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The Neumann-Goretti Saints open the Catholic League Blue season Sept. 23 against Kennedy-Kenrick.
Two-time defending Public League AAA champ Bok is still a week away from its league-opener, but has started the school year strong with a 2-0 mark. Unlike the previous two seasons, the Wildcats and the city’s other AAA teams are eligible for the Public League playoffs.
The Southern Rams have struggled out of the gate, opening 0-3. They hope to change things today when they host University City at 3 p.m.
Below is a closer look at the area teams: their expectations and schedules and the early results of the 2006 season. For a sneak peek at the new team on the block, the Furness Falcons, see next week’s Sports.
Catholic League
Team: Neumann-Goretti Saints
Coach: Steve Smith
Division: Catholic League South
Current record: 1-2
Up next: Kennedy-Kenrick at Penn Wood, Saturday
The Saints open their Catholic League schedule Sept. 23. The big question is: Which Saints team will show up? Will it be the one that beat North Catholic, 16-12, Labor Day weekend or the one that was shutout 40-0 against La Salle about two weeks ago?
"We’re sort of hot and cold," Smith said. "We made a lot of mistakes [Sept 9]. No way we are 40 points worse than the team we played."
Luckily, the first three games have no impact on league standings. Heading into this week’s match, Smith said he is pleased with the makeup of the team, as well as its captains.
"[Offensively], we are a little ahead of schedule in what we’re doing," he said. "Defensively, we need to have a little more continuity between our defensive backs and linebacker. We’re not clicking on all cylinders on defense right now."
The Saints have a lot of talent at skills positions on offense, led by senior quarterback Mark Hatty who, as a junior, set the team’s single-season passing record with 1,248 yards. In three games, he has passed for 429 yards and three touchdowns. Smith said this year’s receiving core has improved from a year ago, which should put Hatty in a position to match last season’s numbers or even surpass them.
Senior Joe Gionfriddo, a two-year starter, has scored three of the Saints’ touchdowns this season. The squad also has depth at running back, with senior Anthony Davis, who racked up a team best with 615 rushing yards as a junior. Classmate Adam Malatino and senior Mark McPherson, both playing fullback-linebacker, also are in the mix.
"We go as he goes, especially on defense," Smith said of McPherson.
Three-year starter Vinny Burgese also has returned as linebacker. Sophomore Kadeem Custis brings some size up front as a 6-foot-4, 275-pound, offensive tackle-defensive end. Junior Chris Palmer, 6-foot-4, 295-pounds and a transfer from Roman Catholic, will play right guard and defensive tackle.
"We have a really strong junior class coming up," the coach said.
The goal, of course, is to improve on last year’s 5-7 overall record, which included a 2-7 mark in league play, and advance past the first round of the playoffs. Last year, the team was eliminated by Archbishop Carroll in the opening round.
Archbishop Wood — the three-time defending Catholic League Blue champ — Archbishop Carroll and West Catholic are expected to be the tougher division foes.
"Making it to the second round of the playoffs is our goal," Smith said. "If we don’t, it would be a disappointment."
2006 Schedule and results
Sept. 2 Northeast Catholic, W 16-12
Sept. 9 La Salle, L 40-0
Sept. 16 Father Judge, L 35-14
Sept. 23 Kennedy-Kenrick at Penn Wood, TBA
Sept. 29 Archbishop Carroll Away, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 6 Archbishop Wood Away, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 Conwell-Egan Away, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 West Catholic at Penn Wood, 1 p.m.
Oct. 28 Bishop McDevitt at Penn Wood, 1 p.m.
Nov. 4 Cardinal Dougherty Away, 1 p.m.
Nov. 23 Southern 10:30 a.m.*
*site to be announced
Public League
Team: Edward Bok Tech
Coach: Tom DeFelice
Division: AAA
Current record: 2-0
Up next: Mastbaum at home, Sept. 22
There is a very upbeat mood around the Bok locker room, as the players are happy to be back at their home field at 12th and Bigler streets. The Wildcats were to relocate for the season so the School District of Philadelphia could convert the complex into a super site. Three weeks into September, none of the work has started, allowing both Bok and Southern to use the field for practices and games — at least for now.
The Wildcats were using Seventh Street and Packer Avenue as their temporary practice site, requiring the players to get changed at school and take a bus to the complex.
Now that the issue is temporarily resolved, Bok can focus on making a third trip to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs.
Despite being 2-0 in non-league action, DeFelice said his team "has a lot of room for improvement."
Last weekend, in a Sept. 16 game against the Haverford School, which Bok won 16-6, the squad showed a lot of character, coming back from a 6-0 deficit. In the first half, the Wildcats had three scoring opportunities inside the Haverford 20, but walked away with nothing.
"I knew we would have opportunities to score, we just needed to settle down," DeFelice said. "It was a very big victory for us. It was very gratifying and, hopefully, we will build from that and go on from there."
Bok is counting on its seniors to set the winning tone. Split end-safety Maurice Goodwin, defensive backs Ron Pittman and Tony DuBose, quarterback Mike Nelson, defensive tackle-fullback Melvin James and defensive end Larry Rice are all expected to make contributions this season. Junior halfback Luke Lassiter, who rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns in the Sept. 8 win over Southern, also is playing a big role.
Bok will have its last non-league game Sept. 22 against Mastbaum before opening AAA play against Communications Tech a week later. DeFelice said he expects Ben Franklin and Imhotep Charter to provide the toughest challenges in the division race.
Winning the title comes with the added incentive of a trip to the Public League playoffs, which AAA teams weren’t eligible for the last two seasons due to scheduling conflicts with the state tournament.
"We’re happy to have the opportunity to go in the Public League playoffs again," DeFelice said.
For now, the coach is pleased with the early results.
"I am so elated that we are doing as well as we’re doing right now," he said. "I never thought we would be sitting [at 2-0] right now."
Bok Schedule-results
Games are 3 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Sept. 8 Southern W 38-0
Sept. 16 Haverford School W 16-6
Sept. 22 Mastbaum 3 p.m.
Sept. 29 Communications Tech at Bartram
Oct. 5 Freire Charter at Bartram, TBA
Oct. 13 Penn at Gratz
Oct. 19 Imhotep Charter at Bartram
Oct. 26 Franklin at Bartram
Nov. 3 Lincoln at Bartram, 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 9 Fels at Bartram, 2:30 p.m.
Team: Southern Rams
Coach: Bill Edger
Division: Public League Blue
Current record: 0-3
Up next: University City at home, Sept. 21
When a team scores a total of six points in three games, it makes it tough to win. Hence, the Southern Rams are off to a 0-3 start. Despite the slow beginning, Edger said he is impressed with the way his players are staying together as a team.
In the Sept. 15, 21-6 loss to Edison, the Rams actually got out of their scoring slump when junior Mike Russo threw a 68-yard halfback touchdown pass in the first quarter, giving his team a 6-0 advantage. It would be their only score of the day.
Edger said mistakes ended up costing Southern the game.
"In practice, we are working really hard on all the drills we do. We don’t have enough players to overcome mistakes," he said, noting he has a combined 40 athletes out for varsity and junior varsity.
Besides Russo, the Rams have several seniors expected to be key contributors this season. Playing tight end and defensive end, 6-foot-4, 235-pound Jahmel Bashir brings some size to both sides of the ball. Offensive and defensive lineman Tyleek Ross, center-defensive end Jamal Byars and safety Kareem Williams are some of the other seniors deserving praise. Freshman Shaquille Monroe, a quarterback, Dante Winn, a sophomore running back and defensive back, and James Rosado, a junior fullback-linebacker, also have contributed in the early going.
One of the toughest adjustments for Southern has been its field situation as the team was initially supposed to hold practices at Vare Recreation Center, 26th and Moore streets, and home games were to take place at Germantown. Tuesday afternoon, the Rams were getting ready for practice in the locker room at home.
"It’s a week-to-week thing," Edger said of the 12th-and-Bigler field use. "I like [12th and Bigler] so much better. We have a little more privacy."
This week’s game against University City, originally scheduled to be played at Germantown, will take place at home instead.
All the Rams need now is a win.
"Every game is going to be important for us," Edger said. "Hopefully, we can get a win and build on that."
Southern Schedule-results
Games are 3 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Sept. 1 Mastbaum L 34-0
Sept. 8 Bok L 38-0
Sept. 15 Edison L 21-6
Sept. 21 University City At home
Sept. 27 Lincoln at Germantown
Oct. 6 Fels at Northeast
Oct. 13 West Philadelphia Away
Oct. 20 Olney Away
Nov. 2 Freire Charter at Germantown, 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 10 Comm. Tech at Germantown, 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 23 Neumann-Goretti, 10:30 a.m.*
*site to be announced
