Football Friday: Hogan remains optimistic about Cardinal O’Hara’s future
Cardinal O’Hara coach BJ Hogan is quick to bear the burden for his team’s 1-6 record.
Hogan, who guided O’Hara to three winning campaigns and a Catholic League championship in his first four seasons at the helm, knew there would be bumps in the road with a young team. The season began with promise, a 17-13 win at Hudson (N.J.), but it’s gone downhill for the Lions ever since.
“I didn’t see this coming at all. We’ve been very unfortunate with a bunch of injuries,” Hogan said. “I think having the last three successful seasons, there’s a dropoff. We have a decent amount of kids that have played a lot of football, but we’re playing six freshmen and they’re better than some of the (more experienced) guys that we got and that’s why they’re getting on the field. But injuries have been a big part of it. Both of our centers broke their wrists and we’re just getting one back now (sophomore Brian Stratton). It’s just been a real struggle for us on offense.”
The Lions have scored 31 points in seven games and only 14 points since their season opener. They are averaging 85.9 yards of total offense per game.
Making matters worse, O’Hara lost starting quarterback Cole Sprague for the season and have been without their best running back, Keed Kpoto, at various points.
“I think we’re always going to continue to get kids who want to play at O’Hara,” Hogan said. “Our freshman class has a chance to be something special. We have, legitimately, six or seven kids who are playing significant snaps on varsity. That’s not because we are looking to the future, it’s because those kids are good enough to get on the field.”
John Caponi is among the few veteran players Hogan has been pleased with and can count on to help a young team through a trying season. Caponi, a senior lineman, was a standout performer on last year’s 8-4 squad.
Hogan also lost key members to his coaching staff, including defensive coordinator Jim Connor and assistants Mike Connor and Isaac Jones, all of whom are now coaching under Kevin Clancy at Strath Haven.
Ultimately, the losses fall on Hogan’s shoulders. The former three-sport All-Delco at O’Hara is as frustrated and disappointed as anyone in the community, but vows to get things turned around in a hurry.
“Anybody who is in the coaching profession … seasons like this make you realize that when you can win some games, you need to enjoy the wins when they come,” Hogan said. “You take it for granted when you just win a game, but when you’re losing and things aren’t going well, it makes you appreciate how tough it is to win. I know when we start winning games again, it’s going to make me appreciate it even more.
“Right now, it’s frustrating. I spoke to a bunch of alums last week, I let them know it’s 100 percent on me and it’s unacceptable that we are 1-6. We’ve got to find a way to get back to winning football games. That’s what O’Hara football should be, and right now it’s on me to get it fixed. Me and the staff are going to continue to coach the kids hard and do everything that we can do. Whether we’re 0-10 or 10-0, I’m going to coach the kids the same way. That’s what I know how to do.”
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It’s not easy being a sophomore who is the starting quarterback on a team that wasn’t expected to win in 2019.
Penncrest quarterback Jimmy Cage has played with a maturity beyond his years and is growing into a fine leader for the 2-6 Lions.
The potential is there for Cage to become one of the top QBs in the Central League, he just needs the experience. Cage has completed 53.2 percent of his passing attempts (57-for-107) for 461 yards and three touchdowns.
“I’m learning pretty much everything I can,” Cage said after last week’s game at Marple Newtown. “Leadership is a big part of it, but I’m also learning the playbook, which is the first thing, and then going out and executing with all of these guys. There are a lot of underclassmen starting since we only have so many guys on the team. We all know that we’ve got to keep working and we will get there one day.”
With Cage at quarterback, the future is bright for Penncrest football.
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It’s no surprise that Penn Wood quarterback Desman Johnson earned weekly MVP honors in the Del Val League.
The Del Val coaches honored Johnson, who set the Delaware County career passing yardage record in a win over Interboro. Johnson is the first passer in Delco history to throw for more than 7,000 yards.
Positional honors went to the following players: Academy Park’s Xavier Newman (offensive line) and Malik Johnson (defensive back); Chester’s Dymiere Stevenson (quarterback), Malik Langley (receiver), Darnell Jones (offensive line), Darron Miller (defensive line) and Aasim Muhammad (linebacker); and Penn Wood’s Malik Brooks (running back), Jacquez Mabin (lineman) and Thomas Nagbe (specialist).
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Archbishop Carroll and Roman Catholic this week announced the establishment of a Thanksgiving Day rivalry
The first Turkey Bowl between the Catholic League rivals will transpire this year at A.A. Garthwaite Stadium in Conshohocken. Kickoff is scheduled for 10 a.m.
According to a joint press release, the schools have entered into a two-year agreement, with Roman serving as the home team this year and Archbishop Carroll in 2020.
“As our nation gathers to give thanks to God for the blessings of freedom and liberty, this gathering of schools will support the brotherhood and enhance the fraternity shared between the student-athletes,” the statement read.
Carroll hasn’t played a Thanksgiving game since 2009 against Monsignor Bonner. The Patriots had a 17-year rivalry from 1984-2000 with Malvern Prep as well as an annual showdown with Bishop Shanahan from 2001-05.
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MOVING THE CHAINS >> Sun Valley’s win over Upper Moreland means Interboro (0-8) is the last of the winless teams in Delco. … Episcopal’s Maurcus McDaniel (62.9) and Academy Park’s Barry Brown (61.5) have the highest completion percentage among Delco passers with at least 50 attempts. … Chester senior Malachi Langley is averaging 32.1 yards per catch. Half of his 12 receptions have gone for touchdowns.
