson ran up the middle for good yardage to the La Salle 41, with Anderson on the tackle, but the Panthers would have to punt. Asir Moore punted to the La Salle 9 where it was downed, with 2:51 left in an increasingly tense game.
Brown gained three up left tackle. Paturzo dropped the snap, and was stopped for no gain. On third and 7 at the 12, Brown ran a jet sweep to the right for just three yards, and La Salle would have to punt. Sturla’s punt to the Imhotep 43 was returned by Wright-Downing to that La Salle 46, as Mille made the stop. With 52 seconds left in the third period.
Robinson was stopped for a one-yard loss up right guard by Hawley, who really stepped up in Thompson’s absence. Robinson went over right guard again, gaining 4, with Dengohe on the hit. On third and 6 at the La Salle 42, Wallace-Coleman was knocked down for a 1-yard loss by Dengohe, who was stepping up his game. Moore’s punt was returned by Moore from the 16 to the 21, with 11:08 left, and Imhotep clinging to a 1-point lead.
Stevie Davis entered the game with a blast of energy. He went off left tackle with power for 6 yards. He gained just a yard off the left side, setting up a third and 3 at the 28. With Brown in a deep position and Davis lined up as an H-back, Paturzo handed off quickly to Davis, who caught Imhotep by surprise, gaining a first down to the La Salle 45. Davis then went off the left side, tight-roping the sideline until he got to the Imhotep 33. Davis gained a yard up the middle, and gave way to Brown. Brown went up right guard, then veered to the left to the 25. On third and two at the 25, Brown found a hole up the middle for a 10-yard gain to the 15 for a first down, and La Salle was now in the red zone. La Salle was running in a no-huddle offense, and the Imhotep defense was getting tired, as they called time out with 8:55 remaining in the fourth. Davis was back in, and swept the right side for 3 yards. Brown went up the middle for no gain. On third and 7 at the 12, La Salle was now in field goal range for Sturla. They lined up in a trips left formation, with Moore out wide right. The ball was snapped to Paturzo, who saw Moore heading all by himself into the end zone. Paturzo’s careful pass was secured by the lonesome Moore for a 12-yard touchdown, and La Salle had regained the lead. They would go just for one, but Sturla’s boot was blocked, and the Explorers would have to protect the 5-point lead, 13-8, with 7:28 left in the game.
Sturla got on top of his kickoff, but the ball took a crazy deep bounce into the end zone. Now was the time for the La Salle defense, stout all game long, to step up one more time. Davis scrambled up the middle for no gain, with stop by Ford. Rahmir Stewart came in as a wildcat quarterback for the Panthers, and he gained 9 yards up the middle, with Wills on the stop. He tested the right side, but lost a yads on a tackle by McFadden. It was now fourth and 2 at the 28, and Imhotep would go for it. Stewart gained 10 yards to the 38 and a first down, with tackle by Johnson. Robinson bootlegged left for 2 yards, as Dengohe and Carter pinned him down. Imhotep called time out, their second, with 4:24 left. Stewart bootlegged to the left, and got another first down to the Panther 48, as Hawley and Ford combined on the stop. Stewart then wound up and threw a bomb down the left side, but it was well past Atkinson. Robinson wildcatted to the right, but was slammed down for a one-yard loss by the rampaging Dengohe. On third and 11 at the Panther 47, La Salle called a time out with exactly 3 minutes left. Stewart scrambled, but gained just a yard, as Hawley and McFadden stopped him. On fourth and 10 at the Imhotep 48, the game was on the line. Davis was back in at quarterback, and he scrambled, but Wills nailed him with a big hit for a one-yard loss, and La Salle could probably run out the clock with just one first down, with 2:02 left.
Brown swept the left side, and found room along the sideline, gaining 10 yards and a first down despite going out of bounds. Brown swept the right side for about 7, but La Salle was called for yet another holding penalty. They were then flagged for a procedure penalty, and things suddenly were getting tense again. But what can Brown do for you? Brown went off the left side again, got the edge on the sideline, and was pushed out of bounds on the Imhotep 10-yard line for a 41-yard gain and a first down, with 1:37 left. Wentz gained three up right guard, as the clock kept running after the tackle. Brown gained up left tackle for two yards, and Imhotep used their last time out, with 47 seconds remaining. Moore wildcatted his way to the 1-yard line. On fourth and goal at the 1, La Salle would have to run another play. Wentz was stopped for no gain, and the ball went over to Imhotep, with the clock stopped at 6 seconds.
La Salle dropped back into the ultimate prevent defense, with only 2 rushers. Imhotep used a hook and lateral play that gained a lot of yardage, but La Salle stayed in position, as Anderson made the tackle around the Imhotep 42, with Carter looming large from behind the tackle. The game was over, and La Salle had come back to defeat a tough Imhotep team, 13-8, to go 3-0 on the young season.
Notes
The game was a real treat to a jam-packed Homecoming crowd, and again the student section really rocked as the team came over after the handshakes. This team has a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and steps up in key situations to make some tremendous plays on both sides of the ball.
Next game – Friday night, September 17 at 8 PM versus The Haverford School at Wissahickon High School. Let’s get out to Wissahickon on Friday to cheer on this exciting 2021 team
Important Notes
It was the 20th anniversary of 9/11, and La Salle came out of the locker room with 2 players on the flanks waving American flags. Everyone in Springfield’s stadium was very respectful of the commemoration of the event, which featured a young La Salle trumpeter playing “Taps”, and then the band playing the Star-Spangled Banner, and a rendition of God Bless America after the first quarter.
A very notable scenario, but that came in number 2. Number 1 occurred about 300 yards away to the west, where a kid’s soccer game was being played. They were so far away I couldn’t tell if they were boys or girls. While Taps was being played, I looked to the west, up on a hill, and I saw every soccer player in line, along with the refs and the coaches, and facing our field at attention while Taps and the National Anthem were being played. That was awe-inspiring to me, and those little soccer players provided the best example of respect imaginable. And, amidst all of the turmoil our country has gone through in the last 20 years, maybe that image of those little soccer players standing at attention makes me realize that there is great hope after all.
The “something new” was the Lonesome End, where the split end lined up just one yard from the sideline, sometimes not to be seen, but mainly to take a defensive back out of a play to the inside.
In the fourth quarter, La Salle, trailing by one, drove to the Panther 12, and faced a third down and 7, within field goal range. They lined up in a “trips left” formation, and wide receiver Ryan Moore, also the wildcat quarterback, was wide to the right on his own. Though he wasn’t way out as a lonesome end, he wasn’t within 20 yards of a defender when the ball was snapped; maybe he had a garlic and onion wrap for lunch. QB Alan Paturzo spotted Moore waving frantically, and the 12-yard TD pass put La Salle ahead to stay in a 13-8 victory over a tough Imhotep team. Here’s how the game went down:
La Salle won the toss, and deferred to the second half, trusting their defense to keep the Panthers from scoring. Santi Stula’s booming kickoff found the end zone. QB Mikal Davis came out throwing, but he had to scramble for 3 yards on right side, with stop by Daniel Ford. Davis threw to Amir Valentine on the left side, but CB Amir Anderson jumped the route and the pass fell incomplete. On third and 7 at the 23, Davis was sacked for an 8-yard loss by the rampaging duo of linebackers Abdul Carter and Chris Thompson, who would have great games. Will Robinson tried to punt, but the kick was shanked. However, La Salle was called for a running into the kicker, and Robinson got to punt again, but it came off his foot like one of my pitching wedge shots, out of bounds at the Imhotep 30, with 10:02 left in the initial stanza.
La Salle came out with a seven-man front, eliminating the ends and trying to run the ball down the throat of the Panthers. Sam Brown went up the middle with some power for 8 yards. Brown gained two yards and a first down at the 20 with another middle run. Stevie Davis came in and gained a yard up left tackle. La Salle went for it all as Alan Paturzo threw an alley-oop to the left corner of the end zone to Brown, but the pass was intercepted by a leaping Rashaan Wright, and the great field position went for naught.
Again at their own 20, Imhotep this time ran the ball, as Corey Wright-Downing went off left tackle and found a lot of open space to the Panther 47. Tre McLeod went up the middle for 4 yards, with stops by Thompson and Sean McFadden. La Salle then jumped on a hard count, bringing up a second and one. McLeod went up the middle for three yards and a first down on the La Salle 41, as Matt Wills and Thompson combined on the tackle. McLeod was stopped for no gain off left tackle by Ford. Davis ran an option keeper up the middle for 4 yards, knocked down by Carter. On third and 6 at the La Salle 37, on play action, Davis was blasted down for a 5-yard loss on a blitz by Carter. Davis’s punt rolled out of bounds at the Explorer 5, with 4:19 left in the first period.
Paturzo, on possibly a busted play, kept the ball for a 2-yard loss. Brown went off right tackle for 2, setting up a third and 10 at the 5. Ryan Moore came in at wildcat, and zig-zagged for a first down at the 15. Brown went off left tackle and cut back for 6 yards. On play action, Paturzo found EJ Wentz on a slant-in for a first down at the La Salle 40, and the Explorers were moving. Brown stepped left, then went right for just a yard. Off of a fake jet sweep, Paturzo threw wide left to Moore, who dropped the ball, and just as well because Imhotep was right on him. On third and 9 at the 41, Paturzo tossed to Brown in the left flat for a 9-yard gain and a first down at midfield. Brown gained two up the middle. The wildcat Moore ran an option up the middle for 6 yards as the scoreless first quarter ended. Brown ran off right tackle, and cut up for 6 yards and a first down at the Panther 36. Brown was hit immediately for a three-yard loss on the left side. Paturzo found Wentz in the left flat for 6 yards. On third and seven at the Panther 33, under a rush, Paturzo calmly threw a post pattern to Brown crossing from the left, and Brown scored from 33 yards out, finishing off a 95-yard, 16-play drive. Sturla’s extra point was true, and La Salle had a 7-0 lead, with 10:03 left in the half.
Sturla found the end zone again on the kickoff. Robinson hit the middle for 3 yards, with Thompson taking him down. Robinson went off right tackle, and broke a tackle before being brought down by DB Mekhi Johnson at the 33 for a first down. Robinson was brought down roughly by Carter up the middle for no gain. Davis bootlegged to the left, and tossed a pass downfield that was broken up by the ubiquitous Thompson. On third and 10 at the Panther 33, Davis’s pass fell harmlessly incomplete, as Carter and McFadden hit him during the throw. Talik Burton punted, and the ball was either shanked, deflected, or both, and the ball rolled dead on the La Salle 38, with 7:46 left in the half.
Brown swept the left side for 8 yards, but La Salle was flagged for one of their several holding penalties. Paturzo faked a jet sweep, and threw out to Moore, and the pass again was incomplete, and happily so, as the ‘Tep was all over this play. Paturzo was sacked for a 2-yard loss, as no one was open. On third and 23 at the La Salle 49, a screen to the right to Wentz gained about 10 yards, but the Explorers held again, setting up a lovely third and 38 at the La Salle 34. Paturzo threw an arcing medium-range pass to Ryan Sorge, who bobbled the ball up high, and Imhotep’s Maurice Beverly intercepted the ball at the Panther 47, with 5:54 left in the half.
Good field position benefited the ‘Tep here. McLeod gained a yard, with tackle by Thompson. McLeod swept the right side, but Darold Dengohe and Sam Ross belted him down for no gain. On third and 9 at the Panther 48, Davis threw deep to Wright-Downing, and the pass was broken up, but La Salle was tagged for a ticky-tack pass interference, and Imhotep had a first down at the La Salle 37. Jabree Wallace-Coleman broke through a hole at right tackle for 14 yards, but now Imhotep was called for holding. ‘Tep called time out, with 3:10 remaining in the half. Wallace-Coleman found a hole up the middle for 11 yards, with stops by McFadden and Brennen Miller. Wallace-Coleman gained two up the middle for a first down, as Carter made another tackle. McLeod powered up the middle through a big hole to the La Salle 3, with Carter and Del Jackson on the TD-saving tackle. McLeod blasted up right guard for a 3-yard touchdown. Imhotep would go for two, and McLeod continued his surge through the La Salle line with a 2-point play, and Imhotep led La Salle, 8-7, with 1:57 left in the tense first half.
The kickoff went to the 13, and Stevie Davis ran it out to the 31, and he was blasted out of bounds with Imhotep garnering a roughness penalty. On their own 46, La Salle’s Wentz got no gain up the middle. Paturzo kept the ball on the right side, but was stopped for a 4-yard loss, as Imhotep called a time out with 54 seconds left, and a third and 14 at the La Salle 42. Paturzo found Brown across the middle on a drag pattern, but the ball was dropped. Sturla’s punt to the 13 was returned by Wright-Downing to about the 39, but Imhotep was flagged for a block in the back, and would start at their own 20, with 42 seconds left.
Robinson found an opening up the middle for 13 yards, with Miller on the stop, and Imhotep hurried off another play, with Robinson finding a hole on the right side for 9 yards before Carter brought him down fiercely. Imhotep called time out, with 21 seconds left. Robinson scrambled up the middle to the La Salle 47, and Imhotep spiked the ball. Robinson scrambled for no gain, with tackle by soph Kieran Campbell. A procedure call while the clock ran to zero caused some consternation with the officials, but the half was over, and the Panthers were clinging to an 8-7 lead.
La Salle’s offense was bitten by two interceptions on seemingly good throws by Alan Paturzo, but they seemed able to move the ball. The Blue and Gold defense were tested by the powerful Imhotep offense, but they kept the Panther running game from breaking any big play, and they stormed the quarterback in passing situations. One concern was that the Panthers seemed to have found a spot on the line to attack with their rushing game.
Keon Wylie kicked off for ‘Tep to start the second half, and McFadden returned the ball from the 18 to about the 25. Moore started the second half in the wildcat position, but La Salle was flagged for procedure before getting a play off. Moore bootlegged right, and lost two yards. Paturzo got back in the saddle, and threw a bubble screen to Moore on the right side for 8 yards. On third and nine at the 26, Paturzo was sacked on the blind side, and fumbled the ball, but he recovered it. Sturla’s punt was almost blocked, but he got a great roll to inside the Imhotep 40, but the ball was ruled touched by La Salle at the Panther 45, where they would take over.
Robinson tested right guard for two, tackled by Miller and Dengohe. Robinson went off left tackle for two more, as Carter and Kevin Hawley, subbing for the injured Thompson, combined on the hit. On third and 6 at their own 49, McLeod went up the middle for 6 yards and a first down, as Campbell and Dengohe brought him down. Wallace-Coleman gained 5 off the right side, as Hawley and Carter made the stop, but Imhotep was driving. Wallace-Coleman swept the left side, but Hawley made a great ankle tackle for a 2-yard loss. On third and 7 at the La Salle 42, Imhotep was called for procedure. Davis then hit Rohjhli Atkinson in the left flat for a first down to the La Salle 33, as Matt Wills made the takedown. Robinson tested the middle for two with tackles by Dengohe and Hawley, but the Panthers were flagged for holding, sending them back to the La Salle 45. The next snap to Davis occurred earlier than expected, and he was sacked for a 5-yard loss by Ross and Wills. Then Davis was sacked again, on a roll to the right by Dengohe, for a 6-yard loss. On third and 33 at the Imhotep 44, Robinson ran up the middle for good yardage to the La Salle 41, with Anderson on the tackle, but the Panthers would have to punt. Asir Moore punted to the La Salle 9 where it was downed, with 2:51 left in an increasingly tense game.
Brown gained three up left tackle. Paturzo dropped the snap, and was stopped for no gain. On third and 7 at the 12, Brown ran a jet sweep to the right for just three yards, and La Salle would have to punt. Sturla’s punt to the Imhotep 43 was returned by Wright-Downing to that La Salle 46, as Mille made the stop. With 52 seconds left in the third period.
Robinson was stopped for a one-yard loss up right guard by Hawley, who really stepped up in Thompson’s absence. Robinson went over right guard again, gaining 4, with Dengohe on the hit. On third and 6 at the La Salle 42, Wallace-Coleman was knocked down for a 1-yard loss by Dengohe, who was stepping up his game. Moore’s punt was returned by Moore from the 16 to the 21, with 11:08 left, and Imhotep clinging to a 1-point lead.
Stevie Davis entered the game with a blast of energy. He went off left tackle with power for 6 yards. He gained just a yard off the left side, setting up a third and 3 at the 28. With Brown in a deep position and Davis lined up as an H-back, Paturzo handed off quickly to Davis, who caught Imhotep by surprise, gaining a first down to the La Salle 45. Davis then went off the left side, tight-roping the sideline until he got to the Imhotep 33. Davis gained a yard up the middle, and gave way to Brown. Brown went up right guard, then veered to the left to the 25. On third and two at the 25, Brown found a hole up the middle for a 10-yard gain to the 15 for a first down, and La Salle was now in the red zone. La Salle was running in a no-huddle offense, and the Imhotep defense was getting tired, as they called time out with 8:55 remaining in the fourth. Davis was back in, and swept the right side for 3 yards. Brown went up the middle for no gain. On third and 7 at the 12, La Salle was now in field goal range for Sturla. They lined up in a trips left formation, with Moore out wide right. The ball was snapped to Paturzo, who saw Moore heading all by himself into the end zone. Paturzo’s careful pass was secured by the lonesome Moore for a 12-yard touchdown, and La Salle had regained the lead. They would go just for one, but Sturla’s boot was blocked, and the Explorers would have to protect the 5-point lead, 13-8, with 7:28 left in the game.
Sturla got on top of his kickoff, but the ball took a crazy deep bounce into the end zone. Now was the time for the La Salle defense, stout all game long, to step up one more time. Davis scrambled up the middle for no gain, with stop by Ford. Rahmir Stewart came in as a wildcat quarterback for the Panthers, and he gained 9 yards up the middle, with Wills on the stop. He tested the right side, but lost a yads on a tackle by McFadden. It was now fourth and 2 at the 28, and Imhotep would go for it. Stewart gained 10 yards to the 38 and a first down, with tackle by Johnson. Robinson bootlegged left for 2 yards, as Dengohe and Carter pinned him down. Imhotep called time out, their second, with 4:24 left. Stewart bootlegged to the left, and got another first down to the Panther 48, as Hawley and Ford combined on the stop. Stewart then wound up and threw a bomb down the left side, but it was well past Atkinson. Robinson wildcatted to the right, but was slammed down for a one-yard loss by the rampaging Dengohe. On third and 11 at the Panther 47, La Salle called a time out with exactly 3 minutes left. Stewart scrambled, but gained just a yard, as Hawley and McFadden stopped him. On fourth and 10 at the Imhotep 48, the game was on the line. Davis was back in at quarterback, and he scrambled, but Wills nailed him with a big hit for a one-yard loss, and La Salle could probably run out the clock with just one first down, with 2:02 left.
Brown swept the left side, and found room along the sideline, gaining 10 yards and a first down despite going out of bounds. Brown swept the right side for about 7, but La Salle was called for yet another holding penalty. They were then flagged for a procedure penalty, and things suddenly were getting tense again. But what can Brown do for you? Brown went off the left side again, got the edge on the sideline, and was pushed out of bounds on the Imhotep 10-yard line for a 41-yard gain and a first down, with 1:37 left. Wentz gained three up right guard, as the clock kept running after the tackle. Brown gained up left tackle for two yards, and Imhotep used their last time out, with 47 seconds remaining. Moore wildcatted his way to the 1-yard line. On fourth and goal at the 1, La Salle would have to run another play. Wentz was stopped for no gain, and the ball went over to Imhotep, with the clock stopped at 6 seconds.
La Salle dropped back into the ultimate prevent defense, with only 2 rushers. Imhotep used a hook and lateral play that gained a lot of yardage, but La Salle stayed in position, as Anderson made the tackle around the Imhotep 42, with Carter looming large from behind the tackle. The game was over, and La Salle had come back to defeat a tough Imhotep team, 13-8, to go 3-0 on the young season.
Notes
The game was a real treat to a jam-packed Homecoming crowd, and again the student section really rocked as the team came over after the handshakes. This team has a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and steps up in key situations to make some tremendous plays on both sides of the ball.
Next game – Friday night, September 17 at 8 PM versus The Haverford School at Wissahickon High School. Let’s get out to Wissahickon on Friday to cheer on this exciting 2021 team
Important Notes
It was the 20th anniversary of 9/11, and La Salle came out of the locker room with 2 players on the flanks waving American flags. Everyone in Springfield’s stadium was very respectful of the commemoration of the event, which featured a young La Salle trumpeter playing “Taps”, and then the band playing the Star-Spangled Banner, and a rendition of God Bless America after the first quarter.
A very notable scenario, but that came in number 2. Number 1 occurred about 300 yards away to the west, where a kid’s soccer game was being played. They were so far away I couldn’t tell if they were boys or girls. While Taps was being played, I looked to the west, up on a hill, and I saw every soccer player in line, along with the refs and the coaches, and facing our field at attention while Taps and the National Anthem were being played. That was awe-inspiring to me, and those little soccer players provided the best example of respect imaginable. And, amidst all of the turmoil our country has gone through in the last 20 years, maybe that image of those little soccer players standing at attention makes me realize that there is great hope after all.
