Football: PVI-St. Augustine scrimmage

By Phil Anastasia

Inquirer Staff Writer

Paul VI visited St. Augustine Prep for a scrimmage between Non-Public 4 football programs on a hot and humid Monday afternoon in Richland.

Some takeaways:

-- St. Augustine senior quarterback Jose Tabora threw four TD passes in one half and one series of the game-like scrimmage.

Tabora, a three-year starter, should benefit this season from the presence of some explosive young skill-position players, especially sophomore all-purpose Kyle Dobbins, a threat in both the running and passing games.

"We had a little bit of a slow start today," Tabora (pictured) said. "But we settled down and made some plays. I think it was a good first scrimmage but we've got a lot of work to do."

-- Four different players caught TD passes for the Hermits -- A.J. Baxter (about 15 yards), Justin Skinner (60 yards), Tim Jurasik (45 yards) and Xavier File (21 yards).

All four were different, with Baxter beating a defender for the ball in the end zone; Skinner taking a slipscreen and working free behind a good block; Jurasik getting loose in a fake screen-and-go; and File, another shifty sophomore, taking a swing pass and exploding past defenders into the clear.

-- Paul VI's best play was a 45-yard TD pass from senior QB Matt Vitale to senior WR Lonnie Moore, who made a nice catch and run on a fade pattern.

-- Senior Chris Randle had some good inside runs for Paul VI.

-- Vitale had a couple of good passes that were dropped by his receivers, including one that looked like it had the chance to be a long gainer.

-- St. Augustine's first-team defense did some strong work after Moore's TD on the second series. Senior LB Jim Brady led the way for the Hermits' defense, which was physical and flying to the ball.

-- Sophomore Shamere Collins, who started as a freshman at corner, was patrolling the SA deep secondary at safety.

-- The final score of 33-7 was a little misleading. It was 19-7 -- with SA scoring on long TD passes on its last two fully possessions -- when the first-stringers were in there in the first half. St. Augustine's reserves seemed more advanced than PVI's second-stringers in the second half.

-- PVI coach John Doherty said his team blew a couple coverages that allowed SA to get a couple long TD passes. Doherty said he saw some good things on both sides of the football.

-- SA coach Mark Reardon said his team did some good things but needs to play with more fire and emotion. "We were, 'Eh'" Reardon said.

-- The Hermits scrimmage at Roman Catholic on Saturday. The Eagles are off until a quad scrimmage that also includes Camden and Imhotep Tech August 29 at Temple.

-- St. Augustine opens Sept. 11 against rival St. Joseph.

-- Paul VI opens Sept. 11 vs. Seneca.

-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com

-- Follow @PhilAnastasia on Twitter