When St. John Neumann High teachers take roll, they automatically check off Jack Hatty’s name. The senior hasn’t missed a day of school in his life. Not at Sacred Heart of Jesus or Neumann.
"My parents urged me to go every day," said the 17-year-old athlete. "They do everything for me, and I had to pay them back somehow.
"There were plenty of days where I felt sick, but my mom said I was going to miss something. I didn’t want to miss something."
As a receiver on Neumann’s football team, Hatty wanted to break a record rather than keep one going.
The Pirates have gone nearly a half-century without a Catholic League football title. This year, momentum was building to change all that.
In Friday’s Blue Division semifinal game against West Catholic, Hatty did his part by setting career highs in catches (six), yards (99) and touchdowns (two). On most nights, that type of performance would lead a team to victory, and earn Hatty, of Second and Mifflin streets, serious MVP consideration. But this wasn’t a typical playoff game. It was a record-setting slugfest in which West Catholic defeated Neumann 55-48. Yes, this was a football game.
The 103 total points shattered the mark for most points scored by two city teams (92), two Catholic League teams (91) and two teams in a Catholic League playoff game (76). After West won the regular-season meeting 29-14, everyone, including Hatty, was expecting more of a defensive battle.
"I knew it was going to be my toughest game all year," the player said. "I had to make the best of it."
But on this night, everybody seemed to have a career game. The final score caught many by surprise, including the coaches.
"Nobody can expect a game like that," said Neumann coach Ed "Bubby" DiCamillo. "I thought we would be more productive than our last game, because in our last game we stopped ourselves."
West Catholic coach Brian Fluck told his players 28 points would be enough to win the game. In actuality, it was only enough to win the first half, 35-20.
Hatty caught three passes for 25 yards in the regular-season game against West Catholic. This time around, DiCamillo decided to stress the passing game in hopes of exposing West’s defensive secondary. It meant Hatty had to play a major offensive role.
"He is a very sure-handed receiver," DiCamillo said. "He lacks speed, but makes up for it in his size. He has a knack for getting open.
"I think he has the best set of hands in our division."
Earning that starting role came with its share of challenges. In his first three seasons, Hatty never caught a varsity touchdown pass or scored a touchdown. But he didn’t let the lack of playing time discourage him.
"The last couple years I didn’t get a chance to prove myself," he said. "This year I proved myself to the coaches during the offseason. [DiCamillo] came in today and gave me a shot."
Hatty’s efforts earned him an Honorable Mention nod on the Coaches’ All-Catholic team.
As a team, the Pirates lost some close games and ended up fifth in the Blue Division. But the squad still managed to advance to the semifinals for the second straight season, and to defeat Archbishop Wood and Bishop McDevitt (in the quarterfinals) for the first time in Blue Division history.
"We thought this was our year and we gave it our best," Hatty said.
The team effort clearly showed against West. Senior fullback Jimmy Porreca tied city records for points (26) and touchdowns (four) in a playoff game. West Catholic’s Curtis Brinkley also scored four touchdowns.
Neumann struggled to keep up with West early in the game as the Burrs took a 14-0 lead. Every time the Pirates trimmed the score by a touchdown, West Catholic scored another.
Trailing 49-35 with 2:50 left in the game, Neumann quarterback Jon Brady connected with Hatty on a 7-yard touchdown pass. The Pirates went for the two-point conversion, but failed. With the score 49-41 and the clock against them, DiCamillo elected to go for the onside kick, which West Catholic recovered. A minute later, Brinkley answered with a 55-yard touchdown of his own, making the score 55-41.
Like a challenger fighting for the heavyweight title, Neumann wouldn’t go down against the regular-season champ. With 30 seconds left, Porreca scored his fourth touchdown on a 55-yard run. Still trailing 55-48, the South Philly squad tried another onside kick in an attempt to tie the game, but the Burrs made the recovery.
"No one gave up," Hatty said. "The line kept blocking, Brady kept throwing the ball to me and I kept doing what I had to do."
The player will have the opportunity to defend Neumann’s honor one last time. The Pirates will play South Philadelphia High in the annual Thanksgiving Day rivalry. Neumann has won every contest since 1990.
Hatty then will start practicing with Neumann’s basketball team, as he and his teammates attempt to win their third straight crown.
It’s the football title he’ll leave Neumann thinking about.
"I wonder what it could’ve been like to win one," Hatty said. "That’s all I wanted."
