St. Joseph's Prep stays focused in win over N.J. power
The St. Joseph's Prep football coaching staff preaches to the players the importance of focusing on the present and not looking ahead or behind. And Joe DuMond has bought into that approach.
/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-pmn.s3.amazonaws.com/public/OFQTJ46LZBGT5LBJZIUYMERO7I.jpg)
The St. Joseph's Prep football coaching staff preaches to the players the importance of focusing on the present and not looking ahead or behind. And Joe DuMond has bought into that approach.
"The biggest game of the year is the one we're preparing for or playing in," the four-year starter said. "It's all about the task at hand."
Saturday afternoon against nationally ranked St. Joseph Regional of Montvale, N.J., DuMond and company had to forget about the previous week's 33-21 loss to Malvern Prep and avoid thinking about next weekend's Catholic League Class AAAA opener vs. archrival La Salle.
The Hawks zeroed in on the Green Knights, held the visitors to 61 yards rushing on 28 attempts, and rolled to a 28-5 victory at Plymouth Whitemarsh.
St. Joseph arrived in Plymouth Meeting ranked No. 18 in the country by USA Today. Last year, the North Jersey power handed the visiting Prep a 47-29 defeat.
DuMond, a rugged defensive end who also sees time at fullback and tight end, was involved in five first-half tackles, with two solos, as the Prep took a 14-3 lead into the locker room. The Hawks limited the Green Knights to 38 yards rushing and 99 passing before the break.
"Our defense is built on setting the edge," said DuMond, a first-team all-Catholic pick last season. "We always have to keep outside leverage."
While the 6-1, 230-pound senior did not want to make too much of the Week 6 victory, he said there was "something special" about the Prep's team dinner and meeting the night before.
Did the Prep (3-2) make a statement by beating St. Joseph? "Not at all," DuMond said. "We have to get back to work, make the necessary corrections, and get ready for our next opponent."
On a right-side, play-action pass in the third-quarter, a wide-open DuMond hauled in a toss from Kevin Shaw and rumbled for an 11-yard touchdown that put the Hawks in front, 21-5.
In addition to DuMond, linebackers James Johnson (11 tackles, with eight solos) and Nick Vandevere (nine, five) shined on defense. Backs Benny Walls (six), Ricky Goodson (five), and Zach Goss (five) combined for 16 stops.
The defensive line rotation included DuMond, Jackson Evans (6-4, 290), Charlie Holsopple (6-4, 265), Sal Cinaglia (6-2, 265), Kevin Hanley, Chris Lowndes, and Rayshad Wallace.
The Prep's D'Andre Swift, a speedy junior tailback, carried 23 times for 217 yards. The Division I prospect ran for scores of 2, 32, and 4 yards. "He's just amazing," DuMond said. "It's incredible the things he can do."
DuMond, who lives near Second and Jackson Streets in South Philly, has a scholarship offer from Old Dominion. "I'm hoping to make a visit on our next bye week," the 17-year-old said.
Extra points. Walls, a safety who made a fourth-quarter interception in the end zone, is mulling offers from Boston College, Rutgers, Syracuse, and Temple. He made a 17-yard catch to set up Swift's first tally. . . . After spending the week as a guest coach with St. Joe's Prep, Susie Cook, an English teacher at the school, received a game ball from Hawks coach Gabe Infante. . . . Upper Dublin senior quarterback Ryan Stover recently received an offer from Towson.
After being held to 42 total yards and going scoreless in the first half of Saturday night's 27-24 nonleague loss to Archbishop Wood, La Salle posted 17 third-quarter points in 10 minutes. Sophomore end Chris Maloney's fumble recovery set up Chris Ferguson's 25-yard TD pass to Nick Rinella. . . . Wood sophomore linebacker Matt Palmer notched six solo tackles, including a second-quarter sack, vs. the Explorers. Tackle Omar Peterkin and end Mack Schwartz also had first-half sacks for the Vikings. . . . Central Bucks South linebackers Luke Kohler and Matt Hemsley have made 51 and 50 tackles, respectively.
@ozoneinq