West Football Opens Season with Statement Win Over Paul VI

Every time Cherry Hill West had found a weak spot in Paul VI's defense Monday night, the Eagles found a way to fight back, forcing four lead changes as the night wore on.

So with the Eagles left with one last, desperation shot at snatching away the 30-24 lead West had grabbed on Rodney Williams' 21-yard run with barely 90 seconds left in the game, Dwuan Allen knew his job.

Find that final pass and make sure it didn't come down.

Stationed between the hashmarks, Allen focused on Eagles quarterback Alec Vignola, and when the 50-yard heave spiraled into the night air, Allen slid to where he knew the ball was going.

Seconds later, not only did Allen make sure it didn't come down—he out-jumped everyone and crashed to the turf in the end zone, the ball cradled in his arms.

“I just wanted to win so bad,” he said. “I can't even explain it, to be honest. It feels so good to beat Paul VI, because we haven't beat them in so long.”

Check out photos of the West-Paul VI game here.

Allen's interception sealed things, but it was Williams' efforts on the other side of the ball that helped drive the offensive effort.

The Syracuse-bound senior put together 100-yard performances both through the air and on the ground, and had a hand in literally every point the Lions scored—including kicking a pair of extra points.

Williams' first touchdown pass—a 30-yard strike that hit John Bendig in stride—tied it up early, and his first rushing touchdown—a 28-yard scramble that saw Williams whip back and forth across the field—gave the Lions their first lead of the night.

After lineman Julian Carpenter picked off Vignola, Williams would add another 34-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Quinton Jenkins, and picked up a loose ball on a muffed snap to score the two-point conversion after that.

But Paul VI didn't stop fighting back—the Eagles got a 65-yard kickoff return from Lonnie Moore on the following play to get to within 22-17 at halftime, and took the lead on a 90-yard Vignola-to-Irvin Charles strike in the third quarter.

Williams and the Lions drove down for what looked like a sure touchdown with a little more than five minutes left in the game, but the West quarterback made one of his worst throws at the worst possible time, with his underthrown ball ending up in the arms of Paul VI defender Chris Randle in the end zone.

Though tired and cramping, Williams, who credited his line with blowing open lanes all night, said he never had a doubt there'd be another shot for the Lions to walk away with the win.

“I knew my defense was going to step up,” he said. “I know the player I am—I had to get out and make plays for my team to win the game.”

After the defense did just that, the Lions did as Williams predicted, driving down to the 21, where the West quarterback broke loose on yet another a scramble, cut back between two defenders inside the 5-yard line and headed into the end zone with six white jerseys behind him.

Both Williams and Allen said the game was a tone-setting victory for the season, as West starts on the road toward what the players hope will be the first playoff berth in school history.

“We wanted to show everybody what team we were going to be,” Williams said.

Now, the Lions will have a short week to prepare for Cumberland, which won its season opener over Deptford, 17-6.