Good Counsel outlasts DeMatha in rain-soaked WCAC football championship
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND - The rematch between DeMatha and Good Counsel Tuesday evening didn’t live up to the hype. The end result, in reality, was all that mattered and it was sheer joy for the Falcons.
Good Counsel won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Capital Division title with a 7-0 victory over the Stags at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
University of Wisconsin commit Dilin Jones’ touchdown run early in the opening quarter was all Good Counsel (10-1 overall) needed to claim its first WCAC crown since 2019. The victory also secured the Falcons’ No. 1 ranking in the Maryland State Media Poll.
Here are some key highlights.
Rain, rain and more rain
After playing an epic overtime game last month, Round 2 between DeMatha and Good Counsel was overshadowed by rain that arrived in Maryland in the early morning hours Tuesday that turned heavy with wind gusts during the evening.
Despite heavy rain pelting the turf at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium, as it did throughout Tuesday's WCAC football championship game, the Our Lady of Good Counsel Falcons pose triumphantly with their 2023 WCAC championship trophy.
After combining for nine scores in the first meeting, the Falcons and Stags offenses didn’t get much traction on the Navy stadium turf which had several small puddles by game’s end.
“This is miserable honestly,” said Good Counsel coach Andy Stefanelli after his team received the championship trophy. “You have to keep things together and make a couple of more plays than them at the end of the day and not make big turnovers.”
“This is by far the worst conditions we’ve ever played in. I’m surprised we played the game,” said legendary DeMatha coach Bill McGregor, who returned to the helm in 2019 after a four-decade run (1982-2011). “Snaps, at times, were hard to hold on to, hard to throw the ball, hard to maintain anything.”
Good Counsel senior running back, who will play at Wisconsin next year, splashes through the DeMatha defense on his way to scoring the game's only touchdown in the Falcons' 7-0 win over DeMatha in the WCAC football championship game at Navy.
Photo by Troy Queen
C.J. Kubah-Taylor finds his way
This time last year, C.J.Kubah-Taylor was adjusting to Good Counsel as a new student and his reserve role on the football field. He came full circle on the field Tuesday evening.
The senior edge/linebacker was pivotal in Good Counsel completing its championship mission. Kubah-Taylor recovered a fumble on DeMatha’s first play from scrimmage, setting up Jones’ four-yard touchdown run - the game’s only score.
On the Stags’ final possession, the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder arrived at the same time as DeMatha receiver Vincent Ordenes got his hands on a fourth down pass inside Good Counsel’s 20.
Ordenes and the ball landed separately on the drenched Navy turf with nine seconds remaining.
“We were playing cover-3 prevent, sitting back, being patient,” said Kubah-Taylor inside a jubilant Falcon locker room. “I saw him (DeMatha quarterback Denzel Gardner) throw the ball and I just attacked.”
Kubah-Taylor said he was reading his keys and shifting down the line when senior Nigel Miller knocked out the ball from DeMatha running back Bud Coombs.
“The weather was a big impact, you couldn’t really throw the ball,” said Kubah-Taylor, who transferred from Urbana to Good Counsel. “Ball was slippery, cleats wet, puddles everywhere, you had to keep your feet under you. It was a technical game.”
He said getting stronger helped him progress into a starter this season.
“The coaching staff took me in and the players taught me and helped develop me,” said Kubah-Taylor, who’s leaning towards Marshall and or Temple for college. “You have to play physical and fast here.”
Almost again for DeMatha
The Stags (9-2) had chances Tuesday evening.
After recovering a fumble inside Good Counsel’s 30-yard line late in the first quarter, DeMatha got to the 9 before a shotgun snap went through Gardner’s hands for a 11-yard loss. The Stags lined up for a 37-yard field goal attempt, but a delay of game penalty pushed them out of range. DeMatha turned the ball over on downs.
Highlighted by Ordenes’ 44-yard catch and run, DeMatha had its best drive in the third quarter, going from its 15 to Good Counsel’s 8. On fourth down, Gardner’s throw, just inside the goal line, was knocked down by Falcon linebacker Aaron Chiles.
“We didn’t do what we had to do…we got to get the ball in the end zone,” said McGregor. “That’s on me.”
The Stags played three overtime games this season including a 35-28 loss to Good Counsel last month. Four of DeMatha’s six WCAC Capital games, including playoffs, were decided by seven points.
Finally for Good Counsel
A year after losing to St. John’s (D.C.) - a team it routed during the regular season - in last year’s semifinals, Good Counsel got redemption Tuesday. The Falcons didn’t lose a WCAC match this season.
“Last year losing (in semifinals) and losing the first game as well and just fighting through adversity has been amazing,” said Chiles, who’s committed to Florida. “It’s a special group of seniors. Just winning it for my guys, that’s what it’s all about.”
After taking a final knee Tuesday evening, Falcons quarterback Frankie Weaver and several of his teammates celebrated with belly flops on the water-logged Navy turf.
Good Counsel’s only loss this season came against Ohio’s St. Edward (28-7), who’s No. 13 in the latest SBLive national Top 25.
“It’s hard to put into words, but I’m so happy,” said Weaver, a four-year starter who’s committed to Monmouth and one of 15 Falcon seniors. “I hope these guys get it next year.”
WCAC honors
The WCAC recognized its top players and coaches in the Capital and Metro Divisions. Jones was named the top offensive player in the Capital while DeMatha linemen Emmitt Laws, a Virginia Tech commit, was the defensive player of the year.
Stefanelli was named the Capital Division's Coach of the Year.
First-team offensive players from DeMatha included Terez Davis (line), Coombs (running back) and Micah Veilleux (kicker) while Good Counsel was represented by Weaver (quarterback), Jones (running back) Kyle Altuner and Gavin Crawford (line) and Elijah Moore (wide receiver).
The Falcons had seven first-team defensive players in linemen Darien Mayo (Clemson) and DJ Briscoe, defensive backs Judah Jenkins (Indiana) and junior Faheem Delane, linebackers Chiles and Kubah-Taylor and punter Drew Wolven. Laws, Cody Williams (defensive back), Jermaine Minnis (linebacker) were selected for DeMatha along with Bishop McNamara's Ben Chandler (defensive back) and Dylan Newman (linebacker).
St. Mary's Ryken running back Kaden Smith was named Offensive Player of the Year for the Metro, and Gary Wynn received Coach of the Year honors.
The Knights, who won their fourth Metro title in five seasons. were represented on the first-team by Christian Levy (offensive line), Jake Olsen (wide receiver), Cameron Jones (defensive line), Jaden Pearson (defensive line), Noah Johnson (defensive line), Dominic Dorwart (defensive back) and linebacker Zack Pugh.
