Capriotti shattering football records at New Hope-Solebury

Before his senior football season, New Hope-Solebury's Jesse Capriotti planned to focus on rugby in college.

That changed when Capriotti, who saw a limited number of carries the last two seasons while playing behind former go-to guy Jack McKenna, emerged as a record-setting running back for the Lions.

The 5-foot-11, 165-pounder carried 19 times for a single-game school-record 405 yards and seven touchdowns in last Saturday afternoon's 48-7 home triumph over Bicentennial Athletic League rival Lower Moreland.

"One of the coaches told me the final number after the game," said Capriotti, who doubles as a free safety. "I knew I had a lot of yards, but I had no idea it was more than 400."

Capriotti found pay dirt on runs of 32, 9, 71, 73, 22, 80, and 2 yards. He rushed 13 times for 267 yards and five scores in the first half.

"He's not big in stature, but he's strong, has deceptive speed, and he's a patient runner," New Hope-Solebury coach Jim DiTulio said. "He really understands our blocking schemes."

For the season, Capriotti has carried 136 times for 2,140 yards and 31 TDs. He has five receptions for 101 yards and a score.

Capriotti's 80-yard tally against Lower Moreland came on a power toss. "He broke at least six tackles on that play," DiTulio said.

DiTulio said Capriotti rushed for about 450 yards and seven TDs last season. "He was a little bit nicked up the last two years," the coach said. "We knew if we could keep him healthy, he would be a 1,000-yard rusher this year."

The Lions are 8-1 overall and 5-0 in BAL action entering Friday night's regular-season finale against Morrisville. They rebounded nicely from a season-opening, 55-14 nonleague drubbing vs. Conwell-Egan.

Leading the way for Capriotti and fellow running back Mark Shadle are center Connor Fitzgerald, guards John Mangan and Max Adar, tackles Topher Taylor and Charles Bray, and tight end Patrick Cooney.

Lions quarterback Nick Garritano has completed 33 of 62 passes for 626 yards and five scores. The 6-4, 190-pound senior missed three games because of mononucleosis.

Garritano's top target in a multiple-spread attack is junior wideout John Flavin, who has 18 receptions for 424 yards and four TDs.

The stalwarts up front for a 4-3 defense are tackle Adar, ends Taylor and Dan Khouri, and nose guard Zach Griffiths.

Linebackers Mangan and Shadle patrol the middle, while Capriotti and cornerbacks Flavin and Ken Grady roam the secondary.

Capriotti shines as an inside center in rugby for the Doylestown Dragons and a few elite club teams, including Atlantis and DMV United. "I like that it's an incredibly physical sport," the 17-year-old said.

Capriotti, whose brother Tommy plays rugby at Penn State, also excels in the classroom. With a 4.3 grade-point average on a weighted scale, he plans to major in business in college.

Extra points

Bartram QB Mahmud Dioubate has connected on 96 of 170 throws for 1,586 yards and 25 TDs. He has rushed 99 times for 1,059 yards and 12 scores. … Springfield-Montco's Max Perry has converted 64 of 129 passes for 1,323 yards and 15 TDs. … Southern's Zaki Samuels has carried 107 times for 772 yards and seven scores. … Cheltenham's Justin Grady went 3 for 3 on field-goal tries, with a long of 45 yards, in last Friday's 23-20 win over Plymouth Whitemarsh. The 6-foot junior, a goalkeeper and Division I recruit in soccer, has a 3.98 grade-point average.

Lincoln's Sammy Karr has carried 175 times for 1,471 yards and 19 TDs. … Boys' Latin QB Malik Johnson has rushed 108 times for 832 yards and 11 scores. He has hit on 32 of 55 passes for 695 and 11 TDs. … Upper Moreland (8-0) has outscored foes by 314-117. The Golden Bears' Sterlen Barr and Caleb Mead have combined to rush for 2,196 yards and 27 TDs on 233 attempts. … North Penn's Steve DePaul has completed 84 of 147 passes for 1,487 yards and 18 scores.