Blue Devils romp past the Raiders
Mike Wismer and Rashad Campbell led the attack, scoring five touchdowns between them.
In addition to being an intense and rugged player, Chestnut Hill Academy's Mike Wismer brings plenty of smarts to the football field.
A senior tight end and outside linebacker, Wismer takes advanced-placement classes in calculus and biology. At the end of the last marking period, he had a 3.8 GPA.
Yesterday, showing know-how on both sides of the ball, Wismer helped the host Blue Devils open their season with a 42-13 nonleague romp over Archbishop Ryan.
At tight end, Wismer snared a pair of touchdown receptions. On defense, the 5-foot-10, 190-pounder was part of a swarming unit that limited the visiting Raiders to 71 yards rushing and 26 passing.
"We return eight starters on defense, so I think we're going to be tough there," Wismer said.
Chestnut Hill led comfortably, 21-0, at intermission. Late in the second quarter, quarterback Mike Mattei faked an inside handoff to fullback Tom Devlin, then tossed a 9-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Wismer.
In the third quarter, after the Raiders (1-1) scored two quick touchdowns to make it 21-13, Wismer caught a pass in the right flat, broke a shoestring tackle attempt near the midfield stripe, and rumbled to the end zone for a 73-yard score.
"I was a lineman in youth football, for the Roxborough Eagles," Wismer said. "I've really just started to learn how to catch the ball. I'm trying to get better at it."
Wismer, who plays lacrosse in the spring, is eyeing a career in business or medicine. His father, Charlie, was a star defensive lineman for Roxborough High in the late 1970s.
The Blue Devils, who went 7-3 last season and placed fourth in the Inter-Ac League, totaled 368 yards on offense. Halfback Rashad Campbell led the ground attack, carrying 19 times for 134 yards and three scores. The 5-8, 172-pound senior had touchdown runs of 9, 67 and 26 yards.
"He has a great desire to play," Wismer said of Campbell, who is getting looks from Ivy League and Patriot League colleges. "He plays hard the entire game."
Chestnut Hill's offensive line - center Phil Thorrell, guards Alex Scott and Tim Gramlich, and tackles Eric Herrera and Juan Gaskins - was dominant.
Except for a third-quarter scoring drive, it was a long afternoon for Ryan's skill-position players: quarterback Rus Slawter (6 for 14 passing, 26 yards), and running backs Jim Weitzel (six carries for 21 yards) and Chris Wilk (6-19).
"We couldn't block them up front," said Ryan coach Glen Galeone, whose Raiders opened the season with a 26-14 win at Pennsbury.
Mattei completed 6 of 9 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns. The senior quarterback was limited to four games last season because of a broken thumb.
Archbishop Ryan0 0 13 0 - 13
Chestnut Hill Academy14 7 7 14 - 42
CHA: R. Campbell 9 run (Connaghan kick)
CHA: Lonergan 31 pass from Mattei (Connaghan kick)
CHA: Wismer 9 pass from Mattei (Connaghan kick)
AR: Slawter 1 run (George kick)
AR: Edelman 4 with blocked punt (kick failed)
CHA: Wismer 73 pass from Mattei (Connaghan kick)
CHA: R. Campbell 67 run (Connaghan kick)
CHA: R. Campbell 26 run (Connaghan kick)