Ryan shocks George Washington, 19-0

AFTER PERFORMING major dirty work, along with numerous underclassmen, to help Archbishop Ryan High seize a momumental Thanksgiving football victory, Connor Golden felt he had to come clean.

The seniors, he said, deserved most of the credit.

After all, they'd persevered through three rough seasons and had been tremendous through this on-the-upswing campaign while nurturing and guiding the juniors and sophomores.

"They could not have been better toward us," Golden said. "That's who this win is for. They went through some tough times. But they set up the next few seasons for us.

"I've been starting all year and, in the first few weeks, I wasn't sure how things were going to go. But the older guys accepted me. They were great."

Golden, a 6-foot, 175-foot soph, plays outside linebacker. And Thursday morning, in perfect, just-chilly-enough weather (though on a still somewhat muddy surface), he made two gigantic plays to set a great early tone as the visiting Raiders stunned George Washington, 19-0.

These were the same Raiders who'd gone 0-4 in Catholic AAAA play. And the same Eagles who'd captured the Public AAAA championship.

Well, mostly the same Eagles. Star rusher Hakeem Sillman, held to 18 yards in Saturday's City Title loss to La Salle, did not practice this week and, according to assistants, was not expected to appear. He did show up, however, and stood along the Eagles' sideline, wearing his No. 2 jersey. Coach Ron Cohen declined to discuss specifics of Sillman's situation.

The win boosted Ryan's series edge to 25-9-1 on Thanksgiving and 27-9-1 overall.

As for Golden, he made an interception to terminate the game's first series, and Mike Anusky passed to Dylan Rowan for a 7-yard touchdown three plays later.

He was just getting warmed up. Three minutes into the second quarter, junior Sam DuMond blocked a punt. Golden gained control of the ball on Washington's 40 and . . . see ya later!

"My first touchdown on varsity football," he said. "I had two last year on the freshman team." He laughed. "They're nothing, really."

Of his interception, Golden said, "I just stayed in my zone. I thought [quarterback Alfonso Augustine] was going to get sacked, or that he'd decide not to throw it. Next thing I knew, the ball was in the air and I took advantage."

On the blocked punt, Golden was lined up to the right.

"After Sam blocked it," he said, "I thought, 'Maybe I can get that.' But it bounced toward the left side and I kind of lost hope. I walked over" - yes, he said "walked" - "and it was still right there. I picked it up and thought, 'Run as fast as you can!' I was thinking about the seniors, how great it was going to make them feel."

All season, in punting situations, DuMond had lined up on the right edge.

"This week in practice," he said, "coach Frank [McArdle, his own defensive coordinator] said to me, 'I want you to line up in the A gap and go make a play.'

"I used my speed to get through the line. Once I saw I could make a play, I laid out. When I saw it was on the ground, I tried to scoop it. But [Golden] beat me to it."

DuMond also had an interception in the waning moments of the first half, while Chris McMonagle (fumble recovery; strip by Lamar Richardson) and Mike Palmer (interception) saw to it that two of Washington's four second-half possessions ended in turnovers.

Washington settled for 118 yards. Ryan's defense included ends McMonagle and Sean Boylan, tackles Joe Sullivan and Joe Hansbury, linebackers Richardson, Golden and Jesse Wireman, cornerbacks Palmer and Bobby Romano and safeties DuMond and Kevin Newell.

"This is great for us. Our first shutout this year," McArdle said. "It means everything to us. I thought we'd play well on defense, but to say we'd shut out a championship team, that would have been a little much."

While Sillman's absence threw Washington for a loop, Ryan faced its own uh-oh situation.

Late in the second quarter, Anusky injured his right knee on a left-side keeper and could only watch the rest of the game. His replacement, soph Mark Ostaszewski, mostly handed off to Rowan (22 carries, 77 yards), but did step up nicely to avoid pressure and hit Nick Le Van for a 29-yard TD on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Anusky was also Ryan's punter. The Raiders even avoided disaster after Matt Martinez, the kicker, added punting duties and twice dropped snaps, causing 32 yards in losses.

Ryan finished its regular season Oct. 28. It filled in the gap by posting a 31-14 win over Central Bucks West on Nov. 11.

"That broke up the monotony," McArdle said.

What he won't like seeing is the breaking up of this group.

"The seniors showed up all summer. Gave us great dedication," he said. "And they took the underclassmen under their wing. Now I have mixed emotions. I'm happy they got this win, but I'm sad that they're leaving."

Online high school coverage at philly.com/rally.