Longino goes long, Germantown Academy offense does it all in win over Springside Chestnut Hill

WHITEMARSH >> Once Germantown Academy’s depth began to assert itself, rival Springside Chestnut Hill was in too deep.

Lacey Snowden and Brian Allen led a diverse backfield, quarterback Jordan Longino threw four touchdown passes, and GA’s offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and the contest in a 42-12 victory over the Blue Devils on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Carey Stadium.

“I just thought if we could establish the run, we could wear them out a little bit,” Patriots coach Matt Dence said. “Establishing the run was most important for us.”

Echoed Longino: “Lacey had some big runs, which got us groovin.’ Our line was blocking and we kept the tempo high.”

GA raised its record to 2-0 with a home contest against rival Penn Charter coming up on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Patriots had eight different ball carriers in this Inter-Ac contest, none more important than Snowden, who churned out 117 yards on his 16 carries.

“Lacey’s doing a heck of a job,” Dence said. “The jet sweep stuff with Jerry (Griffen-Batchler) is awesome and Brian Allen stepped up in a big way today too.”

After the Blue Devils (1-1) took a 6-0 lead on a 17-yard touchdown pass from A.J. Graham to Bobby Markey, GA scored back-to-back touchdowns in the second quarter to go into the break up 14-6.

Longino found Jacob Hsu on a swing pass for a six-yard score and Allen bolted in from seven yards out.

Longino threw three more touchdown passes after the intermission.

“We started off a little slow but we really regrouped,” he said. “Jerry and Lacey ran well. Brian ran well. That’s just our team – we have a very explosive offense.

“I felt good. After that first play (an interception by Luke Neverosky), I had to regroup. My teammates picked me up, my coach picked me up. The coaches call good plays, the line blocks for me. All I gotta do is step up and make the throws.”

Longino made several, completing 12 of his 15 passes for 162 yards.

“I thought he was really on point today,” Dence said. “He made the big throws when he needed to.”

Longino found Griffen-Batchler twice for scores — 16 and 24 yards — and hit Michael McGhee for a 42-yard TD to push the game into the mercy rule.

GA added a defensive score, with Allen returning an interception 30 yards for a touchdown. Springside capped the scoring with a seven-yard TD by Brian Henesey.

“They’re undermanned right now – they have some injuries – and Rick (Knox) is a heck of a coach,” Dence said. “They do a great job over there. I knew we would get their best shot. I just thought we were deeper.”

Up next for GA is Penn Charter.

“Whenever we play them, it’s fun,” Dence said. “It’s exciting. I don’t know what they’re like this year but I know they have a lot of good players coming back from last year.

“And it was a field goal difference last year and we were fortunate to get the win. So they’re gonna be hungry to come back.”

Germantown Academy 42, Springside Chestnut Hill 12
Springside Chestnut Hill 6 0 0 6 – 12
Germantown Academy 0 14 21 7 – 42
First Quarter
S-Bobby Markey 17 pass from A.J. Graham (kick failed), 1:18.
Second Quarter
GA-Jacob Hsu 6 pass from Jordan Longino (Nicholas Niemynski kick), 5:40.
GA-Brian Allen 7 run (Niemynski kick), 1:23.
Third Quarter
GA-Jerry Griffen-Batchler 16 pass from Longino (Niemynski kick), 9:53.
GA-Griffen-Batchler 24 pass from Longino (Niemynski kick), 4:22.
GA-Allen 30 interception return (Niemynski kick), 3:56.
Fourth Quarter
GA-Michael McGhee 42 pass from Longino (Niemynski kick), 11:12.
S-Brian Henesey 7 run (kick failed), 4:43.
S GA
First Downs 15 16
Rushes-yards 30-96 28-154
Passing 11-22-1 12-15-4
Passing yards 137 162
Total yards 233 316
Punts 3 0
Penalties-yards 6-46 7-55
Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-0
Rushing
CH: Tommy Shelinsky 2-13; Luke Sonnet 13-44; A.J. Graham 8-0; Brian Henesey 6-37, TD; Bobby Markey 1-2.
GA: Lacey Snowden 16-117; Jared Smith 1-0; Jerry Griffen-Batchler 1-4; Tristan Machado 1-(-8); Jordan Longino 1-3; Taj Dyches 2-7; Brian Allen 4-30; Jacob Hsu 2-1.
Passing
CH: Graham 11-22-137-1-3.
GA: Longino 12-15-162-4-1.
Receiving
CH: Bobby Markey 8-111, TD; Tommy Shelinsky 1-11; Luke Sonnet 1-2; Nick Weston 1-13.
GA: Hsu 3-13, TD; Griffen-Batchler 6-75, 2 TD; Michael Rowan 1-13; Michael McGhee 2-61, TD.
Interceptions
CH: Luke Neverosky.
GA: Griffen-Batchler, Hsu, Allen.