The Bok Wildcats have another Division D football championship to add to their locker-room wall. The season is far from over, though: Tomorrow, the team’s focus switches to winning the PIAA District XII Public League crown.
Bok, who finished the regular season 5-0 in league play and 6-1 overall, will host Division A runner-up Washington High, who enters the playoffs with a 7-1 mark.
Only one team will advance to the semifinals. The Wildcats enter the game riding the momentum of a six-game winning streak. Bok hasn’t surrendered any defensive points since its 14-6 win over West Philadelphia on Oct. 10. The team’s run includes four consecutive shutouts of Southern, Bartram, University City and Roxborough. But now, Bok has to compensate for the loss of defensive back Corey Moultrie, who injured his knee in Friday’s 9-0 victory over Roxborough, and will be out for the remainder of the season. He has a team-best six interceptions.
On offense, the Wildcats will once again rely heavily on the run. The senior combo of Cedric Green and Kenny Major has accounted for nine touchdowns and just under 1,000 rushing yards on the season.
Coach Tom DeFelice’s biggest concern heading into tomorrow’s contest is avoiding a slow start. Several times this season, the Wildcats struggled in the first half — a vulnerability Washington could exploit. Last Thursday, for example, Bok didn’t score a touchdown until the second quarter, when Green scored on a 2-yard run. DeFelice believes his players will be motivated to perform better in the postseason.
"If we get off to a good start, I feel we can compete with them," the coach said. "We have some good football players. If our guys play to their potential, I think we can play against almost anybody."
Washington — who DeFelice said is one of the top three teams in the city — advanced to last year’s Public League championship game before losing to Frankford. Bok, meanwhile, was eliminated in the quarterfinal round by Central. Tomorrow starts a new title chase, and the Wildcats will be ready to give it their all.
"The kids are pretty confident," DeFelice said. "Getting a good start is the most important thing."
The St. John Neumann football team clinched its own postseason berth Saturday afternoon by defeating Bishop McDevitt 27-0. The win brings the Pirates to 5-3 on the season, which is good enough for second place in the Catholic League Blue Division. Archbishop Wood, who defeated Neumann 17-7 earlier this month, enters the weekend in first with a 7-0 mark.
The Pirates will be idle this weekend as their division mates make up games that were postponed as a result of the teachers’ strike. Defending champion Archbishop Carroll, Conwell-Egan, Kennedy-Kenrick and West Catholic all entered the weekend with 4-3 league records. Who will come out on top?
Instead of spending the week speculating, coach Ed "Bubby" DiCamillo is just hoping his players will be prepared.
"I am little skeptical [about the week off]," the coach said. "You want to keep playing because you are winning."
Neumann is coming off one of its best all-around performances this season after its defense limited McDevitt to 68 yards of offense and no points. Offensively, senior running back Billy Canady led the way with 46 rushing yards, which included a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and a 22-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Jon Brady. Senior Richard McMickens recorded his first 100-yard game this season with 121 rushing yards.
Come next weekend, the pressure will really be on. This year, Catholic League Blue teams only have to win two postseason games instead of the usual three as a result of the strike-shortened playoff field.
The Pirates have made the playoff cut in each of the last five seasons. One of the team’s most dramatic postseason performances came last year against West Catholic. The semifinal contest broke several city and Catholic League scoring records. Neumann was on the losing end of the 55-48 score, but DiCamillo is confident his athletes can push just a little farther this year.
"You need a two-game winning streak to win the title," he said. "I think we’ll be there."
The CAPA girls’ volleyball team opened the playoffs yesterday with a quarterfinal game against Kensington, which started after press time. A win would have propelled the Pegasus to the semifinals for the fourth straight season to face the winner of the Masterman-Central game tomorrow. The CAPA program, which finished second in the Gold Division with a 9-1 record, is still looking for its first-ever Public League title.
Catholic League Blue standings
Wood 7-0
Neumann 5-3
Carroll 4-3
Conwell-Egan 4-3
Kennedy-Kenrick 4-3
West Catholic 4-3
McDevitt 3-4
North Catholic 1-6
Dougherty 0-7
Public League D standings
Bok 5-0
Bartram 4-1
West Philadelphia 2-3
University City 1-4
Southern 0-5
