The game was packed with all the excitement expected of an NJSIAA Non-Public Group III playoff football game, but the outcome proved unfortunate for local favorites Bishop Ahr as the Trojans came up short in a 34-27 loss to Camden Catholic.
The two teams traded touchdowns and racked up over 700 combined yards of total offense, and Camden Catholic was still standing as time ran out on Bishop Ahr’s final attempt to tie the score in the fourth quarter. The loss dropped the Trojans to 7-2 on the season. The team will wrap up its season against Cardinal McCarrick on Thanksgiving Eve.
“It was disappointing to be on the losing end, but it was a great game,” Bishop Ahr head coach Ron Hilliard said. “I am extremely proud of our kids. We just ran into a very good team.”
Trojan quarterback Robbie Meade gave an all-star performance with 178 yards on the ground and 77 through the air. Meade scored all four of the team’s touchdowns. He put the team on the scoreboard first with a 51-yard run. He scored a pair of touchdowns on runs from a yard out to keep the Trojans in the game.
“I thought Robbie had another solid game for us,” Hilliard said. “We had a lot of success running behind linemen Jake Delorenzo and Matt Zullo. They made holes all night and we took advantage.”
Unfortunately, the Camden Catholic offense had little problem moving the ball as well. The Fighting Irish were unstoppable in the second half and scored the game winner on a 14-yard pass play from quarterback Joe Brennan into the hands of receiver Jerry Waters. Brennan also threw a touchdown pass of 87 yards in the game.
“It’s been a great year for us,” Hilliard said. “You know, there is nothing but good teams in the playoffs, and anybody is capable of beating anybody. I have nothing but good things to say about our team, and hopefully we can end the season with another win on Thanksgiving.”
The Trojans will be heavily favored to beat Cardinal McCarrick to finish the season 8-2. McCarrick has struggled all season, and this year’s Thanksgiving matchup is likely to be the last between the two schools.
“They’ve had a tough year,” Hilliard said. “I think they play something like 18 kids. That makes things tough. This is probably the last year for the Thanksgiving Day rivalry.”
In addition to earning a spot in this year’s Non-Public Group III playoffs, Bishop Ahr swept through its division schedule, going unbeaten and winning the Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division.
“We went undefeated in Middlesex County, which is no small feat with the teams we play,” Hilliard said. “We’ll lose a bunch of players, 14 seniors in all, but we’ll reload and be ready to make another run next year.”