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Machita’s Acrobatic Catches Lead Explorers Past Delaware Valley on Final Drive

Tagged under: District 12, District 2, Gameday Hub, News

| October 2, 2020


Though it was a cool fall evening in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the real chill came from the ice in Justin Machita’s veins. The senior wide receiver came down with back-to-back acrobatic high-point catches during La Salle College High School’s come-from-behind 68-yard drive before senior fullback Timothy Mehlmann punched it in from 1-yard line forging forward for a 27-23 lead with less than a minute to go in the 4th quarter. 

In a matchup between two 6A schools coming off successful 2019 seasons, both teams had big expectations for 2020. And this gridiron battle didn’t disappoint. In a game featuring four lead changes, Delaware Valley still had an opportunity to make it one more with less than a minute to go.

But it wasn’t to be. La Salle’s Ryan Moore came up with a huge interception as time expired, sealing the win for the Explorers and improving the team record to 2-0 before the highly anticipated matchup with St. Joe’s Prep in two weeks. 

But late in the 4th quarter, it seemed as if La Salle would be handed its first loss of the season as Delaware Valley pulled ahead 23-20 with 2:16 left on a four-minute drive capped off with a 37-yard field goal. 

But the Explorers wouldn’t be denied. Backup quarterback Gavin Daily was accurate from the beginning, going 10-11 in the first half for 110 yards, and two touchdown completions for the game. 

La Salle was also without their prolific running back Sam Brown, who left the game after just a couple plays in the first quarter for unknown reasons. He had scorched Manheim for almost 200 yards on the ground two weeks ago. 

But the “next man up” philosophy held, and in the end, it didn’t matter if some La Salle stars were on the sideline. The offense spread the ball around, and the Explorers delivered a true team effort as they showed their depth. 

Delaware Valley quarterback Aiden Oliver had a big game with three passing touchdowns and a field goal, and Old Dominion recruit Jason Henderson chalked up plenty of yardage on the ground. But in the end, Machita and the Explorers wouldn’t be denied. 

Now tested in back-to-back weeks, La Salle goes into another bye week with plenty of experience in late-game situations before what will surely be a battle against St. Joe’s Prep on October 16 in an important Philadelphia Catholic League showdown.

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