Posted: Saturday, December 12, 2009, 7:54 PM | 32 comments |
 

La Salle defeats Ridley, 35-7, to advance to Class AAAA state title game
options
 

By Matt Gelb
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

For the first time ever, a Philadelphia city league team will play for a football state championship at the highest level.

La Salle defeated Ridley, 35-7, today at a sold-out Charles Martin Memorial Stadium at Northeast High in a PIAA Class AAAA semifinal.

The Explorers will face State College High at HersheyPark Stadium next Saturday at 7 p.m. for the Class AAAA state title.

Ridley turned the ball over five times and La Salle took full advantage in the second half. After the first half ended with a 7-7 stalemate, the Explorers scored on two Drew Loughery 1-yard runs in the second half to take a commanding 21-7 lead.

La Salle scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Posted by Matt Gelb @ 7:54 PM  Permalink | File Under: Boys | | Football | | PA | 32 comments
Mentioned: Ridley High School | La Salle College High School
32
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:31 PM, 12/12/2009
    The bottom line is the Philadelphia Catholic League is stronger and always has been stronger than ANY of the Ciy, Suburban Public or Inter-Ac leagues. The PCL has arrived and the PIAA is noticing.
    — PCL Fan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:42 PM, 12/12/2009
    The game could have neen 48-0 if not for a few athletic plays by Ridley. Go LaSalle and best of luck in Hershey!
    — Justicek
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:53 PM, 12/12/2009
    Let all the PCL haters say anything now!!!!!! Now all they will complain about is "recruiting"...the PCL arrived today.Ridley had a great season. Can't turn the ball over 5 times....LS is TOO good.
    — t8034mc1
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:58 PM, 12/12/2009
    Dominating performance La Salle! Great Job! One more to go.
    — Steve WC
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:56 PM, 12/12/2009
    LaSalle dominated both lines of scrimmage. Once again they won as a team with no individual carrying the team. A credit to some tough young men. Go LaSalle!! A graduate from so far back I won't say when.
    — GA in Blue Bell
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:24 PM, 12/12/2009
    PCL fan...Would that still be true if La Salle gets spanked in Hershey by the State College "Little Lions"? Relax..Don't jinx them!
    — phillysgone
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:34 PM, 12/12/2009
    uh, these schools do recruit. do hand out scholarships. and to respond in such a way as to deny it or play it off as no big deal is sad. LaSalle is the better team, but dont lie or deny the truth. be a man and own up to the fact that they recruit. why is it so hard to admit something so simple?
    — bill on the hill
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:40 PM, 12/12/2009
    If you knew all that, why all the crowing this past week. "Ridley is so tough and aggressive...yack yack yack." That team I saw today had no business being on the same field as LaSalle. Wimps. A waste of time had the game not been necessary.
    — RickyPrior
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:47 PM, 12/12/2009
    bill on the hill...we all know that ALL coaches recruit and some of these recruits just need an address and others need brains and a checkbook.
    — phillysgone
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:49 PM, 12/12/2009
    La Salle offensive coordinator did not attend the first half and, absent his play-calling, the Explorers blew several chances with great field position. The word in the stands was that his wife delivered a baby on Wednesday or Thursday, so he wasn't going to attend the game. He DID show up for the second half, though, and suddenly the La Salle offense was in synch. Of course, five takeaways by the defense and coverage teams give the "O" planty of chances to get it right. Both factors were important, but La Salle's defense holding Ridley to one score was the key. Strong effort by La Salle, and a great season for Ridley.
    — goober juice
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:55 PM, 12/12/2009
    RickyPrior...I don't think the La Salle players feel that way...they are a class act!
    — phillysgone
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:55 PM, 12/12/2009
    La Salle's offensive coordinator did not attend the first half and, absent his play-calling, the Explorers blew several chances with great field position. The word in the stands was that his wife delivered a baby on Wednesday or Thursday, so he wasn't going to attend the game. He DID show up for the second half, though, and suddenly the La Salle offense was in synch. Of course, five takeaways by the defense and coverage teams give the "O" planty of chances to get it right. Both factors were important, but La Salle's defense holding Ridley to one score was the key. Strong effort by La Salle, and a great season for Ridley.
    — goober juice
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:17 PM, 12/12/2009
    Ridley was the bigger team, too. Didn't matter. It amounted to who wanted it more and the Explorers left no doubt about that. The D was a brick wall and on offense, it wasn't just Rachman and Loughery giving their usual stellar performances, EVERYBODY played well. One more to go, guys!!!
    — jiminy cricket
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:29 PM, 12/12/2009
    Bill on the hill - if you think La Salle gives out athletic scholarships, you are severely mistaken. Do yourself a favor and know the facts before sticking your foot in your mouth - http://www.lschs.org/page.cfm?p=366. Scholarships are given out based on academic history and entrance exam results. As a La Salle graduate who received a presidential scholarship, I can assure you that having had classes with other scholarship recipients for four years, every one of them deserved it. If a football player happens to have a scholarship, it is for his performance in the classroom, not on the field.
    — AndrewH
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:30 PM, 12/12/2009
    goober juice...are you the same goober who agreed with mbuck that Ridley was going to crush LaSalle? I would love to know who mbuck thinks is going to be crushed in the NFL tomorrow so I can bet them to win.
    — phillysgone


32 comments | View All Comments | View All By Latest
View comments: 1  |  2  |  3
About Rally Blog Team
The Rally blog is written by high schools sports journalists at the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News.
Advertise Here
Rally High School Sports