Backup QB helps spark West Catholic to victory
When opportunity knocked Saturday evening at Bonner-Prendergast, West Catholic backup quarterback Anthony Mirabile welcomed it inside and then helped the Burrs to an important Catholic League Blue Division victory.
When opportunity knocked Saturday evening at Bonner-Prendergast, West Catholic backup quarterback Anthony Mirabile welcomed it inside and then helped the Burrs to an important Catholic League Blue Division victory.
The senior transfer from Plymouth-Whitemarsh was thrust into action in the second quarter when starting quarterback Da'Vion Kidd-Jackson suffered an arm injury.
"Coach just came over to me and said, 'It's your shot now. Take it and get us the win,' " Mirabile said.
His fourth-quarter screen pass to Ahmad Kent proved to be the game-winning score in the Burrs' 20-12 triumph.
Kent turned the 2-yard pass into a 22-yard score down the right sideline and left several defenders in his wake in the process. Mirabile then caught the two-point conversion pass from running back Calil Wortham via a halfback-option pass with 5 minutes, 10 seconds remaining.
Kent, a senior speedster, finished with 122 yards and two scores on just five catches (24 yards per).
Mirabile, who finished with 144 yards and two touchdowns on 11-of-14 passing, received plenty of help from his playmakers.
"Ahmad Kent, he is a beast!" Mirabile said. "No one could stop him today. Dajone [Averett], he's a monster."
Averett finished with 79 yards on three catches, including a juggling grab before motoring 51 yards for a score during Mirabile's first series.
Joseph Hartley-Vittoria led the Friars with 41 rushing yards on 12 carries, and 50 receiving yards on three catches. Sean Morris also added two sacks and was a major disrupter for B-P.
The Burrs (4-4, 3-1) trailed early after Alex Coll took a blocked punt 12 yards for a first-quarter score for the Friars (3-5, 2-3).
Kidd-Jackson answered with a 65-yard scoring pass to Kent before yielding to Mirabile.
"Cheering him on, trying to help him out as much as I can, helping him with his reads," Mirabile said. "But when it's my chance, I'm going to do everything I can to help this team."
Mirabile transferred to West Catholic in April in hopes of finding playing time.
"It's been hard," he said. "It's been a little hard as a senior, but you got to do whatever you can and win this game, and we just have to keep it up through the playoffs."
The Burrs strengthened their playoff hopes with two regular-season games remaining. Cardinal O'Hara, still undefeated, sits atop the division. The Burrs play O'Hara in the regular-season finale.
"We got to stay on a roll," Mirabile said. "We got one [today]. Next week's a big one. It's our senior night. We have to work hard, disciplined and focused."
West Catholic 6 6 0 8 - 20
Bonner-Prendergast 6 6 0 0 - 12
BP: Alex Coll 12 punt block (kick failed)
WC: Ahmad Kent 56 pass from Da'Vion Kidd-Jackson (run failed)
BP: Shawn Harmon 7 run (pass failed)
WC: Dajone Averett 51 pass from Anthony Mirabile (pass failed)
WC: Kent 22 pass from Mirabile (Mirabile pass from Calil Wortham)
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