Bok downs Del Val in Public AA semifinal

Playing each other for the second time in less than a month, Khalil Neal and the Edward Bok Vo-Tech Wildcats defeated Delaware Valley Charter School, 35-14, in a Public League Class AA semifinal game.

Bok and Delaware Valley played on Sept. 30, with the Wildcats winning, 40-28. Friday, the Wildcats, as usual, relied heavily on the running game. Neal finished with 72 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Junior running back Shaquil Sammons rushed for 106 yards on 27 carries. Although both backs check in at more than 200 pounds, there's a noticeable difference in their running styles.

"Shaq is big and he can run through people like I do, but he likes to cut the corner," Neal said. "When coach [Tom DeFelice] gives me the ball, I run it up the middle, up the middle, and then when they think we're coming up the middle, we hit them with [Sammons'] lightning up the sidelines."

Bok turned the ball over on its first two possessions and then went three-and-out on its third possession. Despite the ample opportunities, the Wildcats held the Warriors to only one score in the opening half and managed to tie the game on the first drive of the second quarter. Despite the slow start, Bok never panicked.

"At the beginning of the game, when the first two series didn't go our way, I still thought we were able to run the ball against them," DeFelice said. "We never deviated from our game plan. Our defense never deviated from our defensive scheme. That first touchdown, where we tied the game, that set the stage. It's just momentum that got us going."

"We had them," Delaware Valley coach Barry Thomas added. "We scored first and we had two opportunities following the turnovers. Then we had two big penalties that pushed us back."

Senior defensive back Christen Lilly had two interceptions for the Wildcats, including a 77-yard return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Thomas' squad allowed the Wildcats to score 35 straight points and showed visible signs of frustration throughout the game. At one point, a player removed his jersey and left the game halfway through the third quarter. Some players even chose to attend a local rap concert instead of coming to the game.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, the Warriors were hit with multiple penalties for unsportsmanlike behavior following Lilly's touchdown. In the end, the lack of leadership on the field proved to be too much to overcome.

"We always play hard, but against better teams, we don't play smart," Thomas said. "We have too many seniors that have failed as leaders. Every time there's a big challenge, the tent folds."

"We try to tell these guys that they only go through this once," Thomas added. "That's the sad part. They can't see it until it's too late. There's no respect, for the most part. They don't respect the opportunity. They don't respect the chance. They don't respect the camaraderie of the team."

Delaware Valley will visit Edison, which forfeited to Central Friday, on Thursday. Bok will face Imhotep next week for the Public League AA championship.

The Panthers defeated the Wildcats, 28-6, in September. However, the scale of next week's game could lead to a different result, DeFelice said.

"We know [Imhotep] is a very talented team," DeFelice said. "They beat us very badly the first time around. However, when you're playing for the championship, it's a whole new ballgame." *