November 15, 2009
Friars' playoff debut ends in loss
Friars RB Dave Coleman (right) led the Friars in rushing and receiving yesterday.
Click Here for more photos from St. Mary (Rutherford) at St. Anthony.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
JERSEY CITY – St. Anthony made great strides in their second season as a varsity program and first under head coach Sean Fallon, winning six games and reaching the playoffs for the first time.
Yesterday’s 20-6 loss to St. Mary of Rutherford in the NJSIAA Non-Public, Group I semifinals was a reminder of where the Friars want to be.
“This hurt, but you look across the field at that team and we got overwhelmed,” Fallon said. “That was a really good team and physically I just don’t think we’re ready to compete at that level yet. That was a very good team. They’re well coached, they have a very tough running back, the offensive line was good and they were just a little bit too much for us today.”
The Gaels’ advantage at the offensive line was apparent from the start and their performance allowed running back Quadree Hubbard to rush for 236 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries.
The 6-foot-1, 205 pound sophomore used his size and speed to set the tone right from the start. He rumbled for 32 yards on just his second carry of the game to set up his first touchdown. Hubbard would add two more scores in the second half to preserve the victory.
No. 2 seeded St. Anthony (6-3) had their chances to get back in the game, but each time the third-seeded Gaels would deny them. St. Mary (6-3) forced three Friar turnovers, two of them coming in the red zone.
Looking to tie the game before the end of the first half, St. Anthony QB Slyvester Wright had a pass deflect off his intended target and land in the hands of Gaels corner Andrew Spanarkel at the 8-yard line. Spanarkel, the son of former NBA player and Hudson Catholic standout Jim Spanarkel would add a second interception in the third quarter.
Trailing 14-0, the Friars would not go down quietly, driving the ball all the way down to the St. Mary 3-yard line. Poised to make it a one-score game, disaster struck again for St. Anthony when the Gaels’ Thomas McPherson recovered a fumble at the 1-yard line with 6:33 left in the game.
St. Mary proceeded to put the game on ice with a 12-play, 99-yard drive that chewed up more than five minutes on the clock. Hubbard ran the ball seven times for 77 yards on that drive, capping it off with a 7-yard touchdown.
St. Anthony would avoid the shutout when Wright connected with Josh Ford for a 22-yard scoring strike on what would prove to be the season’s final play.
“We had a good year,” Fallon said. “We beat a couple of team that we shouldn’t have. We’re going in the right direction and I’m happy with this year.”
Wright completed 8-of-17 passes for 77 yards, he also ran five times for 22 yards. Dave Coleman led the Friars in rushing (10 carries, 44 yards) and receiving (three receptions, 32 yards) in defeat.
Wright, Coleman along with RB/LB Jidamon Sparkman and OG/DE Darius Roper are among the key returners for a St. Anthony squad that will have returning starters in 16 out of 22 positions. For many on the roster, this was their first year of football.
That added experience along with a tougher schedule Fallon believes should help in their ability to take the next step.
“The next step is to get the kids we had out there playing for the first time to build on this experience,” Fallon said. “When you have inexperience like this it hurts, but from now on these kids have something to grow on.”
Slyvester Wright (left) eludes the St. Mary pass rush.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Mary (Ruth) 6-3) | 6 |
0 |
8 |
6 |
20 |
| St. Anthony (6-3) | 0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
| SM: Quadree Hubbard, 1 run (kick failed) | |||||
| SM: Hubbard, 5 run (Mike Santos run) | |||||
| SM: Hubbard, 7 run (kick failed) | |||||
| SA: Josh Ford, 22 pass from Slyvester Wright | |||||