Raiders vs Eagles

Where: Washington High School
When: 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 22
Last Year: Archbishop Ryan, 28-6
Ryan leads series, 23-8-1

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

It may be cliched to say that prior records "fly out the window" whenever two high school football teams clash in a big rivalry game. But in the case of the annual Thanksgiving showdown between Archbishop Ryan and George Washington High, it’s really true.
Washington has compiled a flashy 79-18 record and three Public League titles in the last seven-plus seasons, while Ryan has managed just a 31-57 mark in the same span.
Yet the Eagles hold only a 4-3 head-to-head edge in that time, while the Raiders have won the last two meetings to push their all-time Turkey Bowl record to 23-8-1.
The teams began their annual series in 1975.
The current season has brought little change to either program, as head coach Ron Cohen’s Eagles stood at 10-1 entering last weekend’s Public League championship game and Glen Galeone’s Raiders are 3-7 overall, having finished one position out of a Catholic League Red Division postseason berth.
"It’s an important game," Cohen said. "Every game on the schedule is an important game, but this is an exciting game. The alumni come back and it’s our opportunity to show (them) what we’ve done all year."
Galeone, on the other hand, thinks the game is especially meaningful for players whose careers are nearing an end.
"The primary motivation is it’s the last game for the seniors," the Ryan coach said. "They want to end their careers on a positive note."
Both coaches know the Thanksgiving drill as well as anybody. Cohen, in his 22nd season, is the longest-serving local high school coach, while Galeone, in his 18th season, has the area’s second-longest tenure.
Cohen had a city-record total of 206 career wins before last weekend, while Galeone had 122.
The coaches say that various factors have contributed to the give-and-take of the series.
Ryan won last year’s Thanksgiving contest, 28-6, and the 2005 meeting, 24-0. Those back-to-back wins followed three straight Washington triumphs.
"It’s very competitive, which is good," Cohen said.
At one time, however, the series was anything but competitive. In the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, Ryan was a Catholic League powerhouse. The Raiders won five league titles in a six-year span, including four under Galeone from 1990 to 1993.
Washington was strong in the Public League, too, with Cohen winning the first of his eight league crowns in 1989, but wins were few against Raiders.
Times have changed. Ryan is no longer one of the front-runners of the Catholic League. Galeone says that the Raiders have been hurt by a decline in squad depth.
Meanwhile, Washington keeps chugging along as one of the top few teams in the Pub.
"It’s not (an automatic win) anymore for either team. Even in the 2004 season when we had (running back) Jerry Butler and all of those guys, it was close," Cohen recalled.
That year, Washington beat Ryan, 21-12, won the Public League and advanced to the PIAA state playoff quarterfinals. The Eagles finished 12-1. Ryan finished 4-8 that year.
Washington has no star running back this time around, but the Eagles plan to test Ryan with a talented corps of ball-carriers.
Junior James Johnson leads the team with more than 550 yards rushing, including 207 yards in the Eagles’ Public League semifinal win against Overbrook. Johnson had run for more than 50 yards in a game just twice before.
"He played in another gear (against Overbrook)," Cohen said. "He picked it up. Also, he carried the ball twenty-one times in the game, which is rare for us."
Most games, the coach explained, several players share the load, with five to 10 carries each. Another junior, Omar Hunter, was the most productive back in the early season with 250 yards in this first five games, but he broke his ankle.
Cohen hopes he’ll return in time for Thanksgiving.
Sophomore Kesson Christopher has developed as another backfield threat, with about 450 yards on the season.
The emergence of quarterback Clinton Granger has helped take some pressure off of the runners. Granger has posted close to 900 yards and nine touchdowns on the season. His go-to receivers are senior tight ends Andrew Goodman and Damien Wilmer, who have teamed for about 30 catches and 600 yards.
According to Cohen, however, the team’s success all starts up front with a resilient offensive line. Star sophomore Sharif Floyd, a 280-pound tackle, went down with a knee injury against Overbrook, but his unit has been dealing with setbacks like that all season.
"Because of injuries, it’s been a real mish-mash, but the offensive line has done a real good job for us," the coach said.
Ryan has been dealing with its own spate of injuries that held back a potential playoff team, according to Galeone.
"We’re not as bad as our record," the coach said.
The Raiders beat Pennsbury and Archbishop Wood early on, before a week-four battle against Father Judge took its toll. Ryan lost, 24-0.
"We had five guys go out in that game," Galeone said. "We don’t have the depth we’ve had in the past, so we’re putting sophomores in there now. Our line, they’ve been playing two ways, so that’s tough."
The coach isn’t certain if senior quarterback Russ Clawter will be ready to go against Washington. After passing for nearly 1,000 yards and six touchdowns, he missed the Raiders’ last two games because of injury. Sophomore passer Kyle Arpino totaled over 300 yards and five scores against North Catholic and Monsignor Bonner.
Nick Ferdinand has been the big-play threat, with 38 catches for more than 500 yards.
With a relatively young team, Galeone hopes the experience gained by the sophomores and juniors late this season will help the Raiders move up the standings next season. A win over Washington would be a big boost toward that objective.
"You always want to give the young guys something to build on," Galeone said. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031or bkenny@phillynews.com