Week 8 : O'Hara 48 Lincoln Prep 12

O'Hara opened district play with a 48-12 victory over Lincoln Prep. The game featured several big plays in the passing game as T. J. White threw for 287 yards and 4 touchdowns. Two more school passing records fell - most yards in a season (1,441 yards)and most passing touchdowns in a game. O'Hara also had its best game of the season defending the pass. Joe Melchior and Aaron Mitchell each had two interceptions, and Mitchell returned one for a touchdown.
O'Hara opened the scoring in the first quarter with an 85 yard, 3 play drive. James Tillman took a swing pass and raced 78 yards up the sideline, getting caught just inside the 10 yard line. Chuck Preston finished the drive with an 8 yard touchdown run. Penalties caused the offense to stall the next couple drives, and a good punt return by Lincoln Prep led to a Johnny Hall 22 yard touchdown run that cut the lead to 7-6. O'Hara blocked Lincoln's extra point atempt.
The Celtics have shown the ability to respond right away when their opponents score this season, and they did it again against Lincoln. On the first offensive play after Lincon scored, Danny Hernandez caught a short hitch pass, and took it 65 yards for a score, outrunning three Lincoln defenders. Hernandez's catch and run ignited the offense, and it quickly scored on 5 consecutive possessions, blowing the game wide open.
Raphael Spencer bolted up the middle 28 yards for a touchdown on the 2nd play of the next drive. Joe Pepple caught a play action pass and sprinted to the end zone for a 65 yard touchdown on the 3rd play of the next drive. Aaron Mitchell had a pick-six interecption on the first play of Lincoln's next drive, giving the Celtics a 35-6 halftime lead.
In the second half the Celtics wasted no time getting to the running clock, as Hernandez took another hitch and turned it into a touchdown, again outrunning the Lincoln secondary for a 48 yard score. Joe Pepple scored his 2nd touchdown of the night on a tipped ball, hauling in a 14 yard pass in the endzone. O'Hara's backups then entered the game, and played the rest of night.
O'Hara's victory improves our record to 6-2 overall, and 1-0 in district play. The Celtics' next opponent is Pembroke Hill, who is also 6-2 and 1-0 in district after defeating St. Pius X 27-7. The game will be played at O'Hara, and will be Senior Night for our 7 Seniors.