Charles, Paul VI roll

Irv Charles caught two touchdown passes Friday night.

No surprise there.

Charles also blocked a punt that was recovered for another touchdown.

Big surprise there.

"I knew I was going to get it," Charles said of his block after leading host Paul VI to a 28-0 victory over Triton in a showdown of Top 25 teams.

Charles, a Penn State recruit, caught touchdown passes covering 13 and 20 yards from junior Matt Vitale, as Paul VI, the No. 14 team in The Inquirer's South Jersey rankings, clinched the West Jersey Football League Constitution Division title.

Paul VI junior Lonnie Moore went 97 yards around left end for another score, as the Eagles improved to 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the division.

But the turning point of the game was Charles' blocked punt, which was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown by Paul VI junior lineman Darrin DiLauro.

"In the blink of an eye, we went from down 7-0 to down 21-0," Triton coach Pete Goetz said. "That blocked punt was such a big play.

"Give them credit. They capitalized on our mistakes."

Senior Kevin Bucceroni carried the football 27 times for 127 yards for 18th-ranked Triton (4-2, 2-2).

"I knew he was tough, but he ran even tougher than I thought he would," Paul VI coach John Doherty.

The clash of division rivals was played before a large crowd that filled the Paul VI bleachers on the Eagles' senior night.

Paul VI set the tone for the game in the opening minutes, as junior Stefone Moore-Green went 37 yards on a jet sweep on the Eagles' first play, and Charles caught a 13-yard scoring pass from Vitale on the second.

"That got us started," Charles said.

Paul VI's defense came up with four takeaways and registered four sacks, three by junior end James Weathers.

"The turnovers were big. It gave us the ball a couple more times," Doherty said.

Moore's touchdown run was breathtaking, as the speedy athlete turned the corner on Triton defenders, who appeared to have the angle on him, then cut back and raced into the open.

"Against Clearview, I had a 90-yard run, and I cramped up and got caught at the 1," Moore said. "This time, I said, 'I'm going all the way.' "

In the start of a key sequence in the second quarter, Vitale hit Moore with a 35-yard pass on third and 17.

On the next play, Vitale rolled left and fired across his body to Charles, who reached back to make the catch and broke two tackles on his way to a 20-yard touchdown.

Triton's next possession ended when Charles blocked the punt that DiLauro recovered for a score and a 21-0 lead with 1 minute, 24 seconds left in the half.

"I was getting close," Charles said of Triton's previous two punts. "I knew I was going to get it. I went outside, and when I saw I was close enough, I sold out."

Charles said clinching the division was a major accomplishment for the Eagles.

"It's a really big deal," Charles said. "To do this senior year, it means we're leaving our mark."

Triton 0 0 0 0 – 0

Paul VI 7 14 7 0 – 28

PVI: Irv Charles 13 pass from Matt Vitale (Gavin Sentak kick)

PVI: Charles 20 pass from Vitale (Sentak kick)

PVI: Darrin DiLauro 0 with blocked punt (Sentak kick)

PVI: Lonnie Moore 97 run (Sentak kick)