St. John’s beats Malden Catholic, snaps losing streak

MALDEN – After losing its last four in a row, dropping a conference game in the process to Catholic Memorial, St. John’s Prep needed to make a statement on Friday night against Malden Catholic.Consider the 34-6 drubbing that the Prep pinned on the hosting Lancers that statement on Friday night at Brother Gilbert Memorial Stadium in Malden.After their offense stalled running six plays on their first possession, the next ten plays resulted in 21 points for the Prep. Starring in the second quarter for St. John’s was quarterback Greg Donohue and receiver Brendon Felder. Donahue completed three of four passes, including a 94-yard strike to Felder.After a Donohue to Felder 43 yard pass set up George Sessoms 27-yard touchdown, Donohue found Felder on a 15 yard crossing pattern in the open field.Felder’s speed did the rest as he rushed past every player on the field and reached the end zone 25 yards ahead of any chasing defenders.”Once we settled down and got into some rhythm we did well,” said St. John’s coach Jim O’Leary.”We let the weapons loose and they (Malden Catholic) had a hard time.”After the Eagle defense forced a three-and-out on the Lancers, the Prep took a more conventional route to the endzone with a six play drive highlighted by a beautiful Donohue to Andrew McHugh screen for 52 yards. The rugged McHugh then scored from two yards out.After St John’s had taken a 21-6 lead, and heading to the end of the half, the Prep defense came up with a big stop and forced MC to punt with 52 seconds remaining in the half. Fielding at his own 25, Felder returned the punt 63 yards to set up the Prep’s fourth score of the quarter.This time Donohue found Kevin Davis from 15 yards out for the score.”When that kind of play happens it gives you the chance to be aggressive,” said O’Leary. “If you have to go 70 yards or so you can’t be as aggressive.”The story of the second half was the Prep offense displaying incredible ball control and the defense completely shutting down the Lancers. After allowing seven first downs in the first half, the Prep gave up only one in the second half. Malden Catholic could only muster eight offensive plays the entire half.St. John’s sealed the game early in the third quarter with a seven play drive which culminated in a Donahue to Felder 14 yard play.For the game Donahue completed 9 of 10 passes, 313 yards and 3 touchdowns.Felder hauled in five passes for 207 yards and added another 63 in return yards for a total of 270 all purpose yards and two touchdowns.”People try to take away our run because we do it so well,” said O’Leary of the Prep pass attack.”We did enough running to keep in there, but they (MC) kept giving us the edge out there.”