Roman storms past Ryan
The football struck a Roman Catholic defender's hand, ricocheted into the air, and hung over Washington's field on Saturday afternoon for what seemed an eternity.
The football struck a Roman Catholic defender's hand, ricocheted into the air, and hung over Washington's field on Saturday afternoon for what seemed an eternity.
Cahillites coach Joe McCourt watched from the sideline, hoping the fourth-quarter play did not somehow turn into an Archbishop Ryan gain. Tom Stevens ran underneath the ball as it dropped toward the turf.
"I hope I don't drop this," the Roman linebacker thought.
Stevens grasped the ball and sprinted all alone with the interception for a 35-yard touchdown that sealed visiting Roman's 24-16 win. When the 6-foot-1 junior reached the end zone, he appeared to begin to dive across the goal line before stopping midstride. Stevens reconsidered the celebration after recalling what happened earlier when he flexed after a sack.
"Everyone was ripping me and said I didn't have any guns to show off," Stevens said.
McCourt said Stevens is undersize for a middle linebacker but is "the toughest and smartest kid we have on the team." The coach was not surprised that he made the play.
Stevens helped anchor a Roman defense that held Ryan scoreless after halftime. Gavin Wiggins, whose tip led to Stevens' touchdown, and the rest of Roman's defensive line limited Ryan's electric running game to 60 yards in the second half. The 270-pound Wiggins stripped Ryan's quarterback in the third quarter, recovered the fumble, and rumbled for a 15-yard gain.
"It was a great comeback, great job all around by the team," Stevens said. "Tre Smith set the tone with that interception [late in the second quarter] and let us know we were still in the game."
Roman's rushing attack was balanced between senior backs Dimetri Kelly and John Chaney. Kelly, a 5-11, 190-pounder, rushed for 85 yards on 21 carries. Chaney, grandson of former Temple basketball coach John Chaney, carried the ball seven times for 38 yards.
After his team fell behind by 16 points, Kelly provided Roman its first score before halftime on a 6-yard run. Chaney rushed for a 15-yard TD midway through the third as Roman scored 24 unanswered points.
"It's a good change of pace," McCourt said of his running backs. "Dimetri is more downhill, power. Then you have Chaney to come in, and it's a little more speed and finesse.
"We have a good change-up. Dimetri is our horse, but listen, we think John Chaney is just as good as any running back in our league."
Roman Catholic 0 8 6 10 - 24
Archbishop Ryan 7 9 0 0 - 16
AR: Matt Romano 1 run (Joe Stock kick)
AR: Safety
AR: Seneca Williams 65 kickoff return (Stock kick)
RC: Dimetri Kelly 6 run (Phil DiWilliams run)
RC: John Chaney 15 run (pass failed)
RC: FG Ethan Mahler 18
RC: Tom Stevens 35 with interception (Mahler kick)