
Roman Catholic Downs Malvern Prep in Battle of Philadelphia Area Heavyweights
Tagged under: District 12, Gameday Hub, News, Non-PIAA
Willie McGonigle | September 14, 2024
MALVERN: Roman Catholic Head Coach Rick Prete knew the talent he had and when you compete in the same division as perennial state powers St Joseph’s Prep and La Salle you want to test yourself against the best of the best that’s why he scheduled the likes of Neumann-Goretti, St John’s College DC and Philip Randolph from New York in the first three weeks of the season. The Cahillites passed those tests easily outscoring their previous three opponents 164-33. Friday the Cahillites faced another tough opponent in the Inter Ac power Malvern Prep. The Cahillites jumped out to a 14-0 lead then had to rally for a 21-17 come-from-behind victory over Friars at Quigley Field to remain undefeated at 4-0.
“Honestly when we put this schedule together it wasn’t about being undefeated it was about being battle-tested, we have the hardest schedule in the state of Pennsylvania and when it matters most I think that schedule will payoff for us and we will be battle-tested.” Prete said adding “Obviously Malvern is a great program they got a great team when you come into this type of game you got to expect it going to be a tight one so you have to limit mistakes and make plays when needed and I think we made the plays that needed to be made today.”
The Cahillites wasted little time getting on the board taking the opening drive 69 yards on 13 plays with Semaj Beals finding Eisa Nealy for 3-yard touchdown and the early 7-0 lead.
Beals extended the Cahillite lead to 14-0 when he connected with Rayshawn Scott for a 15-yard touchdown.
But the Friars wouldn’t go down without a fight, following a big kickoff return that set the Friars up with possession at the Cahillite 40 the Friars pieced together a nine-play drive that was capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Jake Bauer making 14-7 in favor of the Cahillites heading into the locker room at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Friars following an interception of Beals by Owen Mears took possession at the Cahillite 10 yard-line appeared poised to tie game but the Cahillite defense held and forced a 28-yard field goal by Austin Trout to make it 14-10.
In the fourth quarter, the Friars took the lead with 8:17 left in game on Bauer’s second touchdown of the evening this one also from two yards making it 17-14 in favor of the host.
Beals and the Cahillites didn’t panic instead they marched right down the field with a five-play 58-yard drive that was capped with Beals finding Scott for the pairs second touchdown of the day this one from 6 yards out giving the Cahillites the 21-17 lead with 5:16 remaining in the game. Beals finished the game with 262 yards on 24 of 42 passing.
The Friars did have one final shot at winning the game following a 55-yard run by Andrew Pellicciotta set the Friars up with a 1st and 10 at the Cahillite 21. Still, once again the Cahillite defense responded with Lou Gaddy outmuscling a Friar receiver to come down with an interception on fourth down to seal the victory for the Cahillites.
“I saw the motion and we didn’t switch the coverage we kind of just rolled our safeties and once I saw the ball I just had to go and get it.” Gaddy said of his interception.
Post-game Beals called the victory a “It’s a big program win for us.”
Next week the Cahillites will have another tough non-league game next Saturday when they host Maryland’s DeMatha Catholic, while the Friars will travel down to Delaware power Salesianum next Friday.
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