SHP’s Walter runs for 321 yards and 6 TDs

By Tim Goode

PA Weekly Online Sports

Sacred Heart Prep’s football team didn’t quite know what to expect from visiting Valley Christian-Dublin in Friday’s non-league contest in Atherton.

What the Gators did know was the Vikings, in their first year of varsity football, had won their first two games and scored more than 80 points. They are coached by ex-Raider John Parrella and have NFL Hall of Fame member Rod Woodson’s son playing receiver and defensive back.

The Gators didn’t worry about their mysterious opponent, even after falling behind 9-0. Instead, they focused on what they do best — run the ball and defend.

What Sacred Heart Prep found out was how talented running back Matt Walter really is and how resilient its defense could be in the stifling heat.

Walter ran for six touchdowns and 321 yards – on just 13 carries – to lead Sacred Heart Prep to a 42-23 victory. The result left both teams at 2-1. Both the touchdown total and yardage total are thought to be school records.

Walter scored on a one-yard plunge with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter to cut the Vikings’ lead to 9-7. He then went 83 yards in the second quarter to give Prep a 14-9 halftime lead. The senior running back then scored three touchdowns in less than six minutes in the third quarter to open up the game.

Once Sacred Heart built a respectable lead, the offense tried to use as much clock as possible, but Walter could not be stopped. After scoring on a three-yard run to open the second half and give the Gators a 21-9 lead, Sacred Heart held the Vikings and took the ball. Walters went 77 yards on the next play to make it 21-9. After another defensive stand, Walters scored from 26 yards out on the fourth play of a drive. His last touchdown of the day was a 60-yarder on the second play of SHP’s opening drive of the fourth quarter.

Chris Gaertner chipped in 117 yards on 14 carries and the offense rolled up 539 total yards.

“Sometimes it’s Matt, sometimes it’s Chris and sometimes it’s Victor (Ojeda),” said Sacred Heart Prep coach Pete Lavorato. “We have to find what’s working each game.”

It didn’t take long to find out Walter was on.

The Gators’ defense bounced back from its early deficit to limit the Vikings. Defensive end Ty Cobb did a good job of containing scrambling VC quarterback Nick Rubio, also batting down a pair of passes and getting in on a sack. Ryan Lockareff was in on a pair of sacks and Hunter Shaw another for SHP.

■ Latest prep sports scores from PA Online Sports.

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