Herron adds to TD mark at La Salle rallies to beat Wood

THE CITY'S all-time leader in receiving touchdowns was busy last night.

La Salle High senior Jimmy Herron caught four more touchdowns as the Explorers overcame a 17-point, third-quarter deficit to stun previously unbeaten Archbishop Wood, 35-31, before an overflow crowd at William Tennent High. He now has 33 career receiving TDs.

However, Herron isn't an all-he-does-is-catch-touchdowns wideout. The 6-1, 185-pound defensive back also recovered a late fumble and broke up Wood's last gasp on a fourth-and-15 from the 50 with under a minute remaining.

At his day job, Herron snagged eight passes for 130 yards, including the go-ahead score on a right-to-middle slant that went for a 45-yard score and erased what had once been a 31-14 Wood advantage. Senior quarterback Kyle Shurmur tossed for 274 yards on 19-for-30, with all four Herron scores.

"I mean, I'd be lying if I said we weren't down a little," Herron said. "But we always believe that we're going to catch a break, make play and get back in the game and we did that."

La Salle (5-1) played catch-up because Wood senior Jarrett McClenton had his way early, finishing with 291 yards on 27 carries. McClenton also added three touchdowns and had 228 yards on 16 totes at halftime with Wood leading, 17-14.

Wood even stole late momentum on a 49-yard field goal by Dan McDonald that bounced off the crossbar and through. McDonald's boot was setup by a 39-yard McClenton burst that could have demoralized the Explorers.

"This is something special," Herron said. "I think this is the best game I've ever been a part of. One of our mottos is that we just don't stop. We just keep coming back. We showed a lot of heart tonight and it just feels awesome to win a game coming back like that."

Led by senior linebacker Aidan Kerrigan and Co., the Explorers defense found feistiness in the final frame. With under 6 minutes remaining, senior Jordan Meachum forced a McClenton fumble, which was scooped by Herron on the La Salle sideline.

"I saw sweep, so I was just following the play when he kind of squirted through and somebody poked the ball out," Herron said. "I got a nice little bounce, picked it up and tried to keep my feet inbounds."

Anthony Russo (2-for-8, 38 yards, TD) tried to author his own comeback for the Vikings (5-1), connecting with a juggling Justin Rubin on a third down and then sneaking on a fourth-and-1 after fumbling the snap.

However, a 5-yard penalty plundered the Vikings and Herron, a centerfielder headed to Duke next season, finished them off.

"It was the tight end and I had half the field," he said. "I just backpedaled; he gave me a little move across the middle and I just drove on it and broke it up."

Wood fans will tell you Herron arrived too soon, while Explorers nation will say he was right on time.

Whatever the case, Herron, who will lead La Salle into Catholic League AAAA play next week against St. Joseph's Prep, has the last word.

"There's some momentum," he said. "We'll obviously enjoy this win, but we have Prep next week, and that's what really matters because it's a league game and they're a very good team."