La Salle knocks off rival St. Joe's for PCL title

La Salle's chance at knocking off archrival St. Joseph's Prep looked bleak at several points of the Catholic League Class AAAA final Saturday afternoon.

The Explorers trailed by 14 in the early going, were burned for a 95-yard pick-six at the end of the first half, and were down by 11 late in the third quarter.

But La Salle rallied with a pair of fourth-quarter scores and dramatically triumphed, 29-28, on Nick Rinella's spectacular 24-yard catch with 49 seconds remaining before a packed crowd at Plymouth Whitemarsh.

On Chris Ferguson's throw over the middle, Rinella, with three Prep defenders in close proximity, made a juggling snag to lift the Explorers to their first title since 2012 and sixth in the last eight years.

"I just saw the ball, stuck up a hand, and wound up coming down with it," Rinella said. "There was no way I was letting it drop."

Rinella, an-all-purpose threat who doubles as a cornerback, had only two catches for 11 yards before his highlight-reel grab.

"It was a long day for him, so he really had to hang in there and battle," La Salle first-year coach John Steinmetz said.

The Explorers (7-3) will take on Public League champion Simon Gratz for the District 12 AAAA crown next Saturday at Northeast.

Benny Wall's 55-yard TD jaunt in front of the Prep sideline put the Hawks (7-3) in front, 28-17, with 2:24 to go in the third quarter.

Syaire Madden's 3-yard run around right end early in the fourth cut the Prep's lead to 28-23. Ferguson connected with Winston Eubanks (22 yards), Rinella (8), and Charles Headen (22) on the six-play, 58-yard series.

La Salle's decisive drive covered 71 yards on 13 plays. Ferguson completed three throws for 30 yards and Isaiah Jones, on third-and-2 from the 24, gained 11 yards on a Wildcat run.

Ferguson rebounded nicely after throwing two-first half interceptions, including Richard Carr's momentum-changing pick.

La Salle 14 0 3 12 - 29

St. Joseph's Prep 14 7 7 0 - 28

SJP: D'Andre Swift 1 run (Alex Talbot kick)

SJP: Benny Walls 44 run (Talbot kick)

LS: Charles Headen 26 pass from Chris Ferguson (Matt Savage kick)

LS: Jared Walls 49 interception return (Savage kick)

SJP: Richard Carr 95 interception return (Talbot kick)

LS: FG Savage 21

SJP: Walls 55 run (Talbot kick)

LS: Syaire Madden 3 run (kick failed)

LS: Nick Rinella 24 pass from Ferguson (run failed)