Haley shines as Bonner pulls out the vistory
Published: Saturday, October 1, 2011
By HARRY CHAYKUN
Special to the Daily Times
GLENOLDEN - James Haley isn't one of those quarterbacks who heads to the sideline when the defensive unit comes on the field.
"I'm not sure I want to talk about offense tonight," Haley said. "Especially after I threw that pick.
"Last year, I started on defense. The thing with me is that defense is something totally different. As soon as that happened, I made up my mind I was going to get a pick."
Haley's interception was the only one Monsignor Bonner had against Interboro at South Avenue Athletic Complex Friday night. The junior also made a pair of tackles for losses and handed the ball off 28 times to senior Abraham Jaward, who pounded out some big gains on the ground as the Friars (3-2) snapped the Bucs' three-game winning streak, 28-21.
Jaward picked up 217 yards rushing and scored Bonner's first three touchdowns. He ran 18 and 2 yards for the first two TDs and grabbed a pass from Haley and completed a 7-yard scoring play 46 seconds before halftime.
Jaward, who played youth football for the Collingdale Bulldogs and CYO ball for St. Laurence School, has been getting plenty of work while Ismir Gibson, who ran all over Upper Darby in the opening week win, recovers from leg woes.
"I told him I was going to do this for him tonight," Jaward said. "He worked hard, but then he got hurt.
"My offensive line was terrific. They told me they had my back today. I knew I just had to keep plugging."
After Jaward's third touchdown, Interboro had a flanker reverse pass from Shawn Frampton to Ryan Tambon that went for 52 yards. Tambon took the ball to the end zone, but what would have been a 70-yard scoring play was cut short by a block in the back 10 yards behind the runner.
A Bonner penalty put the Bucs at the Friars' 15, and on the next snap Josh Breen teamed with Rashon Fentress on a scoring pass five seconds before the halftime break.
Jaward dashed 55 yards on Bonner's first carry of the second half, and six plays later Haley was in the end zone. Later in the third quarter, Haley threw an interception and made one within 37 seconds.
"We knew after last week (a loss to La Salle) that we had to get back to winning," Haley said. "Now we have another big game to get ready for next week (against Malvern Prep)."
Austin Quiah had a pair of scoring runs for Interboro in the fourth quarter, the first following a solid downfield block by guard Sean Philips.
Bonner head coach Tom Oropeza wasn't happy with the 140 penalty yards marched off against his team, but he was pleased to get a win.
"We knew we would have to play hard," he said. "Interboro has a great program, and it's tough to win on this field. We responded well to all that was going on."
Interboro coach Steve Lennox has to get his Bucs back on track for their league opener with Chichester Friday night.
"I was proud of the way we fought back," Lennox said. "We've got to get healthy. I'm sure we'll be fine."
