Neumann-Goretti wins in rain, sleet, snow

It goes neither rain nor sleet nor snow, right?

If the postal service won't be stopped by even the worst weather conditions, why should a football game call it in at the sight of, well, rain, sleet, and snow?

Neumann-Goretti and Bishop McDevitt on Saturday took to a field better suited for a game of backyard pond hockey. And it wasn't pretty. Imagine: the Saints and Lancers combined for just 174 yards, three lost fumbles - both sides should be praised that it was only that many - and no offensive touchdowns.

Still, Neumann-Goretti better coped with the frosty-wet-blustery weather, turning in a couple big-time special-teams and defensive scores, to down McDevitt, 14-0, on the sloppy tundra that was the South Philadelphia Super Site.

Though both the Saints and McDevitt ended their Catholic League Class AA regular seasons with identical 2-2 records, McDevitt - barring a Lansdale Catholic win over heavily favored West Catholic on Monday - will advance to the Catholic League AA title game against the Burrs on Friday. The Lancers edged Neumann-Goretti in the points-against tiebreaker.

The Saints (3-6 overall) needed to score at least 23 points to have ousted McDevitt (5-4).

But for a Saints team that struggled through the season, allowing an average of 28.33 points, the triumph provided for a nice moral victory.

"I think no matter what, our football program is coming along," first-year Saints coach C.J. Szydlik said. "We showed today we have a lot of heart. We're banged up, we're down to numbers, but we still keep coming. Weather doesn't stop us."

The play of the game came with a little less than four minutes remaining in the first half. The Saints' Sharif Custis broke through the McDevitt line and blocked Sean Bryson's punt.

The ball, which had been snapped on the 27, tumbled into the end zone, and Custis landed on the ball to finish - with a touchdown - a play he had started.

N-G had scored on a safety earlier in the second quarter. Christian DiFrancesco recovered a fumble by Lancers running back Keith Young in the end zone for a TD in the fourth.

Young, who entered the game among Southeastern Pennsylvania's rushing leaders with 1,301 yards, was held to 78 yards on 29 carries (and two lost fumbles) and hobbled off the field midway through the fourth with a back injury. The extent of that won't be determined for a day or two, McDevitt coach Pat Manzi said.

"That's a big question mark," he said.

The Saints received 44 yards on seven carries from freshman fullback Michael DiFrancesco. Danny Murray added 18 yards on eight carries, and Antwoine Powers chipped in 20 on 16 carries, although he also fumbled.

With winds howling and sleet falling throughout, neither side got much going in the passing game. N-G quarterback Shane Thomas was 1 for 7 for 21 yards. The Lancers put three players under center - Tymere Wilder, Christian Conner, and Bryson - and none completed a pass.

"It's terrible, man," McDevitt right guard Jacob Jones said of the conditions, adding, "It's really freezing cold."

Bishop McDevitt   0 0 0 0 – 0

Neumann-Goretti   0 8 0 6 – 14

NG: Safety

NG: Sharif Custis fumble recovery in end zone (pass failed)

NG: DiFrancesco fumble recovery in end zone (run failed)