St. Joe's Prep takes AAAA Catholic League title

AT FIRST GLANCE, the scoreboard at the Charles Martin Memorial field screamed the offensive prowess of St. Joseph's Prep.

In last night's AAAA Catholic League championship bout, members of the Hawks' offense gallivanted into the end zone early and often en route to a rousing 46-13 victory against La Salle.

However, the Prep penny-pinchers on defense dominated all night and helped the Hawks defend last season's crown.

"Defense is key for us," Prep quarterback Jack Clements said. "We're a defensive team first. It's pretty much their team, and we follow their lead."

Senior two-way lineman Jack Strain was the early catalyst. In the first half, the 6-3, 235-pounder stuffed a few ballcarriers for losses, added a sack, and batted down three balls at the line of scrimmage. And with the Explorers' quick-strike offense, those rejections were key to disrupting offensive timing.

"We worked on it all week," Strain said. "We knew they got it out pretty fast and if you can't get there get your hands up. It worked out for us."

Well, with Strain and Co. shackling the Explorers on defense, Olamide Zaccheaus supplied the "O." The senior University of Virginia commit ran around, over and through La Salle for 145 yards and three scores on only 11 totes.

His most impressive, without doubt, was a 40-yard run around the right edge after he knocked a would-be tackle on his back and ran for glory.

"I mean, one second you're sitting there waiting to go back in on defense and the next we're scoring, so that's pretty nice!" Strain joked.

Superb sophomore D'Andre Swift also carved up yardage on the ground. Swift scored twice from 3 and 5 yards out, but finished with 61 yards on 10 carries and was electric in the return game.

John Reid, a senior headed to Penn State, also hauled in a 13-yard score from Clements, despite breaking late off the line because he was taking instructions from coaches when the ball was snapped.

La Salle's offense was similarly out of sync, but wasn't able to recover as well. Senior quarterback Kyle Shurmur was harried in the backfield all night, and when he wasn't, the Prep coverage was pasty down field.

"We just played together," said junior Benny Walls, who led Prep (7-3, 3-0) with 10 tackles, two solos and a forced fumble. "Everybody did their part and we got the job done."

Senior wideout Jimmy Herron willed the Explorers (8-3, 2-1) to first-half points, returning a punt 63 yards for the game's first score and then returning an interception for a 29-yard score later.

That second score pulled La Salle within 14-13 with 11:18 left in the half. Unfortunately for La Salle, Zaccheaus "turtled" a tackler a few plays later on his way to that 40-yard score.

Zaccheaus, whom teammates call "O," added a 38-yard burst to make it 27-13 with 6:24 left in the half. Reid followed with a blocked punt, which led to his 13-yard catch from Clements.

Before the half ended, the Prep defense forced a turnover on downs, stopping La Salle with 27 seconds left at the Prep 17.

"All I was worried about was doing my part and filling my portion of the defense," said Walls, a Camden Catholic transfer this season.

"This is a good team," he grinned widely. "Everything is different. It's a big change for me, but everyone's been welcoming so I feel really comfortable with them."

Shurmur (Vanderbilt) finished with 97 yards passing a pair of fumbles. Jordan Meachum added 67 rushing yards. Herron added 42 yards on five catches.

For the Prep, Justin Montague, Armen Ware, Jon Daniel Runyan (Michigan) and Strain each had a sack.

Senior running back James Bell added 97 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown.

It was an impressive effort, to be sure, from the Hawks. However, as has been their mantra all season, they are focused where their feet are - meaning in the moment.

Not even after winning back-to-back titles would Strain break that mindset.

"It feels great," he said. "It's just another step in the process. Just come back to work on Monday and get ready for the next game."