La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1994

Game 1, September 10, 1994: La Salle 7 – West Catholic 6 by Bill Iezzi, Inquirer

Explorers' Win Brings Up Worries After La Salle's 7-6 victory over visiting West Catholic Saturday, the faces of the winning Explorers told the story. Some looked solemn, even worried. La Salle (0-0, 1-0) gained only 21 yards on the rushing of six players, and 82 yards on the passing of two quarterbacks. The Explorers turned over the ball three times on and twice on . They just didn't play as well as expected. Everyone at La Salle had been hoping to celebrate the installation of a new offensive system, the multiple offense, with a big victory. Instead, they watched as West Catholic's Wing-T, which La Salle had abandoned, sputtered along like an old Model T until the end. West Catholic senior quarterback Mike Delorenzo, in his first start as a varsity signal caller, completed 8 of 21 passes for 118 yards. Often his passes were off the mark, but he was able to put together two good drives. One was 10 minutes, 16 seconds into the second period, when he capped a six-play series with a one-yard run. The other was late in the last quarter, when he led the Burrs to La Salle's 17- yard line. Luckily for La Salle, West Catholic's kicking game is in the Neanderthal stage. Coach Ralph Rapino sent in senior Kevin Haney, who had never kicked in a varsity game before, to boot the extra point after Delorenzo scored. But the kick was low, and La Salle held a 7-6 lead, which was not threatened again until 13 seconds remained in the game. That's when Rapino sent in another kicker who had not kicked in a varsity game before: Jack Corsetti. On a second-and-10 situation at the Explorers' 17- yard line, Corsetti attempted a 34-yard field goal. The kick was short and wide. "Obviously, it (kicking) is one of our weak spots," Rapino said. "I don't think we gave it enough time during practice. Jack (Corsetti) is our best player, and we will live and die with him. He dominates games. We were hoping to get him more alive on our offense, but we just couldn't spring him enough. He has not been our kicker until now. "Kevin Haney is a walk-on senior who wanted to try to kick, and I told him before camp started that I would give him an opportunity. I gave him the opportunity. Unfortunately, he didn't hit it." La Salle's defense limited Corsetti to 18 yards rushing on six carries. Overall, the Burrs (0-0, 0-1) gained only 63 yards on the ground. La Salle's defense also saved the day when Delorenzo and Thomas Eisenhower hooked up on a 73-yard pass play late in the contest. The Burrs were on their own 10-yard line with 29 seconds remaining in the game when Delorenzo fired a strike to Eisenhower, who was racing along the right sideline. After the junior halfback crossed the 50-yard line, it appeared that he was going all the way to the end zone. But he was caught from behind by La Salle junior defensive back Brian Curci. La Salle scored first when senior quarterback Dan McNichol, who started the game, threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Tom Truitt in the right corner of the end zone 5:12 into the second period. Truitt kicked the extra point, and that was the game difference. La Salle coach Joe Colistra sent in junior signal caller Dan Hangey at 8:03 of the second quarter. Hangey fumbled on his first play and the Burrs recovered. But the next time he had the ball, Hangey led the Explorers from their 26-yard line to the Burrs' 26 in six play. From there he threw a pass that was intercepted by Corsetti in the end zone with no time remaining. 1

La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1994

McNichol, who was at the controls when the game ended, completed 9 of 16 passes for 50 yards and a TD. Hangey completed 3 of 8 for 32 yards and two interceptions. He also ran the ball nine times for 22 yards and caught two passes for a total of 15 yards.

Game 2, September 17, 1994: Holy Cross NJ 8 – La Salle 0 by Nick Fierro, Inquirer

Lancers Win Despite Explorers' Defense Traditionally, Catholic League football teams use their nonleague games in the beginning of the season to tune up for the contests that really matter. It's no different for La Salle and coach Joe Colistra, and thus he was not too alarmed by a lackluster offensive performance during an 8-0 nonleague loss at Holy Cross (N.J.) on Saturday. "If you ever learn anything from a loss, I learned that our team is damn good," Colistra said. "I don't want to take anything away from Holy Cross, but I thought we outplayed them most of the time. And defensively, we were excellent." Indeed, the Lancers' only touchdown was set up by the second of La Salle's two first-quarter turnovers. It came on a 22-yard sweep by James Prather, capping a drive that began at midfield after an Explorers . But it wasn't until the Lancers attempted the extra point that La Salle knew what kind of day it would be. The Explorers blocked the kick on a play in which an illegal procedure penalty was called on Holy Cross. Because the penalty occurred before the snap, the play had to be done over. This time, a bad snap forced quarterback Tom McKeown, the holder, to improvise. He scrambled away from the pressure and found John Brennan open in the end zone for the two-point conversion. The Explorers' downfall, Colistra said, was their failure to convert three prime scoring opportunities. "We blocked two of their punts, we had a first-and-goal, another first down inside the 15 and another inside the 20, and didn't score," said the coach. "We also had two interceptions. By the same token, we had two turnovers." The loss did little to diminish an overall outstanding defensive effort. Joe Rakowski blocked two punts, Brian Curci had an and Joe Carl "made tackles all over the field," said Colistra. "I don't know how many he had, but it was a lot. "The whole front seven played very well, really." Even offensively, there were some positive signs. On their first possession, running back Fred Lorusso (seven carries, 82 yards) broke off a 60-yard run down to the Holy Cross 10. That drive was squelched by an interception in the end zone. Even though quarterback Dan Hangey (5 for 17, 75 yards, one interception) and the rest of the offense did not enjoy one of their most productive days, Colistra feels the team will be ready for its league opener against Conwell- Egan next weekend. "They better not get too down on this," said the coach. "I hope they're mentally tough enough to put it behind them."

Game 3, September 24, 1994: La Salle 6 – Conwell-Egan 0

Tim Foster rushed 13 times for 67 yards and a 5-yard, third-quarter touchdown. Henry "Hap" Brusca led the defense with 11 tackles. 2

La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1994

Game 4, October 1, 1994: Archbishop Ryan 7 – La Salle 3 by Rick O’Brien, Inquirer

Explorers Fall Short Of Goal As Raiders' Last Pass Wins It; Was A Last-minute Comeback For Ryan. The Victory Was Their 43d Consecutive League Win. La Salle, For Its Part, Left One Player Feeling It Was The Better Team La Salle was set to accomplish what no Catholic League football team has been able to do since 1989 - beat Archbishop Ryan. The Explorers, sparked by a punishing defense that allowed the four-time defending league champions only 72 yards offense and a mere three first downs, were less than two minutes away from snapping Ryan's impressive string of 42 consecutive league games without a defeat. A monumental Northern Division victory was snatched from their grasp, however, as the Raiders escaped with a 7-3 win Saturday afternoon at Springfield. "We wanted to beat them, to prove to everybody that we're a better team than them," said La Salle senior running back Tim Foster. "Basically, we are a better team than them. We proved that today, but the scoreboard just didn't show it." With one minute, 53 seconds remaining in regulation, junior receiver Joe Mallee made a film-highlights, 22-yard touchdown catch that enabled Ryan to stave off La Salle's upset bid. Mallee bobbled the ball and then, while lying on his back in the end zone, hauled in Jerry Crane's desperation toss. The pass somehow managed to slip between the outstretched arms of La Salle defensive backs Mike Brown (the nearest to the ball) and Jim Koller. "It was just a great, clutch play at the end of the game," said Ryan coach Glen Galeone, who has guided the Raiders to a 41-0-2 league record (48-6-3 overall) since taking the helm in 1990. "The kid (Mallee) told me in the huddle, 'Coach, throw me the ball. I can beat this kid deep, and I'll score.' " The Explorers (2-2 overall, 1-1 league) grabbed a 3-0 lead at the 8:16 mark of the third quarter when senior Tom Truitt booted a 27-yard field goal. Midway through the second quarter, when Ryan (3-1, 2-1) roughed up Truitt on his first field-goal try of the afternoon, La Salle accepted the penalty and removed the points (Truitt had connected on a 35- yarder) from the scoreboard. Three plays later, faced with a fourth-and-goal situation at the Ryan 2, La Salle coach Joe Colistra elected to play it safe and attempt a 20-yard field goal. Truitt, though, was wide right and the game remained scoreless. "Personally, I really wanted to go for (a touchdown), and so did most of the team," said Foster, who rushed for a team-high 34 yards on 22 carries. ''But the coaches wanted to go for what looked to be the sure thing." The Explorers limited Ryan to 20 yards offense in the first half. They had a lopsided advantage in time of possession (16:04 to 7:57) and plays from scrimmage (29 to 14). "They're always good defensively," Galeone said. "They had given up only 14 points in three games going into today. I mean, I'd be happy with that." La Salle senior quarterback Dan McNichol completed nine of 17 passes for 93 yards. Truitt made seven receptions for 80 yards. "Everybody was pretty down (in the locker room) afterward," Foster said, ''but we know this is only our second (league) game of the season. We still have six more games left, then the playoffs. We have a long season ahead of us." 3

La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1994

Game 5, October 9, 1994: La Salle 7 – Bishop McDevitt 3 by Ira Josephs, Inquirer

La Salle Cuts To The Chase With The Tough Games It's only October, but La Salle's current stretch of games is resembling a march through the Catholic League Northern Division playoffs. These games will help determine whether the Explorers qualify for the playoffs and how they will be seeded if they get there. They were edged by Archbishop Ryan, 7-3, on Oct. 1, and overcame Bishop McDevitt, 7-3, on Sunday. Next up is Saturday's 7 p.m. game against unbeaten Father Judge at Northeast High. The Crusaders (4- 0 overall, 3-0 league) defeated North Catholic, 34-14, Friday, as Greg Yodis threw for two , ran for one, and returned a punt for a fourth. "It's the way the cards are dealt," La Salle coach Joe Colistra said of the recent schedule. "We have to play it. We'll do what we can."

Game 6, October 15, 1994: Father Judge 27 – La Salle 17 by Adam Gusdorff, Inquirer

Crusaders Rally For 2nd-half Win Over Explorers; Greg Yodis Led Judge With Three Touchdown Drives. It Was A Battle Of QBs Against La Salle's McNichol. LaSalle quarterback Dan McNichol and Father Judge quarterback Greg Yodis grew up playing football together in the Northeast, so Saturday's game between the two teams had more at stake than just a Catholic League North playoff spot. Personal pride was on the line in the battle of the signal-callers. "I came out ready to play," McNichol said. "Me and Greg played together when we were younger, so this was the biggest game for me. He's a great athlete, so to stop Judge, you have to stop him." McNichol starred early, completing five of six passes for 62 yards on the Explorers' opening drive, including a 22-yard touchdown pass to Tom Truitt. The two hooked up again on a 35-yarder in the second quarter as LaSalle built a 14-0 lead. In all, McNichol threw for 129 yards in the first two quarters. His childhood buddy, however, took over the game in the second half, leading the Crusaders to a 27-17 win. Yodis ended with 80 yards rushing, 88 passing, and 120 on kickoff and punt returns. The game provided the first real test for Judge, which improved to 5-0 overall, 4-0 in the league. LaSalle dropped to 3-2 and 2-2. "It was good to see we could be down and come back against a quality team," Judge coach John Sullivan said. "(LaSalle) was the team that almost beat Ryan." For Yodis, Sullivan had nothing but praise. The senior led three second- half touchdown drives after the Explorers had taken a 17-7 lead. His greatest play came when his team needed it most, trailing 17-14 with 6 minutes, 43 seconds left in the game. On fourth and 8 from the LaSalle 29, Yodis took the snap and looked to his left for an open receiver. He checked off two receivers, then turned to the right and found Joe Nigro for a 12-yard completion. Three plays later, Yodis scored on an 11-yard run as Judge took the lead for good. "He's a fox. He understands the game so well and loves it so much," Sullivan said. "He runs a clinic on how to run. I haven't seen the first man hit him yet."

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La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1994

When LaSalle got the ball back, McNichol threw an incomplete pass on first down and was intercepted by Chuck Anerino on second. On another fourth-down play, Yodis connected with Tony Kelly for a 25-yard touchdown with 3:18 to go. After posting a season high in points in the first half alone, LaSalle was left wondering how a 14-0 lead evaporated into a 10- point defeat. One reason was that the passing game that worked so well in the first half disappeared in the second. The early aerial assault took the Crusaders by surprise. "They had not thrown the ball like that at any stage in this century," Sullivan said. "McNichol threw the ball better than he normally does (in the first half), and we made some mistakes." Adjustments in the second half took away LaSalle's passing attack, and the Explorers struggled all night to find a running game. "We hadn't scored a lot of points lately, so we wanted to put some on the board early," McNichol said, explaining why the team threw six times on its first drive. "Then they had better coverage in the second half," he said. "They really stuck it to us. We'll see what happens in the playoffs." In the battle of the quarterbacks, McNichol had the statistical edge, completing 12 of 32 passes for 179 yards, all career highs. Yodis, though completing 9 of 17 for just 88 yards, had the better result in the standings.

Game 7, October 22, 1994: La Salle 26 – Archbishop Wood 20 by Matt Mlodzinski, Inquirer

With Late Flurry, Explorers Top Vikings In Heartbreaker Archbishop Wood seemingly did everything it needed to do to beat visiting La Salle in Saturday night's Catholic League Northern Division matchup. Everything except win the game. La Salle wide receiver Tom Truitt hauled in two Dan McNichol touchdown passes in the final 2 minutes, 19 seconds of the game, including one with 21 seconds to go, as the Explorers stole a 26-20 heartbreaker from the Vikings. Truitt also had a 71-yard scoring reception as he, along with senior running back Tim Foster (17 carries, 165 yards, 2 touchdowns), helped carry the Explorers to victory. The loss marked the first time in five tries that Wood (1-5 overall, 0-5 league) was able to score in Catholic League action this season. Despite Wood's new-found offensive punch, led by running back Brian Smith (30 carries, 121 yards), it was La Salle's ability to make the big play that cost the Vikings the game. After La Salle (4-3, 3-2) took a 6-0 lead via an 11-yard Foster run, Wood senior fullback Jeff Jones powered in from 1 yard out with 1:19 left in the first half, sending the game into halftime tied at 6-6. Wood completely dominated the second half physically. The Viking offense held the ball for almost 24 minutes and gave La Salle the ball for only eight offensive plays. Unfortunately for Wood, La Salle scored touchdowns on three of those plays. La Salle's only third-quarter play paid dividends as Foster rambled 78 yards for a go-ahead touchdown that put the Explorers up 12-6 at the 6:27 mark. La Salle held onto that lead heading into the fourth quarter, despite having the ball for only 15 seconds in the third quarter. 5

La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1994

Wood took its first lead of the contest on a 3-yard quarterback keeper by Tim Karamis at the 8:30 mark of the last quarter, following a fumbled snap by La Salle on a punt from its own 6-yard line. Wood got the ball back immediately as La Salle's Frank Haughton fumbled the ensuing kickoff. Wood then drove 35 yards and swelled its lead to 20-12 on another 1-yard touchdown run by Jones. La Salle wasted no time in striking back, as McNichol (6-11, 147 yards, 2 touchdowns) hit Truitt on a nifty catch-and-run that covered 71 yards and put the Explorers right back into the ball game with 2:19 to go. A McNichol conversion pass to wideout Dan Hangey knotted the game at 20. Wood's offense was pushed back to its own 3-yard line after a perfect squib kick by the man of the hour, Truitt, at the 2:15 mark. The Vikings were unable to move the ball and were forced to punt with 0:44 left, setting the stage for Truitt's dramatic game-winning grab with 0:21 left. "I just ran a basic out-and-up, and Dan (McNichol) laid the ball up perfect," said Truitt, who had three catches for 116 yards. "It was great; I've never been involved in a game like this." Wood coach William Craver was extremely proud of his players after the loss. "Our kids played a great ball game. We just didn't get the breaks. This is one of the toughest games, if not the toughest game, I've ever lost."

Game 8, October 29, 1994: La Salle 14 – Cardinal Dougherty 6 by Rick O’Brien, Inquirer

Given The Options, La Salle Takes Off; The Explorers' New Offensive Style Agrees With Versatile Tom Truitt. He Helped Clip The Cardinals' Wings. Except, maybe, for quarterback Dan McNichol, no player is more thrilled about La Salle's switch in its offensive scheme than receiver Tom Truitt. When he received word this summer that longtime coach Joe Colistra was scrapping the Delaware wing- T in favor of a multiple-set offense, the normally composed Truitt was practically overcome with excitement. "Yeah, I was pretty happy when I heard about it," Truitt said after helping the Explorers fend off host Cardinal Dougherty, 14-6, Saturday evening in a sloppily played Catholic League North contest at Northeast. La Salle (5-3 overall, 4-2 league) defeated the Cardinals (2-6, 1-5) for the eighth consecutive season and, in the process, inched closer to clinching a playoff berth. Dougherty last won against the Explorers in 1986 by 26-24. The 6-1, 175-pound Truitt was a true handyman. Offensively, the senior caught five passes for 84 yards and rushed twice for 17 yards after receiving lateral tosses from McNichol. He also handled the placekicking duties for the Explorers. PLUS AN INTERCEPTION: That's not all. With less than two minutes remaining in regulation and the Cardinals situated inside the La Salle 30-yard line, Truitt replaced injured junior Frank Haughton at free safety and intercepted a Nelson Chandler pass at the 18. Asked about Truitt's contribution, Colistra displayed a hint of a smile and said, "I'm glad he's on our football team." The Explorers, utilizing Truitt's soft hands to the fullest, marched 65 yards on 12 plays late in the first half and went ahead, 8-0, on a two-yard touchdown connection between McNichol and junior Dan Hangey. Truitt grabbed three passes - two 19-yarders and a 10-yarder - to help keep alive the scoring drive. 6

La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1994

"Tom reacts very well to the ball," Colistra said. "And he never gets stressed, no matter what the situation. "He's a very cool customer. He won't get a heart attack out there, that's for sure." In La Salle's eight games this season, Truitt has made a team-high 28 catches for 441 yards (15.8 yards per reception) and five touchdowns. He has been used at defensive back only in nickel situations. INTO THE DETAILS: First-year assistant coach Drew Gordon, a former star quarterback at Villanova, installed the multiple-offense scheme during training camp and is tinkering with its intricacies. "It was a lot to learn at the beginning, but I think we're getting used to it," Truitt said. "I think the timing between myself and Dan McNichol has improved with each game." Midway through the third quarter, Austin Nagle intercepted a sideline- directed pass by McNichol and returned it 24 yards for a Dougherty touchdown. A failed 2-point conversion try left La Salle with an 8-6 lead. Before suffering an injury to his left leg, Haughton returned a third- quarter punt 16 yards to the Dougherty 13. Senior running back Mike Brown scored from there on the next play. Senior running backs Tim Foster (76 yards on 16 carries) and Fred Lorusso (27 on 8) accounted for the bulk of La Salle's 119-yard rushing output. Senior middle guard Ron Puggi made nine tackles, including seven solos, to key La Salle's defensive front four. Senior Tom McHugh (eight tackles) and junior Keith Lachawiec (six) led the linebacking corps.

Game 9, November 4, 1994: La Salle 36 – North Catholic 6 by Bill Iezzi, Inquirer

La Salle Gears For Playoffs With Rout; The Explorers Played One Of Their Best Games Of The Season. They Had A 29-0 Lead At The Half. La Salle's 36-6 victory over North Catholic in the regular-season finale for both Catholic League North teams Friday night at Charlie Martin Memorial Stadium was so decisive that winning coach Joe Colistra seemed to be in shock after the game. When asked if a lopsided win was what he had hoped for going into the playoffs, Colistra responded: "I was scared to death coming into this game tonight. We worked harder this week than any week we worked all year because we're playing against John Quinn and North Catholic. These kids are tough. We thought they might have been the best team we saw in spots. Everybody they played they knocked the heck out of. I'm just glad it's over. It was a challenge, and that's what we needed, a challenge." What Colistra didn't know was that before the game, Quinn let his senior quarterbacks flip a coin to see who would start. J .P. D'Ambrosio, who had been sidelined with a rib injury, lost the coin toss and was supposed to start the second half. But starter Robby McBride (1 of 7 passing for 10 yards and an interception) broke his thumb early in the second period, and D'Ambrosio took over with a 22-0 deficit. MOMENTUM FOR FALCONS: D'Ambrosio (6 of 16 for 68 yards) got the Falcons (2-6-1 overall, 1-5-1 league) going on an eight-play scoring drive that was capped by Dennis Cranston's 2-yard plunge into the end zone with 1 minute, 25 seconds remaining until intermission. Cranston's run for two points failed. North Catholic trailed, 29-6, but the Falcons captured the momentum. The Explorers (6-3, 5-2) seemed to sag offensively and defensively in the third quarter. But some big plays by senior defensive lineman Ron Puggi helped keep North Catholic off the scoreboard and gave senior quarterback Dan McNichol time to regroup the offense. 7

La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1994

McNichol put together a 62-yard scoring drive that ended with a 17-yard touchdown pass, which defender Ronnie Haas tipped into the hands of junior receiver Dan Hangey in the end zone with 4:14 left in the game. Tom Truitt kicked his fourth extra point of the game and the score was 36-6. In the first half, La Salle looked like a scoring machine. Junior Brian Curci returned the opening kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown. Five minutes, 5 seconds later, senior running back Tim Foster scored on a 1-yard run up the middle, and it was 15-0. EXPLORERS RIDING HIGH: Foster scored on a 5-yard run in the top of the second period, bouncing off his own linemen in the middle of the field, then sliding to his right for the end-zone run. Four minutes later, Hangey and McNichol hooked up on a 34-yard touchdown pass. The score was 29-0, with 4:47 remaining in the second quarter, and the Explorers were riding high. The offense was clicking and the defense was sticking. Despite the third-period sag, La Salle played one of its best games of the season on both sides of the ball. The Explorers held the Falcons to 69 yards rushing while accumulating 169 yards on the ground. McNichol completed 7 of 12 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite receiver was Truitt, who caught four balls for 76 yards. Entering the game, the 6-foot, 1-inch, 175- pound receiver led the team with 28 catches for 441 and five touchdowns. "We finally got the offense and defense to play together," Truitt said. ''We scored points and we held them to (almost) nothing. We came together as a team. We knew we had to win this to make the playoffs. We were intense and focused all week because we knew we had to win. Practice was tough because we knew (the Falcons) were tough. "The passes were right there in the first half. They were giving me the outside. I really don't know why." Hangey, McNichol's only other receiver Friday night, caught three passes for 58 yards. Most of the rushing yardage was accumulated by Foster (12 carries for 53 yards) and senior running backs Fred Lorusso (9 for 37) and Mike Brown (6 for 33).

Game 10, November 11, 1994: Father Judge 28 – La Salle 7 (PCL Qfinal) by Jabin White, Inquirer

Explorers Again Get Early Exit; For La Salle, The First-round Elimination Makes Five Years In A Row Without A Victory In A Playoff Opener. Beginning in 1990, La Salle High has qualified each year for the Philadelphia Catholic League football playoffs, only to wind up on the outside looking in after the first round. It was no different Friday night, as La Salle fell, 28-7, to Father Judge in the Catholic League Northern Division semifinals at Northeast High. Judge (6-2-1) advanced to the next round against a Southern Division representative. The league, in its first year of crossover playoffs, will match the two Northern Division semifinal winners against the two Southern Division semifinal winners this coming weekend. For La Salle, which dropped to 6-4, all that is left is its annual Thanksgiving Day rivalry against St. Joseph's Prep. "We thought from the beginning of the year that we could be a good team," said Explorers running back Mike Brown, who caught a pass for La Salle's lone touchdown. "We thought we could do more than this. But I still think we have a good team." From the outset, La Salle made too many mistakes to win a playoff game, giving up fumbles on its first two possessions. 8

La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1994

Judge recovered a fumble on the La Salle 37 on the game's opening series and drove to the 14-yard line before fullback Keith Boggi, who led his team with 105 yards on 25 carries, was stopped for no gain on third down. With three yards to go for the first down, Judge coach John "Whitey" Sullivan elected to go for it. Quarterback Greg Yodis took the ball around right end and turned the corner on the La Salle defense for the game's first touchdown. When Kevin McGerry added the first of his four extra points, the Judge lead was 7-0 with 8 minutes, 2 seconds left in the first quarter. La Salle took over and drove the ball effectively until Brown fumbled at the Judge 33 and Paul Gimbel recovered for the Crusaders. Judge could not capitalize, however, as McGerry missed a 30-yard field goal attempt. But after taking over on a punt at the 23, Judge drove 27 yards in six plays to midfield. Yodis found tight end Matt Jones sprinting up the middle between two La Salle defenders and hit him with a perfect pass. Jones hauled in the pass, then raced the remaining 30 yards to complete a 50-yard scoring play. "The tight end just ran down the field on that one," La Salle head coach Joe Colistra said. "They confused us with some motion, and we went for it, but the kid just ran down the field." Colistra said that his team's goal going into the game was to control Yodis, one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the PCL. After Yodis completed eight of nine passes for 118 yards and ran for 34 more, Colistra was not pleased. "Obviously we could have done a better job containing him," he said. ''He's just faster than most everybody on the field." After Yodis' scoring pass, the Explorers got back into the game, driving 68 yards in eight plays. McNichol, who finished the game 13 of 26 for 183 yards, capped the drive with a 9-yard scoring pass to Brown. "We wanted to throw the ball," Colistra said. "And I thought we did a good job with that." But Judge opened the second half with a 66-yard scoring drive, capped when Tony Kelly went over from the 1 with 7:27 left in the third period, and added another score in the fourth quarter when lineman Bud Walsh picked up a Boggi fumble at the Judge 12 and ran for the score. "It's probably the worst we've played on defense all year," Colistra said. "And it couldn't have come at a worse time."

Game 11, Nov 24, 1994: La Salle 28 – St. Joseph’s Prep 6 (Thanksgiving) by Rick O’Brien, Inquirer

Emotional Win For An Explorer; Henry "Hap" Brusca Came Through For His Late Grandmother. It Was Also Sweet Revenge For '93. Henry "Hap" Brusca may always associate La Salle's annual Thanksgiving Day game against St. Joseph's Prep with the loss of a loved one. Last year, hours after watching La Salle fall to the Prep for the first time since 1986, Brusca's grandmother, Bernadette Egner, lost consciousness. "She went into a coma Thanksgiving night and she never came out of it," said Brusca, a 5-foot-11, 200- pound senior linebacker. "She died about a week later." Playing in memory of his grandmother, this year Brusca recorded a second- quarter interception and a fourth-quarter sack to help lead the Explorers past the Hawks, 28-6, before about 3,000 wind-chilled fans at La Salle University. 9

La Salle College High School Football: Chronicle 1994

"I had a little extra motivation coming into this game," said Brusca, who was selected as the game's most valuable player. "Personally, I wanted to come out and have a good game for my grandmother." La Salle (7-4) rebounded from last season's 13-0 setback and raised its Thanksgiving Day series record to 15-4-0. In the 18 meetings with the Prep, the Explorers have posted eight shutouts and allowed an average of only 7.2 points per game. "I didn't want to finish up my high school football career and my last game against Prep without making things right," Brusca said. Early in the second quarter, Brusca intercepted a pass near midfield and returned it to the 36-yard line. The pickoff led the way to Dan McNichol's 13- yard touchdown pass to Tom Truitt. Brusca and middle guard Ron Puggi keyed a La Salle defense that limited the Hawks (2-7-1) to 45 total rushing yards and pressured Prep quarterback Matt Strader into a 10-for-34, two-interception passing performance. "Hap was outstanding," said La Salle coach Joe Colistra. "He is the heart and soul of our defense." When the coaches' all-Catholic selections were announced this month, Brusca was only a second-team pick. "I don't think it bothers him," said Colistra. "Those all-league honors are good, but the team thing is most important. And Hap would be the first to tell you that." The Explorers broke the game open late in the third quarter. Following a Prep punt, which pinned La Salle at its 1-yard line, tailback Mike Brown burst through the middle and raced 99 yards for a touchdown. McNichol's two-point conversion sneak gave the Explorers a 21-6 lead. "It was a one-play game," said Prep coach Gil Brooks. "We stop them there, who knows? Up until that point, we had played good defense." Brown's 99-yard jaunt set a school record for the longest touchdown run from scrimmage. Former La Salle tailback Max Guevara scored from 85 yards out against Valley Forge Military Academy in September 1991. "It was just a straight-up dive," said Brown of his TD. "As soon as I broke through the line and saw nobody there, all I had to do was run. I was pretty sure no one was going to catch me." Brown (117 yards on 8 carries) and Fred Lorusso (50 on 8) paced a rushing attack that netted 207 yards. McNichol (10-for-25 passing for 108 yards) connected with Truitt six times in the first half for 62 yards.

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