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Whittier Wildcats Football '13

Sat, Nov 02, 2013 02:00 PM @ Austin Prep
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Whittier 0 0 0 0 0
Austin Prep 14 16 0 6 36

Austin prep ends Whittier's title hopes

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Saturday, November, 02 By Jeff Hamrick

READING — Whittier couldn't have picked a worst time for its worst performance in five years. In fact, the Wildcats struggled just as much as they did that December day in 2008.


Fourth-seeded Austin Prep ran roughshod over the fifth-seeded Wildcats in yesterday's Division 5 quarterfinals en route to a convincing 36-0 victory.

Whittier, which dropped a 22-14 decision to the Cougars in the season opener, had not been held scoreless since a 34-0 decision to Amesbury in the 2008 Division 3A semifinals.

Despite winning five of the previous six weeks, Whittier coach Kevin Bradley was concerned even before the kickoff with players showing up late because of SAT exams.

"We had 10 kids, who happened to be all starters, fly in here 15-20 minuters before kickoff, and that hurts," Bradley said. "We had some injuries there too. (Austin Prep) did a good job on us, but I'm proud we didn't quit in the second half. We talked about having character ... You judge a team by how they're playing in the second half, and we hung in there."

The Cougars (6-2) once again had their way on the ground against the Wildcats. After rushing for 285 yards on 42 carries the first time, AP piled up 274 on 36 attempts yesterday.

"They ran more outside," Bradley said of yesterday's game. "Before they were running more inside, but they took it one hole outside (today)."

Austin Prep didn't do anything glamorous, just pounded two plays over and over with seniors Jonathan Saurman (13-140) and Nicholas Mulcahy (12-64) doing the bulk of damage.

"If something works, we stick with it," said Austin Prep coach Bill Maradei, in his 21st season with the school. "They ran a different defense than we expected, so we went a little wider, and we just keep at it."

Mulcahy scored both of his touchdowns in the first quarter while Saurman took care of the final three. Autin Prep's rushing attack was in stark contrast to Whittier's normally strong ground game. The Wildcats, who were averaging 29.9 points a game entering yesterday's contest, averaged a mere 2.1 yards while gaining 54 yards on 26 plays against a defense that put nine players in the box. Throw in a passing attack that put up 32 yards on 17 attempts and Whittier's offense averaged 2.0 yards on 43 plays.

"We'd get some momentum, then it would end," Bradley said of an offense that had one first down the opening half and four in the game.

Although no longer alive for a division title, the Wildcats next play eighth-seeded St. Mary's, which dropped a 32-12 decision to top-seeded Bishop Fenwick. The time and place will be announced today.

"We look at every game is an important game, and we have to come out and play next week," Bradley said. "For the seniors, time is running out and they know it. Nobody here at Whittier says we'll just ride it out. They have a lot of fire and we'll play some tough football."

 

Game Statistics:

First Quarter

AP — Nicholas Mulcahy 1 run (Mulcahy pass from Connor Duffy) 9:39

AP —  Mulcahy 1 run (pass failed) 2:32

Second Quarter

AP — Jonathan Saurman 41 run (Mulcahy run) 7:54

AP — Saurman 16 run (Saurman run) 1:24

Fourth Quarter

AP — Saurman 5 run (run failed) 10:52


INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: W (26-54) — Jesus Sanchez 16-36, Robby Gramstorff 2-12, Scott Bonneau 3-6, Jake McCartney 2-2, Connor Bradley 3-(-2); AP (36-274) — Saurman 13-140, Mulcahy 12-64, Christos Kourkoulos 4-47, Matthew Liberacki 3-16, Luke Wyman 2-5, Brendan Carpenter 1-2, Daniel Monagle 1-0

PASSING: W — Bradley 6-17-32, 0 interceptions; AP — Duffy 3-4-106, 0

RECEIVING: W — Bonneau 2-5, Zach Zullo 1-17, Sanchez 1-7, Jaylin Deveau 1-2, McCartney 1-7; AP — Saurman 2-79, Tucker Impemba 1-27

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