Mulholland Kicks Helps West Team to Victory in Hero Bowl

Tagged under: All-Stars, District 1, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

Willie McGonigle | May 30, 2025

SPRINGFIELD: For several players, Thursday marked the final time that they would ever put on the pads and step onto the football field. James Mulholland is one of them and he will walk away with a memory that’ll last him the rest of his life has he kicked three field goals to propel the West Team (Central League All Stars) to a 22-21 victory over the East Team (Del Val League, Episcopal Academy, Haverford School and Monsignor Bonner) in the 47th Delaware County Hero Bowl held at Cardinal O’Hara. For his effort,s Mulholland was named Offensive MVP for the West Team

The Hero Bowl, which benefits the Hero Scholarship Fund, provides scholarships to the children of First Responders who paid the ultimate sacrifice giving their lives in the Line of Duty. Playing in the Hero Bowl had little extra special meaning for Mulholland because, upon graduation next week from Penncrest High School on June 6, he will only have about three weeks to enjoy summer before he is to report to the United States Military Academy (Army) in West Point, N,Y on June 30

“I think it meant little more to me because I feel like it’s going to be in 15 years that they are playing this game, but it’s an honor.”
Mulholland wasn’t expected to play in the game, especially since he only kicked one field goal, albeit a 32-yarder, for the Lions during the 2024 season. And also, he didn’t join the Lions team till after the season started

After forcing the East team to punt on the game’s opening possession the West team wasted little time getting the scoring started as on their first play from scrimmage Mulholland’s teammate from Penncrest QB Zach Mullin found Chris Dolan (Springfield) on and the speedster showed off his speed racing down the sideline for a 60-yard touchdown.

“I didn’t do much, I just threw the ball out there, and Chris Dolan is a great player, and he just turned up the sideline, made my job easier. It looked good in the book, but he (Dolan) was the MVP of the play,” Mullin said of the touchdown.

On the second play of the ensuing drive, the East side showed their quick strike potential with Mick Johnson, one of several players from the 4A State Champions Bonne,r showing his speed breaking through the West defense and racing 87 yards to tie the game up at 7.

On the next West team possession it they punted the way, but East teams muffed the punt, and Connor Kelly (Ridley) gave the West new life, and they took advantage of it with Mulholland nailing his first field goal on the evening, this one from 39 yards out.
After missing a 26-yard field goal on the West’s first possession of the 2nd quarter, Mulholland redeemed himself, nailing a 28-yarder just before half to give the West a 13-7 lead entering halftime.

The West team extended their lead to 19-7 on the opening drive of the 2nd half, driving 41 yards on four plays with Mullin-Dolan connection capping the drive with their second touchdown of the day, this one from 25 yards ou,t and Dolan holding onto the ball despite a collision in the endzone. The West elected to go for tw,o but the pass fell incomplete.

After a bad snap on a punt set the East team up with the ball at West 8 they needed just one play for Taj Cobb (Penn Wood) to connect with Rob Ford (Bonner) for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 19-14.

The East team continued to ride the momentum they gained from their last score, and they took the lead on the last play of the third quarter with Mick Johnson getting in the endzone from 8 yards out, putting the East side up 21-19.

The West took back the lead on their next possession, driving deep into East territory before their drive stalled, setting up Mulholland to nail a 36-yard field goal with 7:11 left in the game. The West had a chance to add on to their lead late in the game, reaching the East’s 5  before turning the ball over on downs with only a minute left to play. The East’s offense couldn’t get anything going offensively sealing the victory for the West.

For his two-score performance, Johnson was named the Offensive MVP for the East Team, while his teammate from Bonner, Khalil Holley was named Defensive MVP for the East. Haverford’s Jake Lisicki was named Defensive MVP for the West team.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews