Kerrigan, La Salle get rematch vs. St. Joe's

After his two brothers attended and played football at La Salle, Aidan Kerrigan says it was pretty much a no-brainer to follow in their footsteps.

"I got a good feel for all the school had to offer," the 18-year-old said. "I knew it would be the perfect place for me academically and athletically."

Connor Kerrigan (Class of 2012) was a second-team all-Catholic League center for the Explorers; John Kerrigan (2009) played linebacker.

This season, as a ball-hawking inside linebacker and senior captain, Aidan Kerrigan has played a key role in La Salle's drive to the Catholic League Class AAAA championship game.

In a rematch of last year's final, the Explorers (8-2) will take on archrival St. Joseph's Prep (6-3) for top honors at 7 p.m. Friday at Northeast's Charlie Martin Memorial Stadium. The victor will advance to the District 12 final.

Last season, the Hawks defeated Kerrigan and company, 30-20, for the program's first Catholic League title since 2005.

"That was a terrible feeling," Kerrigan said. "It was a big disappointment. We're happy to have a second chance against them."

The 5-foot-11, 225-pound Kerrigan is part of a rock-solid linebacking corps that also includes Ryan Brady and Jordan Meachum.

Meachum, who has rushed for nearly 800 yards and 12 touchdowns at tailback, has been solid in his first year at outside linebacker.

"He's a great athlete, so it was a pretty easy transition for him," said Kerrigan, who played youth football for the Horsham Hawks and continued at St. Genevieve in Flourtown.

Since a 35-31 loss to St. Joe's Prep, La Salle's defense has yielded only 15 points in three outings. The second-seeded Explorers thumped third-seeded Roman Catholic, 49-0, in a semifinal Saturday night.

"We've been getting better each week," said Kerrigan, an erstwhile offensive lineman. "We're going to practice hard this week, watch film, and be as prepared as we can be for the Prep."

Kerrigan is an attackman in lacrosse. In the spring, he produced 46 goals as La Salle won its third straight Catholic League title and advanced to the state quarterfinals before losing to Penncrest.

The Maple Glen resident plans to major in engineering in college. He is considering Delaware, Drexel, Penn State, and Syracuse.

Old rivals. No. 2 seed Springfield (Montgomery County) will take on No. 1 Bristol in the District 1 Class AA final next weekend.

Before Springfield moved to the Suburban One League American Conference in 2012, the Spartans and Warriors were foes in the Independence League.

"We know them a little bit," Springfield coach Chris Shelly said. "They've been a single-A power the last couple of years. They're going to be a handful."

Bristol's Donte Simmons, a senior tailback, has carried 163 times for 1,656 yards and 24 TDs. "He sets the tone for that team," Shelly said. "He brings a lot to the table."

Springfield (5-6) reached the final with Saturday's 35-19 win over No. 3 New Hope-Solebury; Bristol (8-3) advanced with a 39-12 triumph Friday over No. 4 Valley Forge Military Academy.

Week 12. Here is the tentative playoff schedule for next weekend:

Friday

Seedings in parentheses.

District 1 Class AAAA Quarterfinals

West Chester Henderson (8) at Coatesville (1), 7

Downingtown East (5) at Quakertown (4), 7

Garnet Valley (7) at Pennsbury (2), 7

Upper Dublin (6) at West Chester Rustin (3), 7

District 1 Class AAA Semifinals

Pottsgrove (4) at Springfield-Delco (1), 7

Bishop Shanahan (3) at Great Valley (2), 7

District 1 Class AA Final

Springfield-Montco (2) at Bristol (1), TBD

District 1 Class A Final

Calvary Christian (2) at Delco Christian (1), TBD

Catholic League

Class AAAA Final

La Salle (2) vs. St. Joseph's Prep (1),

at Northeast, 7

District 12 Class AA Final

Neumann-Goretti vs. Prep Charter, at Southern, 6

Saturday

Public League Class AAA Final

West Phila. vs. Imhotep Charter, at Northeast, noon

Catholic League

Class AAA Final

Archbishop Ryan (3) vs. Archbishop Wood (1), at Plymouth Whitemarsh, 2

Public League

Class AAAA Final

Simon Gratz vs. Ben Franklin, at Northeast, 4