Obuchowicz has two-way impact in Ryan win
Drew Obuchowicz has quietly put together an impressive resumé in his football career at Archbishop Ryan. The senior two-way lineman was a first-team all-Catholic League Red Division selection on defense this season.
Drew Obuchowicz has quietly put together an impressive resumé in his football career at Archbishop Ryan.
The senior two-way lineman was a first-team all-Catholic League Red Division selection on defense this season.
Previously, when the Raiders competed in the old Catholic 4A Division, he earned first- and second-team honors on offense as a junior and sophomore, respectively.
"Drew has a strong motor, is very coachable, and he just does whatever you ask him to do," Ryan coach Frank McArdle said.
Obuchowicz's efforts at right guard and defensive end helped the Raiders cruise to a 35-14 victory over Archbishop Carroll in a Catholic 5A playoff semifinal Saturday night at Northeast.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder spent much of his summer working on his strength and conditioning at Daniel Boyle Playground in Somerton.
Against Carroll, Obuchowicz's blocking contributed to Jaye McNeil's stellar showing. The junior halfback, carried 22 times for 234 yards and four touchdowns.
"He's very good at making something happen when you give him some open space," Obuchowicz said.
McNeil scored on runs of 7, 5, and 37 yards to give Ryan (6-5) a 21-0 halftime advantage. His 49-yard, fourth-quarter jaunt capped the scoring.
The Raiders lost their starting quarterback, senior Matt Romano, to a season-ending knee injury on Sept. 24.
Junior Chris Reed, connected on 9 of 14 throws for 100 yards against the Patriots. He ran for a 7-yard, third-quarter score.
Ryan kept Carroll (1-10) scoreless until the final seconds of the third quarter. The charge up front was led by Obuchowicz, Brendan Ruskowski (second-quarter interception), Tim Moulton, and Sean Conner.
Ryan will be a considerable underdog when it takes on Archbishop Wood (6-2-1) for the Catholic 5A crown at 1 p.m. Saturday at Plymouth Whitemarsh. The Vikings eased to a 31-6 triumph when the squads met last month.
"The most important thing for us is to play as a team," Obuchowicz said. "We'll go out there, compete hard, and see what happens."
Inter-Ac battle
Malvern Prep and Germantown Academy, both with 3-1 marks, are tied atop the Inter-Ac League standings.
Malvern closes at 1 p.m. Saturday at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (0-4). GA finishes against visiting Penn Charter (2-2) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
With its 21-14 triumph Saturday over visiting Haverford School, GA stayed in the hunt for its first Inter-Ac title since 2003. That year, it shared top honors with Malvern and Penn Charter.
With QB Kyle McCloskey (15 carries for 94 yards) rushing for three first-half scores, the Patriots beat Haverford (2-2) for the first time since 2006.
Notes
La Salle's Syaire Madden has carried 232 times for 1,344 yards and 14 TDs. The Explorers' Seamus Heckard and Brennan Daly made late interceptions in a 34-21 victory over Father Judge in Friday's Catholic 6A semifinal . . . Jenkintown turned back Delco Christian, 34-6, in Saturday's PIAA District 1-2-11 Class A subregional playoff. Drakes linemen Pat Morrin and Gavin Lafferty were each involved in six tackles. For the Knights, QB Jake Allen, one of the team's few seniors, gamely played on despite tweaking his right knee in the second quarter.
Playoff schedule
FRIDAY
Catholic League Class 6A Final
La Salle vs. St. Joseph's Prep, at Northeast, 7 p.m.
District 1 Class 6A Quarterfinals
No. 8 Spring-Ford at No. 1 North Penn, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Ridley at No. 4 Coatesville, 7 p.m.
No. 6 Downingtown East at No. 3 Perkiomen Valley, 7 p.m.
No. 10 Garnet Valley at No. 2 Neshaminy, 7 p.m.
District 1 Class 5A Quarterfinals
No. 8 Great Valley at No. 1 Springfield-Delco, 7 p.m.
No. 5 W.C. Henderson at No. 4 Upper Dublin, 7 p.m.
No. 11 West Chester East at No. 3 Marple Newtown, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Bishop Shanahan at No. 2 Academy Park, 7 p.m.
District 1 Class 4A Final
No. 2 Pottsgrove at No. 1 Interboro, 7 p.m.
District 1-2-11 Class A Subregional Semifinal
Jenkintown at Lackawanna Trail, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
Catholic League Class 5A Final
Archbishop Ryan vs. Archbishop Wood, at Plymouth Whitemarsh, 1 p.m.
At Northeast:
Public League Class 5A Final
Simon Gratz vs. Frankford, 1 p.m.
Public League Class 6A Final
Central vs. Northeast, at 5 p.m
Public League Class 4A Final
Bartram vs. Imhotep Charter, at Northwest Philly Super Site, 1 p.m.
District 1-12 Class 3A Subregional Semifinals
No. 4 Conwell-Egan vs. No. 1 KIPP DuBois, at South Philly Super Site, 5 p.m.
No. 3 New Hope-Solebury vs. No. 2 Del-Val Charter, at Northwest Philly Super Site, 6 p.m.
District 1-12 Class 2A Subregional Final
No. 4 Valley Forge Military Academy vs. No. 2 West Catholic, at South Philly Super Site, 6 p.m.
@ozoneinq