Sports briefs: 11-03-05

Who will claim the Catholic League Blue’s sixth and final playoff spot?

The answer will be determined Saturday afternoon as Neumann-Goretti and Kennedy-Kenrick, who are both 1-5 in league play, are looking to claim the final nod.

Neumann-Goretti hosts Cardinal Dougherty Saturday at 2 p.m., while Kennedy-Kenrick plays McDevitt. The Saints are in with a win combined with a Kennedy-Kenrick loss. In September, the South Philly squad defeated Kennedy-Kenrick, 28-19.

"I am hoping we play really well this weekend," Neumann-Goretti coach Steve Smith said. "We want to get this one and turn the season around. Anything can happen in the playoffs."

The Saints have faced their share of tough breaks this year. Last month against West Catholic, the team drove inside the Burrs five-yard line three times, but walked away with zero points and a 21-2 loss. Neumann-Goretti also played tough against Carroll last month, trailing 25-22 late in the fourth quarter, but ended up losing 38-22.

"We’ve played all the teams well," Smith said. "The final scores were nowhere near indicative how we played the games. It all changes if we get into the playoffs."

The coach noted Mark Hatty is starting to distinguish himself as one of the better quarterbacks in the area. In nine games this season, Hatty has passed for close to 800 yards and six touchdowns. Outside linebacker-fullback Mark McPherson, running back Anthony Davis and safety Darrell Dulany are a few of the other players Smith said have really come along this season. Davis leads the Saints offense with three rushing touchdowns.

This weekend, the only thing that matters is leaving the field with a win. Dougherty heads into the contest still searching for its first win of the season as it is 0-6 in league action and 0-9 overall. If things go the Saints’ way, Dougherty will have to wait until 2006 to end its losing slide.

"We have to win," Smith said. "If we lose the game we are out. It’s big."

Cardinal Dougherty at Neumann-Goretti,

2 p.m. Saturday at 11th and Bigler streets