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District 1 Champs Bishop Shanahan (PFN#8) take on City Champs Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast (PFN HM)

Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 1, District 12

| November 19, 2021


It’s the Suburbs vs the City in this PIAA 4A final 16 game, pitting the Eagles of Shanahan representing D1 and the Friars of Bonner & Prendergast representing Philly, even though the Friars are from DELCO, at Avon Grove High. Both teams played an aggressive regular season schedule that they hope will pay dividends as they climb closer to Hershey.  While other schools,  larger than Shanahan, fled the ChesMont National and their annual tilts with D1 6A powers, Coatesville and the Downingtowns, the Eagles coach Paul Myers believes, ” playing with the Big Boys gets you ready for the playoffs.” Similarly the Friars play a regular season schedule littered with schools multiple times their size, opening with their neighbor Upper Darby, one of the largest schools in Pennsylvania. Neither team will back down to anyone, they can take a punch and get right back up. Shanahan comes in at 9-3, with their defense dominating the last three games, giving up a meager 14 points combined, in their 9 wins Shanahan has given up 29 points. Bonner & Prendergast come in at 9-2 , a City Championship win over Bartram, as well as a bit of a chip on their shoulder after having to pull out of last year’s PIAA playoffs, because of COVID.

When the Friars are on offense they will have to deal with one of the stingiest defenses in 4A, led by LB Mike Chio. Shanahan’s defense has shut down their opponents running game, while disrupting their passing game with crafty DBs who create turnovers. The Friars will try to counter Shanahan’s swarming D with the school’s all time single season rusher Mason Peterson, who has rushed for over 1,600 yards. The Friars also bring one of the best, and one of the hottest passers Philadelphia Catholic League, QB Shane Mulholland. Mulholland is a very accurate  QB, who definitely has the arm strength to go deep on the Eagles if they try to stack the box. Bonner & Prendergast’s defense has held their own this year, coming up with big plays and turnovers when they are most needed

When the Eagles have the ball, the ball revolves around sensational QB Cooper Jordan. Jordan not only controls the passing game, he also is the catalyst for the ground game, with his impeccable running of the read option, along with his ability to tuck the ball away and scramble for large chunks of real estate. When Jordan puts the ball in the air he has the sure handed foursome of Colin McGrory, Nick Romano, Trevor Baradora and Evan Kapczynski as his main targets. All four are no strangers to the end zone, with each of them catching a TD pass in the playoffs. When not executing the read option to perfection, Shanahan likes to mix in off tackle power and jet sweeps in to their running arsenal. Shanahan boasts of 26 seniors on their roster, most  have played together for four years. Kicker Zane Domsohn captured the rare double District 1 titles, in football and as part of the Eagles District 1 soccer champions.

The Bishop Shanahan community lost their former long time Principal 2001-2015, with the passing of Sister Maureen McDermott, IHM. Sister Maureen served as the Chief Academic Officer and Superintendent of Secondary School of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sister Maureen’s family and IHM Congregation.

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