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FERENCE
Jett Fafara tMs 10 keep his opponent trom llootlng away.
Catholic League Champions. Don't It Just sound real nice! Hello, my name
Is Fool B, Balls and, as one of the balls used In practice all season, I had a privileged, close-up, "hands on" look at the successes of the La Salle championship football team last fAIl. The team started practicing in mld·August, preparing 10 defend their 10-1 record and Northern Division Championship. Hud Coach Joseph Colistra reminded the team to take one step at II time. He would say. before uch game, that this game "is your most important game. because it is your next game" (made
sense to me!). The season opener against Upper Dublin saw an outstanding effort from Senior Martin Feeny and Juniors Kevin Schmidt and Craig Fillgerllid on defense. On offense. Keith Tornetta scored first, but It was a drive engineered by Joseph McNichol at quarterback which won the game when he connected with David DeMara in the end zone. The team prepared to assert their place in the standings when they plllyed Archbishop Ryan, The Raiders stole the game, but la Salle looked ahead 10 Bishop McDevitt, Brian Daly and John Siowick played hard on de· fense, but the team still lost. One bright spot was the repositioning of Senior Chris Massella at quarterback He helped La Salle make the game closer in the fourth quarter. providing a spark for the games to come. Afler the t\lllO losses. Offensive Coordinator Joseph McNichol was "not buying it" and Coach Colistra kept exclaiming, for some strange reason, my last name. New faces appeared around me (and some new hands on me) in practice as
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the coaches looked for new combinations of players to flnd victory. Even as I watched with my buddies from the practice bag, something paid off as la Salle defeated Archbishop Wood, 147, then Cardinal Dougherty, 34·0. In the next game the defense shut down Bishop Egan, and contributed eight points itself. Jim Convey got a safety alter Keith Conlin caused a fumble. And Martin Feeny ran for a touchdown on a fumble recovery. The team had successfully fought back from a 0-2 record. but it needced to win its next two games to make the Playoffs. A 26-7 Victory over Judge vaulted La Salle into second place behind McDevitt in the Northern DiVIsion. Next, a win against North CatholiC ensured a playoff berth. Chris Massella's passing and Jason Pennington's rushing gave the Explorers a 34-6 victory and a shot at the Championship. The first playoff game came against Father Judge, a team sore for revenge. A great performance by the defense subdued Judge's emotions, yielding no pOints, only three yards rushing, sixtythree yards total, and forcing two fum· ble recoveries and three Intercepllons. Chris Massella found Dave "Skippy" DeMara wide open In the end zone and John Slowlck added a big rushing touchdown to make the final 14-0. The next game was for the Northern Division Title against Bishop McDevitt. Coach Colistra got the team in shape and the defense dominated Irom the opening drive. Jason Pennington took the ball fifty yards for a touchdown and a tie. In the fourth quarter, La Salle forced a McDevitt punt. and It fell into the hands of the Wolf. Brian Daly. In a
comical return, Daly started running towards the sidelines. but he decided to cut back, right into fellow captain. Mar· tin Feeny. Martin seemed to point downfield as he fell down. and the Wolf saw the path. A few strategically designed, uh, blocks freed the seventy-six yard return for a touchdown, but "no flag, no louL" La Salle won the Northern Division! Next, was Roman Catholic and the Pel title. Right? Most definitely wrong! ThanksgJvlng interceded and that meant the Prep. Prep had the most powerful offense in the Catholic League, but La Salle shut them out. "D. Backs" Rock, Daly, Butler and McGoldrick frustrated the Prep's AII·Catholic quarterback, Frank Costa. On offense. Martin Feeny and sophomore Max Guevara both had fine days rushing while Vince Unus added a field goal. The final, 16-0. Finally, the team faced Roman. The game took place at Villanova on astroturf, December 2, 1989. The game qUickly evolved Into a great defensive battle with both offenses stymied. The defense made up for that when a fumble occurred in the end zone, and Jim Convey fell on It for the TD. At the start of the second half. Roman's kick off sqUirmed between Vince Galzer· ano's legs and Brian Daly picked It up. Roman's coverage was too busy lookIng for the ball to notice Brian Daly scampering for a touchdown. The defense also intercepted Roman fille times, Including three by Daly. They hod It; A 13-0 final, the defense's fiflh shut out, and la Salle first Pel football title Since 1962! Way to go Champs!