In short order, Bonner-Prendergast’s Colin Finnegan offers some clarity on confusing night

UPPER DARBY — Jack Muldoon eased into the Bonner-Prendergast High football season convinced of one thing and hoping to learn another.

In just over three quarters of a panic-shortened, 12-0 opening night victory over visiting Upper Darby Friday evening, Friars’ quarterback Colin Finnegan helped provide his coach with some clarity.

With 90 passing yards, including a 23-yard TD strike to Jalil Hall, the 6-1 senior carved a small opening in a crowded Friars field of would-be regular signal-callers amid a game halted with 10:51 to play. That’s when a frightened crowd stormed onto the field after word of potential gun falsely began to spread.

“We have a three-quarterback race right now between Colin Finnegan, junior Joe Sarjoo and Justin Shepherd, a senior,” Muldoon was saying in a still-tense aftermath of the disturbance. “So tonight, we just went with Colin. He’s a senior and he probably has a little more experience than the others. He’s worked very hard. He made some nice throws. A few were hurried, but for the most part, he played well enough for us to keep sending him out there.”

Finnegan announced his readiness early, orchestrating a nine-play, penalty-free, 52-yard drive punctuated by the scoring pass to Hall on the first possession of the season. He completed four of his first five passes and went 6-for-11 overall. He would connect with Jaeden Foster for gains of 23 and 28 yards and hit Austin Cannon with a 13-yard pass.

With Muldoon initially believing the game was official, the Friars will take their 1-0 record to Haverford School Friday afternoon at 4. As for the Royals, who will host 1-0 Garnet Valley Friday evening at 5, they are not officially ready to accept being 0-1. Said Upper Darby athletic director Russell Benditt Saturday: “That conversation still has to be had.”

Though the half-mile trip to Bonner-Prendie was for a nonleague game, any result could impact postseason playoff seeding in both District 1 and District 12. Should the game be declared a no-contest, no power points would be awarded and the rankings denominator would be reduced by one.

Benditt refused additional comment. Also, Royals coach Dave Barr was shielded by a public relations guard Friday and was ordered not to make comment. Barr did say, “I am glad my kids and players are safe.”

Including a 33-yard scurry, Upper Darby quarterback Montez Ellis rushed 11 times for 64 yards and completed two passes for 30 yards. Banged up on one third-quarter play, Ellis left the game briefly and returned as a running back, with Nate O’Donnell taking snaps before the premature ending to the 18th game in the rivalry series.

“I feel really bad,” Muldoon said. “Dave Barr is one of my closest friends. He does such a great job over there and I feel bad for his kids and I feel bad for all the people here. I hope it doesn’t create something that it really shouldn’t because people like to create hysteria.”

The disturbance reportedly began with the banging of a pipe on a fence and a quick spread of fear that it was the sound of a gunshot. Since Week 1 of the Delaware County high school football was forever marred last year when multiple gunshots were heard after the game between Academy Park and Pennsbury in Sharon Hill, there might have been a heightened tension. Eight-year-old fan Fanta Bility was accidentally killed by police in that 2021 shooting incident.

Upon the noise and resulting buzz about a gun Friday, the crowd of roughly 1,000 raced onto the field and out of the facility toward the intersection of Lansdowne Avenue and Garrett Road. Players from both teams were seen running in that direction.

“There were reports of a shooting at tonight’s Monsignor Bonner/Upper Darby Football game,” tweeted the Upper Darby Police. “Those reports are FALSE. There was a physical fight, the game was canceled and police are clearing the area.”

Order was restored relatively quickly.

“It’s just unfortunate that in this environment we live in,” said Muldoon, “people fear the worst.”

Until that point, the game was competitive, with both defenses playing impressively. Jahid Cave had an Upper Darby interception. Nick Smith provided one for Bonner-Prendie. And while Finnegan was steady, the Friars’ quarterback situation remains fluid.

“It doesn’t mean the other two guys won’t play at some point going forward,” Muldoon said, “because they both have different skill sets that they are good at.”

The Friars doubled their lead seven seconds into the fourth quarter when Avery Hankey ran 27 yards for a score. On a roster with multiple offensive options, the 5-8 junior with 4.7 speed in the 40 carried eight times for 62 yards.

“He looked good – except for his cramping,” Muldoon said. “But he had his ankles taped too tight. I said, ‘Take the tape off.’ Once that happened, he was fine.

“Avery runs really hard and is a talented kid. And he’ll do most of the work for us at running back.”

By late Friday, Muldoon believed his team had shown enough for a victory.

“So we start 1-and-0,” he said. “And if that’s what it is, we’ll take it, move on and get ready for a very good Haverford School team.”