The Bok football team is 7-0 overall and 3-0 in league play.
Ben Franklin shares an identical record, creating a two-way tie atop the Public League’s AAA Division.
It will be broken Friday afternoon when Bok travels to Franklin’s field, 29th Street and Chalmers Avenue, in the division championship game. The winner also will represent the School District of Philadelphia in next month’s Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class AAA state playoffs. The loser, despite having only one loss, will miss the cut.
"We have to play the best game of the season to beat them," Bok coach Tom DeFelice said. "If we punt well and play good defense, we will have a good shot."
Last season, Bok defeated Franklin, 26-6, and became the School District of Philadelphia’s first PIAA state tournament representative.
Bok heads into Friday’s contest averaging a little more than 30 points per game, while its defense has surrendered less than a touchdown per game. Bok has recorded shutouts against Upper Moreland and University City – both non-league contests – as well as Freire Charter. Offensively, Luke Lassiter and Keith Williams have combined for more than 700 rushing yards and five touchdowns each. Williams leads the Wildcats’ defense with four interceptions.
Ben Franklin is averaging a little more than 33 points per game on offense, while allowing 9.1 points on defense. One of the keys to beating Franklin is stopping running back Maurice Dantzler, who has 1,260 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. He has rushed for more than 200 yards four times this season.
"We know each other pretty well," DeFelice said of the opposing squad. "We have a nice team and we’re looking forward to playing them."
Bok has a combined 77 players out for its varsity and junior varsity squads, which DeFelice said is the largest turnout ever for the program. Like previous Bok teams, the players have established a strong chemistry, which has translated into wins.
"All the seniors have really stepped up and I am really proud of the way the kids have progressed," DeFelice said. "They all pull for each other."
Friday’s game
Teams: Bok (3-0 league, 7-0 overall)
versus Franklin (3-0, 7-0)
Place: 29th and Chalmers streets
