Catholic Red Final X-Ray, 2005 . . .

  Here's a look at the CL Red final, which was played 12/3 at Northeast's
Charlie Martin Memorial Stadium. O'Hara was coached by Danny Algeo.
SJ Prep was coached by Gil Brooks.

SJ PREP 41, O'HARA 7
Cardinal O'Hara     7     0      0    0 --   7
St. Joseph's Prep   0   10   10   21 -- 41
CO: Juisti 6 run (Moore kick)
SJP: Livingston 1 run (T. Edger kick)
SJP: FG T. Edger 24
SJP: Livingston 2 run (T. Edger kick)
SJP: FG T. Edger 32
SJP: Livingston 8 run (T. Edger kick)
SJP: Noonan 2 run (T. Edger kick)
SJP: Livingston 1 run (T. Edger kick)
                             O'Hara        Prep
First downs                     1           15
Rushes-yards           22-26    51-352
Passing yards                 29          26
Total offense                  55        379
Passes                     6-16-0      2-8-0
Return yardage            134          29
Punts                       9-26.6    2-27.5
Fumbles lost                    1           1
Penalties-yards           4-40      2-15
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
  RUSHING -- Juisti 9-25, Dempsey 7-11, Savage 3-(-8), Walters 2-(-2), Lyons 1-0. SJP:
Livingston 32-187, Whitney 10-88, Bradley 5-14, Noonan 3-38, Wixted 1-25.
  PASSING -- CO: Savage 6-14-0 -- 29, Walters 0-2-0 -- 0. SJP: Whitney 2-8-0 -- 26.
  RECEIVING -- CO: Myers 2-6, Walters 2-6, Wedderburn 1-12, Dempsey 1-5. SJP: B.
Edger 1-16, Bradley 1-10.
  INTERCEPTIONS -- None.
  RECOVERIES OF OPPONENT'S FUMBLES -- CO: McLaughlin. SJP: Clement.
  RETURNS -- CO: Duke 6-76, Myers 2-27, Dempsey 1-21, Juisti 1-10. SJP: B. Edger
5-13, Wixted 1-14, Mendez 1-2.
  TACKLES -- CO: Taylor and Cannon 11; Smith 8; Ward, Duke and Dempsey, all 7.
SJP: Noonan 9; Doogan, Haber and Malarick, all 5.
  SACKS -- CO: Goldschmidt and Smith, both 1. SJP: Noonan, Haber and Doogan, all 1.
  OTHER TFLs -- CO: Smith, Taylor and Cannon, all 1. SJP: Noonan 3, Howley 1.

O'HARA'S SEASON                                              SJ PREP'S SEASON
W-L We They
Arch. Wood (at O.C.) W 26 0
at North Penn L 28 35
West Catholic W 14 12
at Father Judge W 13 7
North Catholic W 40 0
at La Salle W 14 0
Archbishop Ryan W 33 13
at Monsignor Bonner W 42 7
Roman Catholic W 14 13
at St. Joseph's Prep L 7 31
playoff bye
La Salle   1/2 W 35 14
idle Thanksgiving
W-L We They
at Neshaminy W 28 14
St. Ignatius (Ohio) W 28 14
Gilman (Md.) *L 19 22
at Roman Catholic W 41 0
Archbishop Ryan W 41 0
at Monsignor Bonner W 34 7
at Father Judge W 38 0
La Salle W 21 14
at North Catholic W 35 0
Cardinal O'Hara W 31 7
playoff bye
Father Judge   1/2 W 53 9
at La Salle (La S Univ.) *L 13 14
*-OT

PROJECTED ROTATION MEMBERS . . .

O'H OFF.

PREP DEF.
C Sean Murray 65 E Matt Leddy 87
G Jerry Penrose 73 E Neil Doogan 42
G Pete Plousis 66 T Ryan Haber 55
T Tim Conneen 57 T Charlie Noonan 43
T Chris McCreight 72 MLB Josh Howley 49
TE Mark Wedderburn 81 OLB Colin Wixted 28
WR Chris Myers 87 OLB Ryan Malarick 21
WR Anthony Walters 9 CB Dave Clement 27
QB Anthony Walters 9 CB Andy Shalbrack 6
QB Tom Savage 18 SS Dave Mendez 32
TB John Dempsey 21 FS Chris Whitney 13
FB Joe Juisti 41
SB Sean Lyons 22
K Tim Moore 1
P Pat Quinn 35
LS Joe Acri 60
KR Harry Duke 5
KR John Dempsey 21
PR Harry Duke 5
PR John Dempsey 21
PR Chris Myers 87

O'HARA DEF.

PREP OFF.
E Matt McGrath 54 C Joe D'Orazio 59
E Joe Goldschmidt 83 C Dave LaPera 72
T Issac Prince 49 G Adam Kasprzak 63
T Ed Callahan 51 G Joe D'Orazio 59
ILB Greg Smith 42 G Jim Dunn 70
ILB Scott Taylor 45 G Josh Gazzola 75
OLB Todd Cannon 4 T Jim McKenzie 60
OLB Kyle Peterson 33 T Jeff Battipaglia 66
CB Anthony Walters 9 TE Matt Leddy 87
CB Kevin Ward 24 TE Steve Schell 44
S Harry Duke 5 WR Bill Edger 21
WR Tim Lutz 24
WR Tom Elliott 10
QB Chris Whitney 13
TB Jamir Livingston 26
FB Ryan Bradley 40
LS Paul Fitzgerald 3
K Tim Edger 85
P Tim Edger 85
KR Dave Mendez 32
KR Colin Wixted 28
PR Bill Edger 11
PR Dave Mendez 32

STATISTICAL LEADERS . . .

No.

Name

 AW NP WC FJ NC LS AR MB RC SJP LS

Totals
RUSHING
21 John Dempsey 14-67 15-85 7-100 19-76 13-88 18-192 17-45 11-129 22-132 136-914
41 Joe Juisti 12-153 13-29 27-124 10-99 5-23 5-29 15-157 14-66 6-11 7-20 16-83 130-794
9 Anthony Walters 9-72 16-82 8-(-3) 5-24 17-86 7-17 10-56 5-8 8-70 16-50 101-462
22 Sean Lyons 3-19 12-68 5-21 5-55 7-17 5-7 7-7 1-0 1-3 5-26 51-223
No.

Name

 AW NP WC FJ NC LS AR MB RC SJP LS

Totals
PASSING
9 Anthony Walters 3-7 7-17 3-8 3-4 3-7 3-4 0-2 0-4 0-2 0-5 22-60
94  1 79  2 57 95  1 100  1 48 1 0 0 0 0 473
18 Tom Savage 0-2 2-8 1-2 2-7 0-1 3-5 4-16 3-5 15-46
0 26 39 17 0 113  2 55 38   1 238
No.

Name

 AW NP WC FJ NC LS AR MB RC SJP LS

Totals
RECEIVING
none
81 Mark Wedderburn 4-64 1-2 2-26 2-61 2-92 1-15 1-15 13-275
87 Chris Myers 1-48 1-3 1-49 1-34 1-8 2-33 3-38 10-213
9 Anthony Walters 2-17 3-113 3-40 8-170
No.

Name

 AW NP WC FJ NC LS AR MB RC SJP LS

Totals
SCORING
9 Anthony Walters 6 6 6 6 12 12 6 54
21 John Dempsey 6 12 6 18 6 48
1 Tim Moore 2 4 2 1 4 2 3 6 2 1 5 32
41

Joe Juisti

 12 6 12 30
22 Sean Lyons 6 6 6 12 30

--

No.

Name

 N SI Gil RC AR MB FJ LS NC CO FJ LS

Totals
RUSHING
26 Jamir Livingston 1-15 3-8 1-(-2) 13-113 14-127 11-33 18-88 25-172 x 30-134 11-132 26-69 153-889
13 Chris Whitney 5-23 13-46 15-45 6-(-9) 3-7 9-41 6-28 8-83 5-30 8-40 2-60 15-72 95-466
20 John Shaw 22-136 21-200 19-49 7-45 i n j u r e d 69-430
40 Ryan Bradley 5-23 5-12 2-11 11-52 4-12 9-40 7-25 6-16 8-24 4-14 11-56 72-285
5 Bradley Wright 11-40 6-34 2-19 1-5 18-112 5-121 43-331
No.

Name

 N SI Gil RC AR MB FJ LS NC CO FJ LS Totals
PASSING
13 Chris Whitney 5-10 9-10 16-30 6-13 6-6 3-14 8-16 6-13 6-12 5-10 2-4 12-29 84-167
147 2 141  1 213  1 101 1 103  2 81  1 144  3 58 76  1 108  1 116  2 114  1 1402
No.

Name

 N SI Gil RC AR MB FJ LS NC CO FJ LS

Totals
RECEIVING
11 Bill Edger 3-103 4-54 10-167 3-26 6-103 1-17 5-83 0 3-49 2-62 1-57 4-45 42-766
20 John Shaw 1-18 3-22 1-(-9) 5-31
87 Matt Leddy 1-26 3-65 3-41 2-62 1-37 1-15 3-37 2-11 1-22 17-316
24 Tim Lutz 1-5 1-27 2-46 1-11 5-39 10-128
No.

Name

 N SI Gil RC AR MB FJ LS NC CO FJ LS

Totals
SCORING
26 Jamir Livingston 18 6 12 18 6 60
13 Chris Whitney 6 12 6 12 8 6 6 56
11 Bill Edger 6 12 12 6 6 6 48
85 Tim Edger 2 4 3 5 3 2 8 3 5 7 5 1 48
40 Ryan Bradley 2 6 12 6 18 44
87 Matt Leddy 10 12 22

THE FIRST TIME . . .

REPORT BY TED . . .

NOV. 5
CATHOLIC RED
SJ Prep 31, O'Hara 7
   Recent history has shown us that SJ Prep is prone to the occasional title-game stumble (as in '00 and '04), but when it comes to the regular season, forget it. One, two, three, four, five, SIX full years without a slipup and the total streak stands at 41 thanks to a win in the final game of '99. Yes, as in the last century. North spent two years in the Blue Division, don't forget, so the regular season division wins by year are seven apiece in '00, '01, '02 and '05 and six apiece in '03 and '04. Simply amazing. Was this one light and breezy and non-stop fun like a Hawk Talk report? (smile) Not quite. The Hawks were locked in a 7-7 struggle at halftime. But late in the third quarter, they reeled off three TDs in under 3 minutes, shocking the overflow crowd at Plymouth-Whitemarsh, and the game's competitive nature went poof! The avalanche began with a 3-yard scoring run from soph Jamir "Mir" Livingston (30-134). The gigundo play came right beforehand as jr. QB Chris Whitney (5-for-10, 118) hit sr. WR Bill Edger for a 32-yard gain. On O'Hara's subsequent play, frosh QB Tom Savage threw a pass that was jostled ever so slightly. The tip (by jr. DT Ryan Haber) did not change the flight of the ball, but did slow the speed ever so slightly. Sr. OLB Colin Wixted picked it off at the O'Hara 38 and zoomed for a TD. Edger again was prominent in assuring the third TD would get added to the scoreboard. He returned a punt 25 yards to the Lions' 30, then was hit by Whitney for a score on the very first play. Phew, talk about firepower. The game was sputtering along at 7-7 and then, boom, to quote John Madden, it was 28-7. The Hawks did add another TD in the fourth quarter on a 9-yard run by Livingston, but it was wiped out by holding. Soph Tim Edger, Bill's brother, then wound up blasting a 24-yard field goal. The Prep finished with 330 yards from scrimmage. O'Hara wound up with 268 as jr. RB John Dempsey rushed for success (11-129). The Lions began with sr. Anthony Walters at QB. Late in the first quarter, on a fourth-and-seven play, he switched to WR and Savage was inserted. A fade to the right side was called and I thought Walters did a spectacular job of getting one foot inbounds on what was roughly a 20-yard catch. (I was standing 3 yards away). The line judge, for whom I have great respect, saw it differently. Nevertheless, O'Hara DID score first, and in wild fashion. On second-and-seven midway through the second quarter, Whitney flipped a quick screen pass to the right. It was backwards, though, and Wixted, as the wingback, had little chance to catch it. The ball dribbled into the end zone and sr. DB Harry Duke recovered for a Lions TD! The Prep answered on the ensuing series, going 64 yards in 10 plays after B. Edger ripped off a 25-yard return. The only two plays of the drive to net at least 10 yards came first and last; Whitney's 16-yard keeper and Livingston's 11-yard TD. Savage is going to have many wonderful experiences (all he throws are spirals!), but he was picked off three times tonight. Wixted was joined on the interception list by Whitney and sr. nickel back Tim Lutz. The O'Hara folks suffered through some uneasy moments when star sr. LB Greg Smith departed with a neck injury. It didn't appear to be ultraserious, but he left via stretcher (from the sideline) in a rescue vehicle. Before the game, O'Hara manager Will "Big Willy Style/Where There's a Will" McGonigle came acoss the field with O'Hara ballboy Nick Horan, age 12. Nick mentioned that he's related to West Catholic DE Anthony "Tough Tony" Rhoades and I said to Nick, "That means we're blood, too, buddy!" He was appropriately shocked. Nick said Ant is a cousin of a cousin. Ant's mom is my wife's second cousin. You keepin' track of all this? (smile) I even pulled out my somewhat trusty cell phone, called the Mrs. and told her, "Hey, Pie (her nickname; long story; well, not THAT long; she has a round face; like a pie), I found us a new cousin. Six or seven times removed, probably, but that's OK, right?" Anyway, I come from a small family, so I'm getting into this new-relatives stuff. Just so they don't come banging on my door some night or day (or any time) looking to deplete my supply of Tastykakes. Even the Mrs. knows to keep her distance . . . Meanwhile, O'Hara needed just a FEW more people on its sideline. John Lohn, of the Delco Times, put the over-under number at 200. That's not counting players and coaches. Brutal.

----

Roll out the Red carpet for Prep, again
By Ted Silary

  Charlie Noonan was hoping to emerge with special memories. He never figured they'd be two-pronged, though.

  Oh, aside from being a quality defensive lineman, Noonan is definitely capable of wreaking havoc at fullback, both as a blocker and truck-guys runner. But you need to play there to produce there and that was the rub.

  We take you back to mid-September, when St. Joseph's Prep is practicing for an upcoming game with a tough opponent from Baltimore, Gilman School.

  The drill is the first-team defense against the scout-team offense, with Noonan at his usual down lineman spot. An offensive tackle gets hit and falls against the side of Noonan's left leg. Ouch. The diagnosis is a strain of the medial collateral ligament. The recommendation: about a month's worth of rest.

  "Ryan Bradley is a good fullback," Noonan said. "You can't take anything away from him. He did a great job all season."

  Now we take you to Saturday night at Northeast's Charlie Martin Memorial Stadium and the Catholic Red title game featuring the Prep and Cardinal O'Hara. It's midway through the fourth quarter and Bradley is on the sideline, being treated for a busted lip. Noonan, who has not carried the ball since the opener, gets waved onto the field.

  Boom! He immediately rumbles 25 yards to the 3 and darn near embeds the guy who tackles him into the artificial surface. Two plays later? Two yards for a touchdown.

  We're guessing the 6-3, 250-pound senior, who's being eyed by Division I-A schools, will remember those moments much longer than his meaty contributions on defense, as impressive as they were.

  "Yeah, definitely," he said, laughing. "I've been wanting to run all year. That felt good. I never bugged anyone because, like I said, Ryan was doing nice things for us.

  "But I was a fullback in grade school [Sacred Heart, Manoa] and scored a lot of TDs. To get this one last chance was nice."

  The final was Prep 41, O'Hara 7, and the chasm was wide.

  The Hawks won the yardage battle, 352-26, and held O'Hara to one first down while capturing their fourth Red crown in 5 years (O'Hara won last year) and enabling coach Gil Brooks to tie the late Dick Bedesem (five at Bishop Egan from 1963 to '70) for the most crowns in CL history. Brooks also won in '97, before the Red-Blue split based on enrollment.

  The Lions scored first on Joe Juisti's 6-yard run, which came six plays after Rob McLaughlin recovered a fumbled punt at the Prep 26. The Crimson Crushing followed.

  Sophomore Jamir Livingston rushed 32 times for 187 yards and four TDs, tying the city postseason record. Also, classmate Tim Edger broke the city mark for kicking points in a game with 11, thanks to two field goals (24, 32 yards) and five PAT. Junior quarterback Chris Whitney added 88 yards on 10 carries.

  Noonan led the defense with 11 stops. He looked like a whirlwind at the very start, dumping halfback John Dempsey for 1 yard and then QB Anthony Walters for 5. He later added two more tackles for losses.

  He also extended a family tradition. Each Noonan brother has gone out with a championship. Tom, now attending Pitt, was a starting guard in '02. Mark, now a star receiver at Wesleyan (and baseball player), was the QB in '03.

  We'll have to wait roughly a decade to see if brother No. 4, Pete, can match the feat. He's only 7.

  "He's one of our waterboys," Charlie said.

  He added, "I had a big advantage having brothers ahead of me. I learned a lot from them."

  Noonan said the Hawks were affected very little by their Thanksgiving loss to La Salle, and he reasoned in Yogi Berra fashion, "Even if you can beat somebody nine out of 10 times, there is going to be that one time."

  Prep's defense included ends Matt Leddy and Neil Doogan, tackles Noonan and Ryan Haber, linebackers Josh Howley, Ryan Malarick and Colin Wixted, cornerbacks Dave Clement and Ryan Malarick, and safeties Dave Mendez and Whitney.

  In his postgame speech to his players, with parents/fans looking on, Brooks reminded them how last January they had vowed not to forget the title-game loss to O'Hara, nor let it happen again.

  "This is a special group," Brooks said. "With the guys from this team who are going to get them, the '03 team had 10 scholarship football players. Ten! But this team, with everybody healthy, was my best. It could have beaten anybody."

  Speaking of scholarships, Noonan will visit Rutgers this weekend with further treks scheduled for Indiana, Colorado State and Toledo. He intends to major in business or economics. He's being eyed as a defensive lineman.

  "When I started playing varsity as a soph," he said, "Brian Tracz [now at Indiana] was in front of me so there wasn't much chance of playing linebacker. They moved me to the line. It worked out well. I like it now."

  No wonder.