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St. Joseph's tops St. Augustine, 36-6

As a wide receiver in St. Joseph's run-heavy attack, Ricky Quirindongo knows his primary job on offense is to block.

St. Joseph's Rocco Ordille runs past St. Augustine Prep defenders. (Charles Fox/Staff Photographer)
St. Joseph's Rocco Ordille runs past St. Augustine Prep defenders. (Charles Fox/Staff Photographer)Read more

As a wide receiver in St. Joseph's run-heavy attack, Ricky Quirindongo knows his primary job on offense is to block.

The senior tries to help the Wildcats in other ways, too: As a safety on defense and as the punter and kick-holder on special teams.

Quirindongo got a rare chance to shine in the passing game and also made plays on defense and special teams Saturday as St. Joseph, the No. 1 team in The Inquirer South Jersey rankings, opened the season with a 36-6 victory over No. 23 St. Augustine in a Cape-Atlantic League American Division clash.

Junior twins Salaam Horne and A'Laam Horne and senior running back Rocco Ordille also were major contributors for St. Joseph on a wet afternoon at Bill Bendig Memorial Field.

"In general, our kids did a good job," St. Joseph coach Paul Sacco said.

Senior running back Lamont Harris gained 101 yards with a touchdown on 18 carries, and junior end Dante Enos led a physical defensive effort for St. Augustine.

"We were physical, we played hard, but we made too many mistakes," St. Augustine coach Mark Reardon said. "You have to play an almost-perfect game to beat them, and we didn't play a clean game."

A'Laam Horne scored three touchdowns, and Salaam Horne threw for a pair of scores. St. Joseph veered a bit from its traditional offensive approach, spreading the field and converting several big plays in the passing game.

"We shifted gears," Sacco said.

Salaam Horne was 9-for-11 passing for 221 yards. He threw a 31-yard touchdown to senior fullback C.J. LaFragola, who made a nifty run after catching the screen pass, and fired a 73-yard scoring strike to his twin brother.

Ordille carried 12 times for 96 yards and scored the game's first touchdown on a 12-yard run.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Quirindongo caught five passes for 72 yards. His 43-yard catch on third and 8 fueled a 95-yard drive in the fourth quarter that ended with an 8-yard A'Laam Horne touchdown run and put an exclamation point on the victory.

Quirindongo also made an interception on defense and several strong tackles. He held for four extra points and raced around left end - lowering his shoulder on a tackler at the goal line - for a two-point conversion.

"He's really coming on," Sacco said of Quirindongo.

Quirindongo knows expectations are sky-high for the Wildcats in his senior season.

"We're trying not to think about that," said Quirindongo, a Hammonton resident. "We just focus on who we've got on our schedule. We don't want to get caught up in all that commotion.

"But it feels good to be ranked No. 1 in South Jersey."

St. Augustine 0 6 0 0 – 6

St. Joseph 14 7 8 7 – 36

SJ: Rocco Ordille 12 run (Eric Graziano kick)

SJ: C.J. LaFragola 31 pass from Salaam Horne (Graziano kick)

SA: Lamont Harris 9 run (kick fail)

SJ: A'Laam Horne 73 pass from Salaam Horne (Graziano kick)

SJ: A'Laam Horne 1 run (Ricky Quirindongo run)

SJ: A'Laam Horne 8 run (Graziano kick)