The scene was set for O'Hara to challenge Prep's 34-game winning streak, but first they had to take care of the Romans who were out for revenge for the regular-season 28-13 setback.
That game really was closer than the score indicated because it was tied 7-7 after three quarters. It wasn't until the fourth quarter that the home team Lions, with the help of Anthony Heygood, took control.
Saturday night at the Plymouth-Whitemarsh Field, O'Hara made sure there was no doubt about the outcome while giving the Prep something serious to think about.
The Lions won the game they needed to challenge for the Red Division championship by defeating Roman Catholic, 35-0.
Now, O'Hara and St. Joe's will meet again. This time the collision will occur at the end of the Blue Route 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 22) at the same Plymouth-Whitemarsh Field.
The Catholic League Red Division crown will be on the line.
O'Hara quarterback Matt Campbell is ready. After completing three-of-eight passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns in the rout of Roman, he couldn't help looking ahead with enthusiasm.
"It feels great to win this game,'' he said. "Now I really can't wait to play the Prep again. It's what we've been waiting for all year. We knew coming in that we were going to win this game. But we feel that way before every game. It's all about confidence. We're ready for next week."
After a scoreless first quarter, when both QBs overthrew open receivers, O'Hara fullback Matt Gough (nine carries for 126 yards and two TDs) powered into the end zone from eight yards out after a 40-yard drive that featured Heygood on six of seven carries.
Steve Cook's 36-yard punt return had given the Lions great field position to break the deadlock.
A three-and-out series for Roman led to the next score: a 57-yard bomb to WR Sean Barksdale. It was Barksdale only catch of the night, but he made the most of it by streaking down the middle of the field for the score.
The Lions added a third score right before the half on a three-yard draw play to Heygood (15 carries for 115 yards, one TD) to make it 21-0 just before the break.
After their second touchdown, it looked like the Lions had pinned the Romans in its end when Mike Gowen downed a Shawn Anderson punt at the 13. Cook made a big play on first down when he tackled WR Kahlil Ferguson, who had gotten loose for a 52-yard reception all the way to the O'Hara 35.
A few plays later, the O'Hara defense came up big again by stopping Roman, which had four shots to cut the score in half from its 14.
Taking over on downs, it looked like O'Hara would take the 14-0 lead into the locker room by having Campbell kneel down with only 49 ticks left on the clock.
But after Heygood peeled off a 21-yard run on the first play, the Lion coaches started calling time-outs. After Heygood got the third touchdown with 13 seconds left, they could smell victory. You could tell by the Roman players' body language that they were defeated before the O'Hara band took the field to entertain the chilled crowd.
Gough's 40-yard touchdown came early in the third quarter. An interception by safety Mike Marotta set up a 26-yard TD strike to junior WR Thomas Creighton. That wrapped up the scoring and set the stage for a showdown with the two-time Red Division champ St. Joseph's.
Sometimes when you have an offense that has scored 285 points and includes Division I prospect (Heygood), fans don't appreciate the defense. Since giving up 28 points in a loss to the Prep in mid-October, O'Hara has only given up 27 in its last three games.
The Lions picked the right time to post their first shutout of the season. Dominating, especially in the second half, they locked up the Roman receivers and threw away the keys.
Limiting the Cahilites to 108 receiving yards, the "D" was relentless. Allowing only 138 yards of total offense, they sacked Roman QB Andre Sloan-El seven times and chased him all over the field.
Sloan-El only completed 10-of-28 passes for 108 yards thanks to the tremendous O'Hara pressure. Joining the sack attack were DT John Paul Conneen, LB Paul Signora, DL Bill Kerr, LBs Brahlim Washington, Keith Hillard, DE Mike Kimpel and DL Paul Titchnell.
The Roman QB did break away for a 37-yard scramble early in the third quarter right after the Lions had taken a 28-0 lead. Defensive back Bob Hogan made a TD-saving tackle at the 37. Two plays later, LB Paul Signora intercepted and made like Heygood dashing down the field with the pigskin.
"I'm not like him. I'm a lot slower," laughed Signora. "I was just trying to make a play and running for my life."
On why the defense had made great strides in the last few weeks. Signora said, "Great coaching. Our coaches do a great job. They had everything laid out this week for Roman, like how many times they run each play.
"They (the coaches) do that for every game. The coaching is just outstanding. On our 'D' line everyone has stepped up. Even the young guys. The scout team does a good job during practice. Beating this team (Roman) again feels great.
"That's was our first shutout this season. And I really can't believe we played the way we did. I'm still up in the air about it. Now I think we're ready for next weekend. Those guys (St. Joe Prep) are good because they don't make mistakes. We can't make any mistakes. either. If we play good like we did tonight we'll beat them."
If the Lions are able to knock off USA Today's #3 ranked team in the nation, they will need to rely on that same type of defense to stop the Hawklets, who are on a roll again this year, having scored 370 points.
It will be the job of defensive coordinator Leo Broadhurst to solve the puzzle that is the Prep for O'Hara to have a chance at the Red championship.
Broardhurst thinks the Lions are up to the task. "The kids have been getting better every week,'' he said. "They just came together as a team. The defensive line, the linebackers, everybody has made big plays in the last few weeks. Nobody was a hero. It was a team effort all the way
"I've been coaching the defense for 10 years, and this defense has as much heart as any I've coached. They're good. They're solid and they play as a team. It could be one of the best defenses we've ever had. And we've had some good ones.
"Everybody says Paul (Signora) is too short. He can't do this. But he's only all over the field knocking the hell out of people. The other linebacker (Rob) Fritsch...he's not big enough, but he's just making plays. (Bob) Hogan back there isn't the biggest safety, but he's one of the best safeties in the area. They're the reason this defense is working."
That defense will face its most formidable test Saturday. Will history repeat itself? In 2000, O'Hara beat The Prep, 35-10, for the title when current Virginia Tech RB Kevin Jones took it to the Hawklets for four touchdowns.
St. Joe's had entered the game with a 12-0 mark, having beaten O'Hara during the regular season. Could Division I recruit Anthony Heygood do the same and can the defense keep the Lions in the game?
Broadhurst thinks they have a chance. "This week we just have to play as well as we can and not make mistakes,'' he said. "They're (The Prep) a great football team, and if you make a mistake they make big plays. Last game, it's 6-3 at halftime and then we give up a TD and that was it. We have to play smart. You just can't make mistakes against them. But I think we can do it."
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