Providence Day figured it out eventually.
The Chargers’ defense finally stopped Philadelphia Roman Catholic’s quick-hitting passing game, and the offense’s big players stepped up in the fourth quarter, as top-ranked Providence Day scored a 29-28 victory Friday night.
Providence Day coach Chad Grier said he wanted his powerhouse football team to be tested, and Roman Catholic was happy to oblige.
The Cahillites, a Pennsylvania state runner-up last season, scored two third-quarter touchdowns and grabbed a 28-23 lead.
The Chargers spent much of the third quarter in chase mode, as Roman Catholic quarterback Semaj Beals repeatedly connected with receivers on quick sidelines passes. Beals completed 10-of-13 passes in the third quarter, as his team rallied from a 23-14 halftime deficit for the lead.
Providence Day’s offense, which operated at its typical high efficiency in the first half, suddenly went cold after halftime. The Chargers got only two first downs on their four possessions in the third quarter.
The Cahillites had double-teamed Providence Day’s standout senior wide receiver, Gordon Sellars, for the opening three quarters. But Sellars eventually found a way to beat the Roman Catholic defense in the final period, and quarterback Zaid Lott was quick to notice.
Lott connected with Sellars on four passes, and although the drive ended on downs at the Roman Catholic 10 with six minutes left, the visitors were unable to move the ball on their next possession and then were hurt by a bad punt. Providence Day took over at the Roman Catholic 25 with 4:55 left, and Quintin McCray, who spends most of his time at linebacker, ran the ball 13 yards for the go-ahead score with 4:10 left.
That’s when the Providence Day defense found a way to stop Beals. The Cahillites drove from their 20 to the Providence Day 25 with two minutes left. But the Chargers’ secondary broke up three straight passes.
Roman Catholic tried to win it with a field goal, but Eli Pollack’s 43-yard kick went wide-left with 1:22 remaining.
Lott then clinched the victory with a 15-yard run for first down.