WEST CATHOLIC 62, BISHOP MCDEVITT 21

PCL 2A 1st Round Playoff

OCT. 24TH, 2008

42 Point First Quarter Helps Burrs Stampede K-K

     This past weekend marked the first leg in what the West Catholic football team hopes is the beginning of a march towards a state championship title. The Burrs picked up where they left off in the regular season by dismantling an overwhelmed Kennedy-Kenrick squad. West scored 42 first quarter points and 56 points in the first sixteen-minutes and thirty-three seconds of the game to seize control in a big way. In the end, the Burrs eclipsed sixty points for the fourth time this season and left the South Philadelphia Super Site with a convincing 63-21 victory.

     West scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions. With backfield mate senior running back Raymond Maples sidelined with a calf injury, senior Rob Hollomon welcomed the increase workload. R. Hollomon only needed nine carries to produce 212 yards and six touchdowns. R. Hollomon turned his first four touches into scores. The six touchdown outing was a city playoff record, as he easily surpassed the four touchdowns held by nine different players. Also, his 36 points scored was a new playoff record.

     The Burrs needed just 17 plays to score those seven touchdowns. R. Hollomon reached the end zone thrice in the first 3:58 of the contest. These runs covered 36, 35, and 59 yards. Senior quarterback Curtis Drake scored the fourth Burr touchdown with a 16-yard scamper. This was followed by another R. Hollomon scoring run, this time from 12 yards. After this, Drake (4-5, 90 yards) connected with senior wide receiver Eric Young for a 57-yard touchdown. Next, R. Hollomon scored his fifth touchdown of the half with a 21-yard spring.

     With the offense in high octane mode, it was time for the special teams to join the act. Sophomore wide receiver Quran Kent showed his explosiveness with a scintillating 69-yard punt return to make the score 56-0 with still 7:27 left on the second quarter clock.

     The Wolverines would score twice before the half ended to make it, 56-14, but R. Hollomon notched his sixth score of the game just two plays into the third quarter with a 38-yard run.

     For the game the Burr offense reeled off 458 total yards. Instrumental in this was the play of the grunts in the trenches. This group has been nothing short of sensational all year long and they’re a major reason why the talented Burr skill people find so much space to work their magic. This group includes junior center Jake Zuzek, senior guard Paul Murtagh, senior guard Covisia Wilson, senior tackles Victor McNair, senior tackle Austin Peters, and sophomore tight end Jim Lynch.

     Also chipping in on offense was senior fullback Juan Rozier with tremendous lead blocking and 45 total yards on 4 touches. Sophomore running back Brandon Hollomon had 49 yards on 5 carries.

     Meanwhile, junior kicker Tim Carroll made all nine point-after tries he attempted. This broke a city record for PATs in a playoff game. The previous mark was seven.

     The first unit of the Burr defense allowed just one first down and 19 yards in offense while they were in the game. Overall, the West defense forced four K-K turnovers. At his defensive back position R. Hollomon made an interception. Fumble recoveries were had senior defensive tackle Dwyane Shaw, senior defensive end Chris Williams, and sophomore linebacker Albert Campbell (5 tackles). Junior defensive tackle Dontae Lewis forced a fumble and hustled for five stops. Junior linebacker Dante Dickens led the defense with six tackles.

     The Burrs will now play in the Philadelphia Catholic League 2A final against Archbishop Carroll. The game will be played on this Saturday at Plymouth-Whitemarsh H.S, at 7 o’clock.

     West blasted the Patriots earlier this season 63-12. The Patriots will enter the game with a three-game winning streak. This marks the seventh straight year the Burrs will play in a Catholic League title game. In 2002, West lost to Carroll 22-7 in the CL Blue Final. West has won the last two years with wins over Archbishop Wood.

     If the Burrs can get past Carroll, then they will participate in the District-12 City Championship game versus the winner of the Public League finale between Bok and Ben Franklin.