Taking its primary color into consideration, James Colivas perhaps should have known that Monsignor Bonner High would offer him greener grass.

But in the fall of 2005, when Colivas was an eighth-grader, Bonner was stumbling to a 2-9 football record and Cardinal O'Hara was advancing to the Catholic Red final.

Then, as now, Colivas lived in a part of Drexel Hill that's roughly halfway between those schools. Knowing of his hope to become a football force, people told him to not go green.

"Hardly anyone I knew was there," Colivas said. "I wanted to leave halfway through the year, but I stuck it out until the end and then transferred [to Bonner].

"When kids find out that I went to O'Hara [a big Bonner rival], they ask me, 'Why'd you go there?!' I just shrug and say I don't know. Really, even now I don't know."

While O'Hara is still the superior grid squad, the Friars for the second consecutive season do not need life-support. With senior halfback Eric Petransky collecting 260 yards and five touchdowns on 22 carries last night, they even pasted Father Judge, 49-17, in a Catholic AAAA makeup at Northeast.

Colivas, a 6-4, 285-pound senior, lines up at tackle. With center Mike Murphy, guards Ron Scull, Tyler Ramirez and Marc Thomas (rotates in) and tackle Derrick Ferguson, he helped to assure that coach Tom Oropeza's club would storm to 388 yards.

"The coaches talked all week in practice about how Judge really crushed us last year," Colivas said. That score was 37-0. "How they took it to us. Physically beat us up. We got sick of hearing it, so we knew we had to come out here and do something about it. We really did the job."

Petransky's scores covered 48, 9, 17, 33 and 68 yards. Often, the Crusaders barely brushed against him, let alone jarred him, as he scampered through gaping holes.

"It gives you a good feeling to know that you've done your job," Colivas said. "It's cool to see Eric running all the way downfield. I used to try to run down there and catch him."

He added: "I've given up on that."

Colivas said Petransky is big on expressing appreciation to the grunts in huddles and along the sideline, and even says special hellos when the players pass each other in the hallway.

Now, maybe he needs to spring for cafeteria goodies?

"I don't think he'd ever be that generous," Colivas cracked.

Bonner's other TDs were also longies - Jack Wichmann caught a 56-yard pass from Sean Quarterman and Jamie Juisti ripped off an 81-yard return of a punt. As Juisti waited for the ball, a fan bellowed, "Run, Jamie! Like the wind!" Petransky said, "I think that was my father."

Bonner's defense contributed interceptions from Michael Ianovale, Sammy Christie and Ken Weyler while Pat Flynn recovered two fumbles. For Judge, Curt Wortham ran 18 times for 126 yards and a 40-yard score and Nick Myers returned a punt for an 87-yard TD.

Colivas, who pictures himself becoming anything from an electrician to a computer technician, is hoping to draw football interest.

"I'd love to play in college," he said.

In a game Saturday:

* SJ PREP 21, O'HARA 14: Pete Hurley caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Skyler Mornhinweg with 30.4 seconds remaining, thus lifting the Hawks to victory in a Catholic AAAA classic. Mike Granata's kick, following Corey Brown's 20-yard TD reception from Ryan Laughlin, had made it 14-13 at 2:46. O'Hara advanced to the Prep's 17 on its final possession.