Patrick’s fumble return highlights outstanding O’Hara defensive effort
MARPLE TWP. — Cardinal O’Hara has yielded the fewest points per game of any team in the Philadelphia Catholic League. Bonner & Prendergast learned why the hard way.
The Friars had more penalty yards than yards gained in the first half, and then when they finally got moving a little bit in the third quarter saw the Lions’ defense stiffen and stop them on two trips to the red zone.
Yes, Bonner & Prendie got a late touchdown, but all that did was prevent the shutout as O’Hara won the neighborhood rivalry 21-6.
“We pride ourselves on defense,” said O’Hara’s Derrick Patrick Jr., who had a huge fumble return in the first half and broke up three downfield pass attempts in the second half to stall drives for the Friars. “We know we can play with anyone on defense and we don’t like giving up touchdowns. When teams get close we know we have to man up and hit the guy in front of you and do not let him in at all costs.”
The Lions (6-2, 4-2) have only allowed 74 points in their eight games.
“We tell our guys that if we’re not giving up big plays, then you have a chance to fight for the win,” said Lions coach B.J. Hogan. “Our defense has carried us all year. Our kids played the game plan. They eliminated big plays and we had a bunch of plays that resulted in negative yards and put them behind the sticks.”
Bonner & Prendie (3-6, 1-5) had 51 plays from scrimmage that weren’t punts or incurred a penalty. Of those, 28 went for zero or negative yards.
“We play every play like it’s our last play,” said defensive tackle John Caponi, who wreaked havoc in the Friars’ backfield all night and finished with three tackles for losses. “We believe in our defense and we think it can take us pretty far – even in the playoffs. We believe we have one of the best defenses in Delco. I love this group.”
O’Hara forced the Friars to punt seven times, turn the ball over on downs twice and had the one fumble recovery before Bonner & Prendie finally scored with three seconds to play.
There were three key defensive moments for O’Hara. The first came with four minutes to play in the first half. After having just turned the ball over on their 32, the Lions needed to bear down to preserve their 7-0 lead. Friars quarterback Kyle Lazer hit Nasim Cooper over the middle for a 20-yard pass completion, but Max Much leveled Cooper, the ball flew out of his hands and into the waiting arms of Patrick Jr., who returned the fumble 48 yards into Friars territory.
It set up a scoring drive that ended with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Luke Sprague to Chris Kirby to make it 14-0. It was the second hookup of the game between Sprague and Kirby, who made a Harry Houdini-like catch between two defenders for a 50-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
On their second drive of the third quarter, the Friars were able to get a first down at the Lions’ 23, following a 17-yard pass from Lazer to James Welde. The two connected for another nine-yard completion, making it second-and-one from the O’Hara 14. Cole Sprague broke up a third passing attempt to Welde in the end zone and then the defensive line, led by Caponi, stuffed two straight sneak attempts by Lazer.
On the Friars’ next drive, a 55-yard run by Charles Ingram gave Bonner & Prendie a first-and-goal from the O’Hara 4. But two failed runs and two incomplete passes kept the Friars from hitting pay dirt. The Friars were flagged 12 times for 105 yards in penalties.
“When you get opportunities like that, somebody has got to make a play,” Friars coach Jack Muldoon said. “We were a little banged up on the interior of our offensive line and we couldn’t convert down there. As for the penalties – I’m just done with the refs with the penalties. I’m done with some of this stuff that’s going on.”
