St. Joe’s Prep tops Roman Catholic to earn Catholic League championship

Colin Stoner heard the crowd erupt as his field goal sailed through the uprights at Franklin Field.

The St. Joseph’s Prep senior kicker had watched an earlier attempt get blocked, but with less than a minute remaining, with the Philadelphia Catholic League 6A championship hanging in the balance, he wasn’t thinking about what had gone wrong.

He was focused on the same routine he’d followed all season.

“I try to treat every kick the same,” Stoner said. “Even if I missed it, you can’t let it ruminate in your head. Just got to keep going.”

His kick lifted St. Joseph’s Prep to a 10-7 victory over Roman Catholic on Sunday. The Hawks avenged a 21-17 loss to the Cahillites just 15 days earlier.

As the final whistle sounded, players rushed to the field to celebrate, leaving Prep coach Tim Roken momentarily unsure whether the game had ended.

“I was a little emotional there,” Roken said. “Didn’t know what was happening, but ... just so happy for these guys.

“We got punched in the mouth two weeks ago. It was hard to move forward, but our guys were able to reset. Because at the end of the day, the mission was still alive.”

For Roman, the loss ended its season and opportunity to capture its first PCL title in the 6A classification. The Cahillites won their first state title in program history last season in the 5A classification.

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After opening this season with two losses, Roman won eight consecutive games, including its regular-season victory over the Prep.

But Sunday belonged to the Hawks, whose defense and late offensive execution extended their season.

“It’s just great to keep the season going,” Stoner said. “It’s just so exciting that we get potentially four weeks to go.”

The Prep will face Public League champion Northeast High School next Sunday for the District 12 6A championship.

Neither team found much offensive rhythm during a scoreless first quarter.

Roman forced a three-and-out on the Prep’s opening possession, but the Hawks responded by stopping the Cahillites after they took over at the Prep’s 10-yard line.

Roman also blocked an early kick by Stoner, returning the ball near midfield, but couldn’t capitalize.

The Prep broke through with 5 minutes, 31 seconds remaining in the second quarter. An encroachment penalty against Roman on a punt extended the Hawks’ possession, allowing quarterback Max Rogers to eventually score on a touchdown run.

Roman responded with 50 seconds remaining before halftime when quarterback Jahmil Hawkins connected with Shane Hubert for a 75-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7.

That was Roman’s only score.

“There’s just one play,” Prep defensive lineman Jayson Nitz said. “We won every other play but one. Dust it off our shoulders and don’t worry about it.”

The defensive struggle continued throughout the second half. The Prep consumed much of the third quarter with an extended possession but couldn’t produce points, while Roman struggled to sustain drives.

With 8:51 remaining in the fourth quarter, Nitz intercepted Hawkins near the Roman 21-yard line.

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“I just saw the ball in the air and went up for it,” Nitz said. “I got rocked when I caught it. I thought I was going to drop it for a second.”

But penalties prevented the Hawks from capitalizing. Rogers had a touchdown run erased with a holding call, and additional penalties eventually forced the Prep to punt.

After another Roman punt, Rogers connected with Ohio State-bound Jett Harrison for roughly 50 yards, moving the Hawks deep into Cahillites territory.

Another Rogers touchdown run was called back for holding, but the Hawks had advanced close enough for Stoner’s winning field goal.

“He’s been great for us this year,” Roken said. “So consistent in practice and in the games.

“We knew it was going to be a slugfest today because they’re a great program. Our guys were able to stick together in hard times and channel that emotion.”