by Dave Mika of EasternPAFootball.com
EasternPAFootball.com is a partner with High School Football America
PHILADELPHIA – Quarterback Kevin Shaw threw three touchdowns. Two of these went to running back D’Andre Swift as the St. Joseph’s Prep Hawks jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead and went on to defeat a powerful Ohio team, St. Ignatius, 35-6 Saturday afternoon at Northeast.
On the opening drive, Richard Lawless of St. Ignatius intercepted a Shaw pass on the fourth play of the game. But on the very next play, The Wildcats fumbled the snap and Benny Walls recovered it.
Shaw didn’t waste any time on his very next throw. The Hawks went right on the attack as Shaw found Darryle Simmons for a 22-yard touchdown pass.
Things got even stranger for the Wildcats.The Hawks kicked a short kickoff that was recovered by Prep’s Joe Dumond at Prep’s 25. Five plays later Swift leaped into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown. The wildcats two turnovers resulted in two scores for St. Joe’s Prep.The two-point conversion was good and the Hawks led 14-0 with 7:39 left in the first quarter.
“Our defense is getting better each week,” said Head coach Gabe Infante. “But we keep working on finding the best combination each week. But our defense is still a work in progress.”
The Hawks would add another score in the quarter. Shaw hit Swift for a inside screen that went 42-yards for the score.
These two would connect again for an 13-yard scoring play with four seconds remaining before halftime and the Hawks went into halftime with an commanding 28-0 lead. Prep added one more score in the fourth quarter. Davion Kidd-Jackson’s 8-yard run put the Hawks up 35-0 with 11:15 remaining in the game.
St. Ignatius did put some points on the scoreboard against Prep’s second team defense as Dennis Grosel hit James Leyden for an 27-yard touchdown pass. The kick was no good.
NOTE: D’Andre Swift had 193 total yards in the game and three touchdowns.
“”D’Andre is a player we like to move around,” said Infante. “It’s a matter of keeping people from getting comfortable where he is.”
Kevin Shaw threw for three touchdowns. He was impressive running the two minute drill right before halftime.
“Kevin is coming along and moments like today are critical for an inexperienced quarterback,” said Infante. “It’s great for him and his confidence how he moved the offense today and made those throws in key situations.”
Last year the Hawks started 1-2 and this year are 2-1 after playing three tough out of state opponents.
“I think we need to stay consistent and keep working as a team,” said Swift. “Coming off the loss last week we learned a lot and it paid off today.”
St. Ignatius quarterback Dennis Grosel had 134 yards passing and one touchdown. In the first quarter the Wildcats turned the ball over twice and Prep scored on both turnovers.
Next week St. Ignatius will host Walsh Jesuit and St. Joseph’s Prep is off.
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