St. Joseph’s Prep, air attack soars past Archbishop Wood
WARMINSTER >> Archbishop Wood’s first offensive play on Saturday was a 16-yard run around the left side by Kaelin Costello.
The Vikings’ last play – as time expired – was a two-yard touchdown run by Ricardo Delgado.
These two moments were sandwiched around an otherwise tough afternoon for Wood, which fell 52-6 to nationally-ranked St. Joe’s Prep.
“St. Joe’s Prep is what they are every year,” Vikings coach Matt Walp said. “They’re a very good football team. They’re very well coached. They’ve got talent. They’re strong up front.
“You know what you’re gonna get. You gotta come out with a perfect game. You gotta have yourself prepared, do it 100 percent, and it’s gotta be almost perfect.”
The Hawks scored on the seventh play from scrimmage and were in control from there, raising their record to 3-0. Class 6A State Champions in five of the last seven years, the Hawks built a 38-0 lead by halftime to ensure a running clock in the second half.
It was a tremendous day for Ohio State recruit Kyle McCord, who completed 12 of 23 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns and a rushing touchdown as well.
The defending 5A Champs stuck with it, getting a nice day on the ground from Delgado, who kept chugging for 64 rushing yards and a TD.
“We’re always gonna be tough, be gritty and fight to the end,” Walp said. “We’re gonna do everything that we possibly can.”
The Hawks built a firm lead with a 55-yard scoring pass from McCord to Malik Cooper and a 32-yard field goal by Antonio Moeller, making it 17-0 in this Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division contest.
Two more touchdown passes from McCord – 14 yards to Marvin Harrison Jr. (son of the NFL Hall of Famer) and 8 yards to Cooper – added to a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown by Jeremiah Trotter Jr., son of the former Eagle.
Wood drove to the Hawks’ seven late in the first half but turned it over on downs.
Wood (2-1) quarterback Max Keller was lost to a possible concussion midway through and was replaced by Julian Talley. Talley was able to hit a couple things for the Vikes, setting up Delgado’s scoring plunge at the end.
The Hawks’ two second-half TD’s came on a 10-yard pass to Sahmir Hagans and a five-yard run by Blaine Bunch.
Wood has a big one next Saturday, at La Salle at 1 p.m.
“We’re gonna get back to work,” Walp said. “We’ll be back at it and continue to get better. Where we’re at, there’s no question in my mind we’ll rally and pull together.”
St. Joseph’s Prep 52, Archbishop Wood 6
Wood 0 0 0 6 – 6
St. Joe’s 17 21 7 7 – 52
First Quarter
SJ-Kyle McCord 1 run (kick failed), 9:58.
SJ-Malik Cooper 55 pass from McCord (Noble House run), 6:12.
SJ-Antonio Chadha 32 field goal, 3:47.
Second Quarter
SJ-Marvin Harrison Jr. 14 pass from McCord (Chadha kick), 10:45.
SJ-Jeremiah Trotter Jr. 27 interception return (Chadha kick), 9:38.
SJ-Cooper 8 pass from McCord (Chadha kick), 4:13.
Third Quarter
SJ-Sahmir Hagans 10 pass from McCord (Chadha kick), :19.
Fourth Quarter
SJ-Blaine Bunch 5 run (Chadha kick), 8:20.
AW-Ricardo Delgado 2 run (no conversion attempt, time expired), :00.
SJ AW
First Downs 13 10
Rushes-yards 15-130 36-100
Passing 12-23-4 3-15-61
Passing Yards 235 61
Total Yards 365 161
Punts 1 3
Penalties-yards 6-55 5-31
Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-1
Rushing
SJ: Blaine Bunch 5-75, TD; Kyle McCord 2-(-5), TD; Noble House 8-60.
AW: Kaelin Costello 4-25; Luke Cantwell 1-0; Max Keller 8-2; Ricardo Delgado 17-64, TD; Cardel Pigford 1-2; Trey Holsman 5-7.
Passing
SJ: McCord 12-23-235-4-0.
AW: Keller 1-8-4-0-1; Holsman 2-7-57-0-1.
Receiving
SJ: Sahmir Hagans 4-78, TD; House 1-2; Malik Cooper 3-59, 2 TD; Marvin Harrison Jr. 4-96, TD.
AW: Dave Armstrong 1-26; Ronald DiPietro 1-31; Cardel Pigford 1-4.
Interceptions
SJ: Julian Talley, Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
