Hero Bowl To Honor Heroes
By Joseph Santoliquito
Philadelphia, PA (CBS) — Brian McDermott, a former Harriton football player, was struck by a Delaware State Trooper Friday night and lies in stable condition. The irony is that McDermott's maternal grandfather was a police officer who was killed in the line of duty.
What's more is that his family benefitted greatly from a special game that will be played Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Widener University's Quick Stadium—the 37th annual Hero Bowl, which benefits the families of fallen police officers, fight fighters and EMT workers.
The West All-Stars are comprised of seniors from the Central League, along with Episcopal Academy and Haverford School, and the East All-Stars have seniors from the Del-Val League, Cardinal O'Hara, Monsignor Bonner, Archbishop Carroll and Delco Christian.
"It's been a great experience; we have a coaching staff of 20 guys and are having a lot of fun with it," West coach Matt Barr said. "But the kids get what this game is about. I visited Brian in the hospital and his mother told me how much the Hero Bowl scholarship helped her and her family, after they lost their dad. It's a game that touches a lot of people in many different ways.
"The scholarship helped Brian's family. The kids get it—we make it really clear from the get-go what the game is about. Everyone is going to play to win the game, but it's not your typical all-star game. They're okay looking at something much bigger than themselves."
Hero Bowl West Roster
Num. / Name / Position / Ht. / Wt./ School
1 Morgan Chris WR 6'1 185 Haverford School
2 Sydnor Marcus DB 5'10 170 Haverford
3 Korn Eric LB 5'7 165 Harriton
4 Wilson J'Quill DE 6'2 215 Upper Darby
5 Ibargen Teddy LB 6'1 200 Espiscopal
5 Corkery Ryan DB 6'2 185 Garnet Valley
6 Morgan Aaron K 6'0 170 Haverford School
7 Moriarty Pat QB 6'2 180 Harriton
8 Brown Kenny DB 6'1 195 Harriton
9 Strouss Adam QB 6'3 200 Episcopal
10 Durkin Eddie QB 6'0 180 Haverford
12 Crowley Michael WR 5'9 160 Ridley
14 Trusty Kevin WR 6'0 175 Penncrest
15 Washington Darren RB 6'7 165 Ridley
16 Vegso Joseph DB 6'2 185 Marple Newtown
17 Bennett Jordyn Slot 5'11 160 Garnet Valley
20 Rushton Matt DB 5'11 185 Episcopal
21 Smyth Dan DB 6'0 185 Springfield
21 Van Horn Ryan LB 6'1 220 Garnet Valley
22 Smoluk Michael DB 5'11 165 Ridley
24 Mathis Hannibal DB 6'0 185 Haverford School
25 Valentine Juwan Slot 5'8 165 Harriton
26 Pendleton Earnest Slot 5'11 180 Lower Merion
29 Howie Tevon RB 6'1 180 Strath Haven
30 Murphy Rob RB 5'8 170 Springfield
32 Dougherty Michael LB 5'11 205 Springfield
33 McLaughlin Matt LB 6'3 210 Episcopal
40 Coia Rich DL 5'8 185 Ridley
41 Harris Tyler LB 5'10 190 Ridley
44 Dogherty Shane LB 6'0 200 Ridley
45 Quin PJ DL 6'3 245 Penncrest
50 Sinex Matt OL 6'2 250 Ridley
51 Donoghue Matt OL 6'4 290 Garnet Valley
54 Cosgrove Dan OL 5'11 225 Penncrest
55 King John LB 5'10 210 Radnor
56 Elf Steve LB 5'11 215 Garnet Valley
57 Burgese Donte OL 6'1 225 Garnet Valley
58 Gade Mike OL 6'4 240 Springfield
58 Kirlin Pete DL 6'3 240 Haverford
60 Power Corey DL 6'3 240 Marple Newtown
62 Marra Vincent OL 6'1 215 Springfield
65 Plousis Steve OL 6'2 220 Ridley
66 Cavanaugh Jeremy DL 6'0 215 Springfield
71 Wright Avery OL 6'3 310 Upper Darby
72 Staples Michael DL 6'3 250 Radnor
75 Graham Edward OL 6'0 235 Marple Newtown
82 Hamilton Craig TE 6'6 215 Marple Newtown
88 Durham Cameron P/Athl 5'9 180 Springfield
89 Sherry Kevin TE 6'5 210 Strath Haven
Head Coach: Matt Barr (Harriton)
Assistants: Dennis Decker (Ridley), Mike Murphy (Haverford School), Joe Gallagher (Haverford), John Anderson (Ridley), Todd Fairlie (Episcopal), Mike Amalfitano (Haverford), Tom Ryan (Radnor), Tom Kline (Springfield), Scott Williams (Harriton), Mike Willard (Harriton), Kevin DiPoalo (Springfield), Dan Milewski (Haverford).
Hero Bowl East Roster
1 Broach Corey WR 6'1 165 Penn Wood
2 Nicholson Darrell RB 5'8 185 Chester
3 Street Tyler QB 6'0 175 Academy Park
4 Croyle Shawn P 5'10" 170 Glen Mills
5 Ringgold Richard DB 5'2 121 Penn Wood
6 Rentos Nick QB 5'9 165 Interboro
7 Gonwoe Goanmon LB 5'9 172 Penn Wood
8 Quiah Austin DB 5'8 150 Interboro
10 Chambers Breyon WR 5'8 145 Chester
12 McCloskey Alexander LB 6'0 175 Interboro
13 Hunter Leon WR 6'1 190 Sun Valley
14 Allen Warren RB 6'0 170 Interboro
15 Hargrove Earl WR 6'2 185 Academy Park
16 Bello Sal QB 6'1" 180 Archbishop Carroll
17 Byrd Vlenale WR 6'2 165 Chichester
20 Clayton Juwan DB 5'5 160 Chester
21 Cheatham Alex DB 5'9" 170 Glen Mills
22 Duncan Tahjee LB 5'8 155 Chester
23 Favino Caleb RB 5'8 162 Delco Christian School
24 Morrison-DeVito Lewis LB 5'11 200 Academy Park
25 Thompson Khalil DB 5'8" 145 Chester
26 Dunbar Tarron WR 5"11" 195 Cardinal O'Hara
28 Whitaker Hakim DB 5'6 145 Academy Park
30 Fentress Rashon TE 6'3 215 Interboro
32 DeMaio Joseph DB 5'11" 185 Cardinal O'Hara
33 Griffin Dan RB 5'10" 170 Sun Valley
35 Simmons Christian DB 6'5 180 Interboro
36 Dickerson Dan WR 6'0 175 Interboro
40 Moriconi Nicholas LB 5'11" 190 Cardinal O'Hara
41 Harvey Evan LB 6'0" 200 Archbishop John Carroll
44 Cleveland Deion LB 6'1" 225 Glen Mills
45 Nyemah Corbyn TE 6'1 225 Chichester
50 Hurtado Jon OL 5'10 165 Interboro
51 Burke Roger DL 5'9 200 Chichester
54 Murtagh Dan OL 5'9 195 Chichester
55 France Ryan OL / C 6'0" 215 Sun Valley
56 Rideout Donte DL 6'2 215 Academy Park
58 Dill Diquan DL 6'0 195 Chester
60 Fulton Vaughn DL 5'10" 265 Sun Valley
64 Dinnella Tyler OL 5'11" 210 Cardinal O'Hara
65 Seng Derrick OL / C 5'10" 225 Sun Valley
70 McCloud Khari DL 6'1 240 Academy Park
71 Christaldi Mike K / P 6'0 205 Interboro
72 Timbers James OL 5'9" 250 Glen Mills
72 Warren Michael DL 5'11 210 Academy Park
74 Cervella Carmen OL 6'1" 285 Cardinal O'Hara
75 Young Devin DL 6'5" 285 Monsignor Bonner
Head Coach: Troy Brooks (Penn Wood)
Assistant coaches: Brandon Borst (Glen Mills), Paul Dixon (Glen Mills), Dahnte Crawley (Penn Wood), Dan Madonna (Penn Wood), Joe Powel (Arch. Carroll), Jason Vosheski (Academy Park), Ryan Smith (Chichester), Sal Oropollo (Academy Park), Vic Buono (Interboro), Vincent Harrington (Penn Wood), Mike Ewing (Academy Park).
Joseph Santoliquito is a contributing sports blogger for CBS Philly.
