Burrs crush Crusaders to reach state-title game

West Catholic piled up 394 rushing yards, led by the trio of Drake, Hollomon and Maples.

By Rick O'Brien

Inquirer Staff Writer

Lancaster Catholic and West Catholic each went into last night's PIAA Class AA state semifinal playoff with offensive statistics as gaudy as the lights on the Las Vegas strip.

The Crusaders, of District 3, arrived in Northeast Philadelphia averaging 40.3 points per game. They had totaled 5,649 yards on offense: 2,575 yards rushing and 3,074 passing.

The Burrs, even more electrifying, entered with a scoring average of 50.3 points. With a trio of 1,000-yard rushers, one of them a 1,000-yard passer, they had netted 704 points and smashed the old city record (584, by Archbishop Carroll) for points in a season.

In its second straight contest against a fellow offensive heavyweight, West Catholic again showed it had the superior power. Making full use of their dazzling speed, the Burrs notched a 37-14 victory at Northeast's Charlie Martin Memorial Stadium.

The Catholic League and District 12 juggernaut is one win shy of statewide glory. Next Saturday, 1 p.m. at Hersheypark Stadium, Brian Fluck's squad will take on District 10's Wilmington (14-1) for the championship.

West Catholic (14-1) netted 394 rushing yards against Lancaster Catholic (13-2). As usual, the three-headed monster of quarterback Curtis Drake (10 carries for 187) and halfbacks Rob Hollomon (10 for 79) and Raymond Maples (eight for 112) wreaked havoc on an upset-minded playoff foe.

"It feels good," said Maples, whose 34-yard run set up a third-quarter touchdown. "We come out every week and do what we have to do. I can't even describe the feeling."

Drake, likely a wide receiver at Penn State, ran for three scores and threw for another. The 6-foot, 165-pounder scored on carries of 20 and 1 yards in the opening 13 minutes. Late in the second quarter, his shovel pass to Hollomon resulted in a 30-yard score.

Early in the fourth quarter, with West Catholic ahead by 30-14, Drake (4-for-7 passing, 34 yards) capped the scoring with a 92-yard jaunt. He made his way to the left sideline and outran defensive back Travis Jankowski to the end zone.

Hollomon's 11-yard TD run in the third quarter, his 41st score of the season, made it 30-14. The Crusaders had opened the second half with a 13-play, 74-yard TD drive.

Hollomon upped his season rushing total to a team-best 1,821 yards. Drake (1,528) and Maples (1,132) have enjoyed similar success.

The Burrs sacked junior quarterback Kyle Smith, a Division I-A prospect who completed 16 of 22 throws for 177 yards and a score, six times for a total loss of 44 yards. The Crusaders were limited to 57 rushing yards.

Lancaster Catholic 0 6 8 0 - 14

West Catholic 7 15 8 7 - 37

WC: Drake 20 run (Carroll kick)

WC: Drake 1 run (Carroll kick)

LC: Purvis 38 pass from Smith (kick blocked)

WC: R. Hollomon 30 pass from Drake (Colon pass from Davis)

LC: Berlucchi 5 run (Houser pass from Smith)

WC: R. Hollomon 11 run (R. Hollomon run)

WC: Drake 92 run (Carroll kick)

Thanks Mike Bresnahan –’58 for the following: I’m Bcc: this to Brother Ahern, all of our fellow ’58 grads as well as some of the West girls and other West football fans from other years like those who attended Coach’s shindig in Jersey …..a total of 140 will receive this. West guys and gals: Our Mike Bresnahan ‘58 asked me to forward this on to all of our fellow West Grads and I edited it down for space. Mike just wants to tell us all how much he is impressed with our current WEST CATHOLIC football team. He went to see them recently and hopes more of us will try to “join him” in supporting our Alma Mater’s current great team.

John Gallagher ’58 :

You may want to use your list to give fellow Burrs a heads up about their alma mater's 2008 football team. You already know that I am a big fan of Penn State football. I went to school there and lived in State College for more than 15 years. I rarely missed a Penn State Nittany Lions home game and went on more than a few road trips to see them..      BUT……It has been years and years since I watched a West Catholic football game, so on Friday night I drove up to Northeast High School's field, off Cottman Avenue, to see the Burrs against Dunmore High.

It was worth the drive. The Burrs are one of the most exciting teams to watch I have seen in years. Two plays stand out in my mind. First, the Burrs had the ball on about the Dunmore 32 yard line. Quarterback Curtis Drake rolled out to his left, and threw the ball back across the field to the receiver who was at the goal line, on the other side of the field. The ball hit the receiver right between the numbers. TD.

The other play was a long pass down the middle of the field by Dunmore. It was directed at their tight end. He seemed to be wide open, and the pass was well thrown. In watching, I thought it was a TD for sure. As the ball reached the receiver, a WC defender came from I don't know where, hit the receiver just as the ball got there, broke up the play and knocked the receiver out of the game.

WC scored the first 28 points of the game and the final score was 49-21.

The Burrs play Lancaster Catholic at Northeast High School's field on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.



Mike Bresnahan then attached an official article on TED SILARY’s website

Here are a few “snips” from that article (I’ll forward you the entire article if you wish).



NOV. 28
CLASS AA STATE QUARTERFINAL
West Catholic 49, Dunmore 21

Since when have the lords of football passed a rule that favors only West Catholic’s offense? We’re talking about the one that allows the Burrs to put 13, maybe 14, players on the field. Oh, there is no such rule? Sure looks like it. There aren’t too many times in sports when you just KNOW something is going to happen. But when you DO know, it’s a powerful sensation. …………So, overall, West’s 44 plays produced 545 yards (12.4). Moody forced two fumbles (though Dunmore did recover one of them). Maples also recorded an interception. The Burrs (13-1) have now rung up 704 points for a 50.3 average, and long ago left behind the city mark of 584 by Carroll in 2000. Before I left the house, I asked the wife for a prediction. She’s been pretty good lately, mostly just on wild guesses since she knows nothing about football. “I’ll say West by 42-22,” she said. Not bad, right? When I told Huck about that, he shot back with a laugh, “Maybe she can pick against Puck next year . . . and do a better job.” Meanwhile, many Burr fans were wearing white T-shirts with West Catholic Football (and a pigskin itself, of course) on the front and "Enjoy the Show" on the back. Indeed. The credit goes to Mary DeMasi, who coaches West cheerleaders and serves as the co-AD with FB boss Brian Fluck. Mary acknowledged, though, that FB assistant Albie Crosby had helped her to come up with the slogan/battle cry. West’s semifinal opponent will be Lancaster Catholic or Mount Carmel. Those squads meet Friday night at Northeast High.

“West” defensive stats from Huck . . .
Dante Dickens, jr.-LB --- 10 tackles (8 solos)
Covisia Wilson, sr.-DL --- 6 tackles (Fumble recovery, 4 solo)
Raymond Maples, sr.-DB --- 5 tackles
Devir Moody, sr. LB --- 5 solos tackles, forced fumble
Bill Tobin, jr.-LB --- 4 tackles.

Mike Bresnahan
402 Taylor Lane
Kennett Square, PA 19348
610-444-8706

From: William Horvath [mailto:horvathbi@verizon.net]
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 7:42 PM
To: John J. Gallagher
Subject: Re: West Catholic---Our Current Football Team

John Gallagher ‘58

As an ex high school football coach in northeastern Pa, I have been following the Burrs since they entered the state playoffs. This is the first year that the Catholic League has participated in the PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association). They have all public and many private High Schools throughout the state. They are divided into 4 categories according to population. The biggest schools are AAAA, then AAA,   AA and A (the smallest). West is in the AA class, and they play for the Eastern championship this Friday again at Northeast H.S. field against Lancaster Catholic at 7 PM. The winner plays for the state title next Saturday (Dec 13) at 1 PM at Hershey Stadium. We need to get as many alumni there as possible (assuming we win Friday). This is really big stuff-----bigger than the city championship! Thanks for your communication.

GO BURRS!

Bill Horvath '66   Member 1965 City Championship Team