West Football Takes Step Back in Loss to Irish

It’s now out of the Lions hands.

The Cherry Hill West football team entered Saturday night’s showdown with Camden Catholic with an opportunity to secure the first playoff berth in program history. The Lions left with a feeling of uncertainty and a lesson that the program still has many steps to take.

The Irish dominated the line of scrimmage all night, opening up massive lanes that running backs gladly sprinted through during a 42-16 win in a game that was moved back a night due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

Camden Catholic left no doubt who the better team was, racking up a 35-0 lead by halftime.

“They are a good team,” said West coach Brian Wright. “Our kids didn’t step off the bus ready to play. They understood the importance of this game and that is was one of the biggest games in school history. We had a great couple days of practice, but when it comes down to it we didn’t play good football.

"We didn’t play the way we have the last four weeks—this was Week 1 Cherry Hill West. You live and you learn. I’m not sure they were prepared for the physical nature they were stepping into.”

The loss leaves West needing to wait out the result of Friday’s Cape-Atlantic League contest with Hammonton and Millville. If Hammonton wins, it will claim the No. 8 seed in Group 4, but if the Blue Devils fall, it could allow the Lions to grab that elusive playoff spot, depending on how residual points play out.

The uncertainty leaves West entering a week of practice where the players and coaches won’t know if they are preparing for a playoff game or a consolation contest. Wright said the team would prepare the same either way, but thoughts of what could lie ahead will certainly be on everyone's mind.

“We prepare for Friday nights, whether it is on the schedule, or whether it is a playoff game. Obviously, having never been in the playoffs, it would be huge to get in, but we are still working for that. I don’t think it’s in the too far future where we will be in playoff talk year in and year out," Wright said. "We had control of it, we no longer have control so now we have to pay the price.”

One of the biggest bright spots for West was the second-half play off the offense. Although it came against some of Catholic’s reserve players, the Lions were able to put together a couple of scoring drives. Quarterback Joey Argentina connected with James Verzicco and Geronimo Santana for scores.  

The other thing the Lions left with was the knowledge that although the team has come a long way, Wright said there is still much work to be done.

“We are not quite there yet, as much as we like to believe in the success we have had the last couple of weeks. The kids need to see these things. They need to learn from this and take it forward with them and understand that this is what it takes. (Camden Catholic) is an established program that wins year in and year out.

"They know how to win. We are still getting there.”