Pen Argyl opponent West Catholic includes some rushing talent and a stout defense

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

I'll be making the trek to South Philly tomorrow to present a live blog from the PIAA state quarterfinal football game between Pen Argyl and West Philadelphia Catholic High School.

Kickoff is noon and it looks like it will be good weather.

West Catholic's school building is a short bus and subway ride from the neighborhood where I was raised. Three sisters and some very good friends are graduates of West.

This scouting report offered below comes from a West Catholic enthusiast and Steaming Cup operative.

This is a different West team. Much more solid on defense than offense. Won’t post 50 easy like they used to.

Offense – West is run dominant; pass challenged. Stud RB is David Williams #33. Big AND fast. Offers from ND, Rutgers, Temple, etc. Was a North Catholic kid who came to West after North closed. Runs a lot between the tackles. Gets into secondary and it is trouble. Used sometime outside. QB is Jaleel Reed. Fast but not much of a passer. Maybe 5-8 passes per game. He is Drake-light in that he will run outside and can blow by people (current Penn Stater Curtis Drake is a West grad). Just not as polished as Drake was. Sprained his ankle against Bok. Had to leave game. Came back in with a few minutes left to lead winning drive. Looked like it was bothering him when I watched them play Springfield week later. But bye week should have healed him up. One of the FBs is Tristan Freeman. Mostly blocker. Also very good OLB.

Defense – T.J. Waters and Freeman are very good LBs. Both getting D-1 (looks) from Army and Navy. Kevin Malone is very good safety. Fast but not crazy big defense. Have a few big guys but play very tough in one game I saw them. Shutout Springfield – maybe 150 yards total offense. (They scored on a Vince Young-esque pick six in 28-7 game). Only gave up 110 yards to Bok.

Special teams - like always, they have no kicking game. Literally. Tried one punt in Springfield and it was blocked. Actually went for a 4th and 15 on their own 35 or so. Extra points are a circus.

I would expect a game with the winner in the low 20s

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