Philadelphia High School Football, Public League Playoff Recaps, 2015

Philadelphia High School Football
Public League Playoff Recaps, 2015
(All Classifications; Includes City Titles)

To reach Ted Silary -- tedtee307@yahoo.com

AAAA DIVISION
QUARTERFINALS
At Northeast
Northeast 40, Bartram 18: Northeast, which first played football in 1892 and joined the Pub in 1909, achieved a 10-0 mark for the first time in school history. Amir Paulk rolled to 201 yards and three TDs (long of 86) on 22 carries while receiving quality rushing help from Keith Moore (27-136, one TD) and Elijah Wilcher (5-97, one). For Bartram, soph Answered Gleplay turned 17 carries into 118 yards and two scores.
At Gratz
Gratz 58, Olney 0: This was a fun night for Bulldogs named Amir. Gillis passed 5-for-7 for 154 yards and three TDs and Lewis scored three times while notching 147 yards on five scrimmage touches. Luke White added two rushing scores. Olney was limited to 41 yards.
At Frankford
Frankford 52, King 27: This one was over after Frankford rolled to a 32-0 lead in the first quarter. Ralph Hyland collected 192 yards and two TDs on 23 carries after starting the game with an 86-yard kickoff return for a score. Mikey Morell passed 8-for-11 for 82 yards and three TDs. For King, Rob Harris passed 12-for-29 for 201 yards and two TDs to Ryleigh Mathis (3-114), though Jose Romero twice picked him off.
At Gratz
Central 13, Franklin 12: A PAT by Soosong Wang (also a pick) made the difference as the Lancers pulled off the quarterfinals' lone upset. Collin Washington scored the TDs on a pass from Jeff Coplin (first of game) and an 81-yard kickoff return (to open the third quarter and erase 12-7 deficit). For Franklin, Devin Darden ran for one score and passed 84 yards to Javier Buffalo (3-126) for the other. Darden finished 8-for-21 for 165 yards. Two weeks earlier, Buffalo had claimed the city career records for receiving yards (2,385) and TDs (35). A forfeit win over Edison followed, so these efforts raised his numbers to 2,511/36. Kevin Small, Elijah White and Aziz Smith posted picks for the Electrons.
SEMIFINALS
At Northeast
Northeast 18, Frankford 12 (OT): The Vikings bagged all 216 of their yards on the ground (0-for-5 passing) and won it on OT's second possession as Keith Moore covered three yards on a keeper. Frankford had advanced no closer than the 8. Moore toughed out 67 yards (and the game's first TD) on 22 carries. Amir Paulk posted 134 and one on 31 while Jaquan Amos made an interception. For Frankford, Mikey Morell completed 12 of 22 flips for 115 yards and one score apiece to Esky Lopez (6-61) and Danny Kornegay. There were no late almosts in regulation.
Gratz 19, Central 6: Gratz owned a 13-0 lead after two possessions thanks to a rushing TD by Luke White (15-138) and a passing score from Amir Gillis to Javon Whitfield (57 yards; also two interceptions). The Bulldogs mostly sputtered thereafter, losing three fumbles and getting flagged for 121 yards in penalties. Central lost starting QB Jeff Coplin to injury in the first quarter. Backup Gerrit Roscioli passed 13-for-31 for 155 yards and a TD to Collin Washington (6-71). The teams combined for minus-48 yards on misdirected center snaps.
FINAL
At Northeast
Gratz 54, Northeast 18: Northeast, which entered 11-0 overall, scored the first TD, but the Bulldogs soon imposed their will in major fashion. Luke White carried 17 times for 221 yards and four TDs with lengthy dashes of 46, 70 and 75. However, Dedrick Parson posted the longest score on a 98-yard kickoff return. He also bagged two rushing six-pointers. Amir Gillis passed 6-for-8 for 140 yards, largely to Quashah Carter (4-76), and kicked six PAT. For Northeast, Keith Moore and Amir Paulk (rushing score) passed for one TD apiece; Nahzir Wilson caught both. Jaquan Amos added two snags for 66 yards, plus an interception.

AAA DIVISION
SEMIFINALS
At Northwest Super Site
Imhotep 70, Dobbins 0: A 36-0 second quarter enabled the Panthers to storm their way to a 58-0 halftime edge. Star rushers Tyliek Raynor (9-148, three) and Mike Waters (6-80) combined for five TDs while Nasir Boykin passed 7-for-8 for 160 yards and three TDs. Naseir "Pop" Upshur's two receptions produced 52 yards and two scores while Amir Brown (3-63) had the other aerial six-pointer. The Mustangs were limited to 14 scrimmage yards.
At West Phila.
West Phila. 28, Overbrook 8: Da'Quan Bard, a senior fullback and Overbrook player in 2013, burned his old school by collecting 98 yards and three TDs on nine carries. His longest was a 50-yarder. Peter Hutton (4-82) opened the scoring with a 57-yard run, but had to depart shortly into the second half due to a foot injury. Joel Polk ran for Overbrook's TD and Gary Hawes passed 11-for-24 for 115 yards.
FINAL
At Northeast
Imhotep 64, West Phila. 0: Mike Waters (8-76) ran for the game's first four TDs and No. 3, an 8-yarder, was quite the memory-maker. That tally gave him the Public League season records for rushing (30) and total TDs (32), enabling him to surpass the efforts of Frankford all-timer Eddie Gaskins in 1997 (29, 31). Nasir Boykin ran for one TD and passed 9-for-11 for 153 and another score to Nasir Lewis. The halftime count was 44-0. This rout gave the Panthers 216 consecutive points and a 362-8 advantage over their last seven games.

AA DIVISION
SEMIFINALS
At South Phila. Super Site
Prep Charter 53, Strawberry Mansion 8: Quadir Strothers stormed to six TDs -- four on rushes (12-162), one on a pass from Mamud Dioubate (5-for-9, 111) and one on a 30-yard interception return -- to tie the city postseason record. West Catholic's Rob Hollomon rushed for six in a 2008 Catholic AA semi vs. Kennedy-Kenrick. Both guys scored 36 points. SM's bright spot was a 92-yard kickoff return score by Anrico Stevenson.
At Northwest Super Site
Del-Val 48, Palumbo 6: Shayne "Sugar" Smith passed 8-for-13 for 125 yards and two scores, with one going to Shaheed Brown (4-80). John Davis bagged two interceptions and returned one 66 yards to payturf. Deen Whitaker (12-112) raced 62 yards for Palumbo's six-pointer.
FINAL
At South Phila. Super Site
Del-Val 36, Prep Charter 7: Three weeks after being conquered by this same opponent, 28-20, the Warriors put everything together and rolled to their first Pub crown since 2009 (in Class A). Zamir Davis (9-62, two), Desmont Pugh (11-45) and Shaheed Brown combined for rushing scores while Nasir Coleman joined the six-point club on a pass from Shayne "Sugar" Smith. Aaron Hall had an interception. Edward Saydee (4-68) ran for PC's score. The Huskies were limited to 108 scrimmage yards.

CITY TITLES
CLASS A
At Northwest Super Site
McDevitt 50, KIPP DuBois 12: With Max Bryson not quite ready to return from injury, receiver Dontae Mason remained at quarterback and had a terrific performance. He passed 8-for-13 for 178 yards and three TDs -- two to Jaron Macon (3-85) -- and turned seven carries into 81 yards and another score. Vincent DiLeo posted one TD apiece via rushing/receiving along with 109 yards. Jayvonne Campfield scored on a fumble return. The Lancers were coached by long-time boss Pat Manzi, who'd missed the 2014 season due to health issues. Two days earlier, the school had won the Class A City Title in soccer. For KDB, the highlight was Brian Jones' 62-yard score with an interception.
CLASS AA
At South Phila. Super Site
West Catholic 28, Del-Val 18: Though Calil Wortham (16-70) and Sharif Fennell (6-81) rushed well, Joshua Evans accounted for all four TDs while passing 17-for-27 for 295 yards. Amadou Barry (4-124) caught two six-pointers while Craig Jones snagged one along with two interceptions. He ran one back for a TD, but a penalty got in the way. Amir Postley (13) and Tymir Oliver (eight) led the Burrs in tackles. DV's Shayne "Sugar" Smith completed six of 24 tosses for 147 yards and one score.
CLASS AAA
At Northeast
Imhotep 20, Wood 14: While halting Wood's string of AAA City Title triumphs at seven, and its streak of league (29)/playoff (16)/CT wins at 52, the Panthers benefited from two huge defensive plays. With Wood ahead, 14-8, in the latter part of the third quarter, Mike Crawford created a tie with a 68-yard, strip-and-scoop, fumble-return TD on a play (wideout reverse) that at first looked quite promising. On the second play of the fourth quarter, Nasir Lewis made a diving catch for a 27-yard gain to the 5 and Mike Waters (16-85) ran for a 3-yard score two plays later. Wood advanced to Imhotep's 32 with the help of two 15-yard penalties, but a right-sideline pass was picked off by Waters at 5:53 and 'Tep maintained possession thereafter. Tyliek Raynor (16-81) also ran well for the winners while Boykin passed 5-for-9 for 168 yards and a score to Aamir Brown. Wood's Anthony Russo passed 12-for-21 for 164 yards and an early score to Mark Webb (4-55). Both teams entered with 11-0 records, eclipsing the record for total wins (19) by undefeated CT combatants.
CLASS AAAA
At Northeast
La Salle 42, Gratz 15: With no points yet on the scoreboard, Gratz QB Amir Gillis was flushed out of the pocket and set sail on what should have been a 68-yard TD run. That didn't happen because Nick Rinella dislodged the ball at about the 2 and it bounced out of the end zone for a touchback. Immediately, Chris Ferguson hit Winston Eubanks for an 80-yard score. Rinella also collected two TDs (rush, catch) and a fumble recovery, Ferguson (7-for-10, 125) passed for two scores and Syaire Madden (19-179) ran for the same number. For Gratz, Luke White carried 14 times for 74 yards and one score while Gillis (8-for-21, 76; 12-94 rushing) hit Javon Whitfield for the other six-pointer.