Ace Carter's City Player of the Week

A Conwell-Egan assistant coach joked this week that maybe the team needed to find a new statistician after junior running back Patrick Garwo finished just two yards shy of Steve Slayton's single-game, school rushing record (set in 2001).

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Jokes and records aside, Garwo's 288-yard, five-touchdown performance last week against Schuylkill Valley has to be considered an all-timer because it required just 12 carries and came in the first half of a 56-24 blowout victory.

That is why, from a weekend of great performances, Garwo is my city player of the week (Catholic, Public and Inter-Ac Leagues) for Week 5.

But to hear the highly recruited running back tell it, getting the still-smarting Eagles back on track after a 38-0 setback to West Catholic the previous week was most important.

"West Catholic was a rough one," said the 5-foot-10, 200-pounder. "A lot of people banged up [with] injuries. Young team, and we didn't start well and then we just folded, so we needed a big win like that as a team to keep us going."

This week, Garwo's group will host Catholic League Blue Division foe Lansdale Catholic, which gave the Burrs trouble last week despite falling, 40-28.

The Lancers, no doubt, expect a heavy dose of Garwo, who will visit Penn State this weekend, has offers from schools such as Wisconsin, and has the grades to likely pick the college of his choice.

"He's a hard, punishing runner who tries to fight for every extra yard," C-E coach Jack Techtman said. "Sometimes we'd like him to get down or out of bounds, but that's not in his personality."

Being a vocal leader wasn't always in his repertoire, either, but Garwo has been up to the challenge with a young team that includes his brother, Andrew, a freshman who starts at cornerback.

The pair push each other in workouts at home, Garwo said, but the academic example set by their parents, Linda and Patrick, is also something Garwo tries to model.

"At a young age, grades have been very important," said Garwo, who carries a 3.5 GPA. "I just try to use my hard work on the field and also apply it in school because football isn't forever."

Five more top performances:

Mahmud Dioubate, Bartram senior quarterback, threw for 302 yards and five touchdown passes and added 39 yards on eight carries in a physical win against Franklin.

West Catholic senior Da'Vion Kidd-Jackson rushed for 194 yards on 16 carries with two scores. He added 153 yards and two more scores on 7-for-13 passing.

Imhotep freshman defensive back Shafeek Smith had two interceptions and helped the Panthers defense hold Gratz's passing attack to just 9-for-28 passing in a dominant win against a fellow Public League power.

Southern senior quarterback Sherriff Jones finished with 111 yards and two scores on 3-of-4 passing, and added 15 yards and two scores on the ground and a late, 65-yard interception return in a win against King.

Shane Dooley, senior quarterback for Father Judge, threw for 179 yards and three scores on 11-for-15 passing in a narrow win against Salesianum.

*Coaches, want to nominate a player? Email cartera@phillynews.com by the end of Sunday each week with your player's name, height, weight, grade and stats from that week or why they should be considered. Coaches' submissions only.*