PHILADELPHIA, SEPT. 20 – The DeMatha football team enjoyed one of its largest margins of victory against a quality opponent in years last Friday night, 49-12, over Roman Catholic.
Seniors Denzel Gardner, Bud Coombs and Jacob Wallace were most responsible for the win. Gardner, a four-year starting quarterback, accounted for five touchdowns, Coombs rushed for 106 yards, and Wallace displayed his speed and athleticism on defense and special teams.
“We had a great week-and-a-half of practice,” DeMatha coach Bill McGregor said. “The kids were focused, they did everything they were supposed to do, and I’m very proud of them. I don’t think they could have done anything better than they did.”
Find out what's happening in Hyattsvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Cahillites (4-0) entered the game, at Northeast High School, ranked third in Pennsylvania. Included among their victories was a 52-21 thrashing of St. John’s in Northwest Washington. The Stags (2-1) thoroughly dominated Friday’s game in all three phases.
“The special teams were great, the offense did a great job and so did the defense,” McGregor said. “Roman Catholic’s a good football team. They were undefeated and didn’t have a close game. We just went out and played well.
Find out what's happening in Hyattsvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“We did everything we had to do to win.”
Gardner, who has committed to Marshall, scored four times on the ground and threw for another as DeMatha scored 42 points in the first half.
“It’s definitely one of the top two, top three games of my life,” Gardner said. “Five touchdowns, I mean that’s amazing – thanks to my teammates.”
Coombs, a future Maryland Terrapins football and baseball player, had a 20-yard run and found the end zone from 3 yards out for the Stags’ first touchdown. Wallace made it 14-0 10 seconds later when he intercepted a pass and returned it for a 34-yard TD.
After junior Lavar Keys’ 25-yard punt return set DeMatha up on the Cahillites’ 20, Gardner scored up the middle to boost the lead to 21-0. Wallace then returned a fumble 38 yards to the Roman Catholic 7. Gardner powered his way in from the 3, and one play into the second quarter, the Stags had a 28-point advantage.
Following two Elijah Lee runs totaling 14 yards, DeMatha recorded its 35th straight point when Gardner lofted a beautiful 23-yard TD pass to Keys (Penn State) in the right corner of the end zone.
The Stags, whose interior linemen struggled in their season-opening 26-10 loss at No. 1 Spalding, excelled against Roman Catholic. The offensive line, with three new starters this year, did particularly well.
Gardner said the unit has improved “tremendously. We had push, we had holes for Bud Coombs, we had holes open for Elijah Lee, we had holes open for me. We couldn’t have scored all those touchdowns without the O-line. It’s a testimony to how well they played.”
In addition to his interception and fumble recovery, Wallace had a 44-yard punt return to the Cahillites’ 32. A brother of the Los Angeles Rams’ Josh Wallace and DeMatha’s starting point guard, Jacob is hoping his abilities impress college football scouts.
Wallace said it was his “best game ever. … It felt great. I wanted to come out and show these college coaches that I really can play at the highest level.”
McGregor couldn’t stop raving about Wallace, a three-year starting cornerback.
“He’s just an outstanding football player,” he said. “The best thing about Jacob is his character. His mom and his family are just great people. He has a great work ethic, and I think his older brother has helped him along, laying the foundation.”
“Jacob played amazing,” Gardner said. “A quarterback’s best friend is the defense. When the defense is playing well, it makes the quarterback look good. It makes my job easier,”
Gardner also had a sensational game. He finished with 16 rushes for 59 yards and only had to pass five times, completing two for 32 yards. On his final TD, from 11 yards, he went airborne between two defenders.
“He was outstanding; you cannot play any better,” McGregor said. “He’s a great player. You can see his maturity.”
Roman Catholic scored with 18 seconds left before halftime and on the final play of the game.
The Stags, who moved up one spot to No. 2 in The Washington Post Top 20, face another tough opponent this Friday when they travel to Massillon, Ohio, to play Washington High (4-1). Game time is 7 p.m. MaxPreps ranks the Tigers No. 25 in the nation.
“We’ve definitely improved,” Wallace said. “We feel like we can compete with anybody in the country. We have a lot of confidence going in to play Massillon.”
Chris McManes (mick-maynz) is DeMatha Catholic High School’s communications manager.