Carey has played key role in Judge's 2-0 start

by Rick O'Brien

Published Sept. 5, 2016, 12:24 a.m. ET

Dom Carey has already enjoyed more football success this season with Father Judge than he did playing for St. Matthew in eighth grade.

"We lost every single game," the senior two-way tackle said. "It was rough. But I was proud of the way that team battled and never gave up."

With Carey serving as a two-way force, the Crusaders are off to a 2-0 beginning. They overcame a rash of offside penalties while handing Germantown Academy a 35-14 defeat in Saturday night's nonleague tilt at Northeast.

"Those mental mistakes can't happen," Carey said. "We talked about it afterward. We need to clean things up in practice."

Carey is a right tackle on offense. The 6-foot-2, 290-pounder is joined up front by left tackle Tom Ferry, left guard Savion Perez, right guard Earl Volz, and center Mike Marchei. Dan Hasher and Nick Murray are also in the mix.

In addition to Carey, Perez and Volz are returning starters. "We have great chemistry," Carey said. "I've never experienced anything like it."

Judge assistant Mark Zataveski, who was a stalwart lineman at Bishop McDevitt (class of 1991) and went on to play at Notre Dame, tutors the offensive linemen.

"He's a really good coach," Carey said. "He know his stuff and he knows how to explain it."

Against GA, Rob King completed 11 of 16 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns. The Temple recruit ran 16 times for 92 yards and a score.

"He's such a great playmaker," Carey said. "With his ability to pass or run, he keeps defenses guessing."

King's 4-yard toss over the middle to Justin Gies gave Judge a 14-0 advantage at intermission. His 66-yard connection with Steve Arrington made it 28-7 midway through the third quarter.

King spread the ball among Gies (four catches for 35 yards), Arrington (three for 81), and Jeremy Smith (four for 32). Smith, a senior, transferred to Judge after playing for Archbishop Ryan.

In replacing swift halfback Yeedee Thaenrat, now at Tennessee Tech, junior Tim Weldon (nine carries for 71 yards) and sophomore Katob Joseph (11 for 42) showed promise.

"He has a high upside," Judge boss Mike McKay said of Joseph. "He did well on the freshman team last year. He has some speed, and we need that speed."

Joseph returned a second-half kickoff for an 87-yard TD. Weldon's 15-yard, fourth-quarter burst capped the scoring.

The Crusaders' defensive line is spearheaded by ends Carey and Sean Coyle and tackles Perez and Volz. Coyle was a backup linebacker last season.

Marchei, Mark Maguire, and Mark Kellam make up the linebacking corp. Gies, Arrington, and Smith are joined in the secondary by Ryan Jakeman and Alex Schaeffler. Schaeffler's second-quarter pick set up King's 1-yard TD dive.

In continuing to prepare for its Catholic League Red Division opener against Northeast Philly neighbor Ryan on Sept. 17, Judge visits Salesianum (Del.) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Carey, of Oxford Circle, was a second-team all-Catholic selection on defense last year. The erstwhile lacrosse player has drawn interest from Army, Delaware, Marist, and Monmouth.

Notes. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy's Tyson Hugee, a senior receiver and cornerback, has committed to play at Columbia. He is expected to play defensive back for the Lions. SCH coach Rick Knox played under Columbia second-year boss Al Bagnoli at Penn. … La Salle (1-1) will take on Malvern Prep (0-1) in a nonleague contest at 8 p.m. Friday at Franklin Field. … Neshaminy lineman Eddie Parry registered 11 tackles, including a fourth-quarter sack, in Friday's 31-24 nonleague win over Pennridge. Teammate Mike Garlick, an outside linebacker, blocked a 23-yard, second-quarter field-goal attempt. Pennridge lineman Stephen Dadio and safety Joe Devine made fumble recoveries. Through two games, Rams QB Jagger Hartshorn has carried 34 times for 405 yards (an average of 11.9 yards per carry) and six scores. … Central Bucks East end Ryan Plack notched six tackles, including four solos, in Saturday's 24-7 defeat of Hatboro-Horsham. Patriots tackle Mike Gresko recovered a second-quarter fumble. H-H linebacker Ben Ejimonyeugwo recorded eight tackles, with four solos. Hatters lineman Chris Edmondson (four solos) and linebackers Robert Fitzgerald (six) and Josh Smith (four) were next in line with seven stops apiece. Fitzgerald added a first-quarter fumble recovery. … Roman Catholic (1-1) is averaging 268 yards rushing per game. … Justin Horn has shined in replacing Ryan Stover, now at Towson, as Upper Dublin's QB. The senior converted 13 of 19 throws for 322 yards and two TDs in Friday's 41-0 nonleague blanking of Harry S Truman. Horn is an infielder in baseball and will play that sport at West Chester.