AMBLER — In the teams’ unforgettable first match of the regular season, La Salle After four overtimes, St. They outscored St. Joseph’s Prep 35-34, handing the Hawks their first defeat to a Pennsylvania team in three years.

Prep tied the score 21-14 at higher stakes Saturday afternoon despite a pair of touchdown passes from the junior quarterback in the Philadelphia Catholic League 6A championship game. Gavin Sidwar to junior receiver Joey O’Brien (30 and 66 yards). Prep will face Imhotep Charter, who beat Abraham Lincoln 28-26, for the District 12 crown next weekend.

Prep captured its ninth straight PCL title in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Wissahickon, losing its last championship game to La Salle (29-28) in 2015. The Hawks have won six state championships in the last eight seasons.

“I think they ran a few more games than we did,” La Salle first-year head coach Brett Gordon said. “I don’t think we played our best game today, which is a little frustrating. We knew we had to play our best game to win.”

The heavily recruited O’Brien had a terrific day, catching five passes for 120 yards and two TDs, making an interception and contributing a big hit on third down for La Salle (10-1) to get the ball back with 1:59 to play. found. what’s left But Prep (7-2) stopped the Explorers before they got a first down and time ran out.

O’Brien’s first TD came on a fly ball up the middle. He made the catch and went down the sideline, allowing La Salle to tie the score at 7 early in the second quarter.

“I thought we were going to roll right in there,” O’Brien said with a smile. “Everyone in the crowd was with us, but that’s okay. We’ll be back next year.”

Sidwar-to-O’Brien’s second score came as La Salle trailed 21-7. O’Brien got behind the fallen defender, caught a deep ball and completed a 66-yard TD with 4:47 left to close the gap to seven points.

“That’s what you’re supposed to do in a game like this, make plays,” O’Brien said. “Gav gave me an opportunity and I tried to do my best.”

O’Brien led La Salle in catches (67), receiving yards (1,023) and receiving TDs (12) this season.

Sidwar completed 19 of 39 passes for 233 yards, two TDs and one interception on Saturday.

“They kept us in the game,” Gordon said of Sidwar and O’Brien. “We know how talented they both are. In some scenarios, we needed a few more guys to step up.”

Sidwar, who lives in Warrington, capped his junior season by going 218 of 319 for 2,720 passing yards with 31 TDs and six interceptions.

“I’ll take this,” said Sidwar. “It’s my responsibility because I think I didn’t play as well as I could and I let my team down but I will come back. We thought we would win but they were better than us today.”

Sidwar announced on social media on October 27 that he would be severing his relationship with Rutgers “after careful consideration.”

He said after Saturday’s game that he wanted to focus primarily on the remainder of La Salle’s season after leaving office and did not have any recruiting visits planned yet.

“It’s different,” he said of becoming a free agent. “Hiring has picked up a little bit. We’ll see where things go from here.”

With a solid group of seniors graduating, O’Brien, Sidwar and the rest of the returning players are looking forward to season two with Gordon, La Salle and Villanova’s record-setting quarterback, running the show.

“Coach Gordon changed the dynamic of everything,” O’Brien said. “Our whole work ethic changed with him being there. It’s going to be like that as long as he’s here.”

“He is a great coach,” Sidwar said. “Last year we were 6-5 and this year we went 10-0. He’s the best coach I’ve ever seen. I can’t say enough good things about him.”

St. What does it mean for Joe’s Prep?

The Hawks will face Imhotep Charter in the District 12 championship game next weekend for a spot in the PIAA state quarterfinals.

What does it mean for La Salle?

The Explorers’ great season ended with Saturday’s defeat.

key game

Joe’s Prep sophomore Masiia Acrey returned the opening kick 60 yards to the La Salle 20-yard line, setting the stage for the Hawks’ first score in a game in which they never trailed.

By the numbers: St. Joseph’s Prep and La Salle

La Salle junior linebacker/linebacker Joey O’Brien caught five passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns, returning an interception and allowing La Salle to get the ball back with less than two minutes left with a big hit on third down.

game balls

La Salle senior John Leuthe Sellersville had a pair of tackles for loss to lead the Explorers’ stellar defensive corps.

La Salle junior quarterback Gavin Sidwar He caught 19 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns and punted three times from a deep shotgun setup for an average of 40 yards, with all three being dropped inside the Prep 12-yard line.

They said this

“It was an intense game because they are the two best teams in the state,” La Salle junior linebacker/defensive back Joey O’Brien said. “You know you’re not going to be off the field very much, and you know it’s going to be close.”

“They were resilient all year long,” La Salle head coach Brett Gordon said. “It’s a testament to their character. We were lucky; that’s all you can ask for.”

Tom Moore: [email protected]; @TomMoorePhilly is a sports columnist PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism by subscribing.

This article first appeared in the Bucks County Courier Times: St. Louis in La Salle, PA high school football. Dropped into Joseph’s Prep