Late TD lifts Germantown Ac. past West Catholic
Germantown Academy leaned heavily on K.J. Cartwright in the first half but smartly turned to backfield mate Nick Picariello down the stretch against West Catholic.
Germantown Academy leaned heavily on K.J. Cartwright in the first half but smartly turned to backfield mate Nick Picariello down the stretch against West Catholic.
"They're both solid, capable running backs," coach Matt Dence said. "We had to go with the hot hand at the end."
Picariello, a strong downhill rusher, hauled in a 9-yard touchdown pass with 35 seconds to go as the host Patriots dramatically knocked off the Burrs, 18-12, in a nonleague tilt Saturday afternoon.
On second and goal, Kyle McCloskey found Picariello on a left-side bootleg play. "I ran out into the flat, caught the ball at about the 5, and ran the ball in," Picariello said.
In the drizzling rain in Fort Washington, GA put together an 11-play, 73-yard winning march. Picariello carried three times for 8 yards and made a 9-yard grab to help keep the series alive.
Overall, the 5-foot-7, 188-pound senior carried 11 times for 42 yards.
"He's a tough kid, a kid who gives it his all in the weight room," Dence said.
McCloskey, a southpaw who is ticketed for Villanova, converted 12 of 18 throws for 119 yards and a score. He found Mike Patterson (7 yards), Santino Miriello (9), and Kahlil Ashley-Darrah (18 on a quick toss right) pn the clinching drive.
West was on the verge of leaving with a hard-earned, sloppy triumph when Supreme Kent scored from the 1 with just over 5 minutes to play.
Quarterback Anthony Mirable, who replaced struggling starter Da'Vion Kidd-Jackson in the fourth quarter, directed the 10-play, 65-yard drive that put the Burrs in front, 12-10. It began with his 37-yard pass to wideout Amadou Barry.
"They're all fast," Dence said of Barry and West's other swift playmakers. "They have guys who can fly. I was scared of all of them."
In their final tune-up for Inter-Ac League play, the Patriots (4-1) went ahead, 10-6, on McCloskey's 4-yard toss to tight end Tanner Long midway through the third stanza. It was set up by McCloskey's 35-yard hookup with Mike Reilly.
The Burrs (3-4) took a 6-3 lead just before the break on Kidd-Jackson's 30-yard pass across the middle to Barry.
GA's gritty defense was spearheaded by end Jimmy McGettigan, nose guard Mike McDonough, linebackers Patrick McGettigan and Matt Gorman, and backs Reilly, Tommy Diver, Justin Connors, and Shane Harkins.
"Our defense has been outstanding," said Picariello, a 17-year-old from Mayfair who will play baseball, as a pitcher, at West Chester.
West Catholic 0 6 0 6 -12
Germantown Academy 3 0 7 8 - 18
GA: FG Vince Capone 27
WC: Amadou Barry 30 pass from Da'Vion Kidd-Jackson (pass failed)
GA: Tanner Long 4 pass from Kyle McCloskey (Capone kick)
WC: Supreme Kemp 1 run (pass failed)
GA: Nick Picariello 9 pass fom McCloskey (Capone kick)