The following article appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on
Sunday, December 26, 2010
West Catholic's Jim Lynch hoists the state championship trophy after
the Burrs blew out South Fayette, 50-14, in the Dec. 18 Class AA title game. It
was West Catholic's 12th win in a row.
After West Catholic dropped two of its first three games of the 2010 season,
it embarked on a 12-game win streak that was capped with the program's first
PIAA Class AA state championship.
During that dominant stretch, the Burrs outscored
foes by 500-108. In seven playoff games, they won by 263-56.
Two years after a crushing, double-overtime loss
to District 10's Wilmington Area, West returned to Hershey and gained
redemption by clobbering District 7's South Fayette, 50-14. Afterward, coach Brian Fluck, hoisting the
first-place trophy, was quick to recognize the accomplishments of the
star-studded 2008 team.
The Burrs also had come close to winning it all
in 2009, but ran up against 8,000-yard passer Kyle Smith and Lancaster Catholic
in the state semifinals.
For finally knocking down
the door, West is The Inquirer's Southeastern
Pennsylvania football team of the year.
With 1,556 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns,
tailback Brandon Hollomon spurred an offense that
averaged 36.5 points. Fellow backs Joshua Mathis (984) and David Williams (924)
nearly eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark.
Hollomon closed his career with 3,263 yards, climbing to
No. 3 on the school's all-time list, behind 2007 graduate Dennis Shaw (3,444)
and 2004 product Curtis Brinkley (7,413).
At quarterback, Anthony Reid, one of four players
to come over from North Catholic, threw for 1,431
yards and 15 touchdowns.
A 3-4 defense that yielded just 10.1 points a
game was spearheaded by inside linebackers Kevin Burns (60 solo tackles, 37
assists) and T. J. Waters (38, 31), end Jim Lynch (53, 29), and outside
linebackers Anthony McDonnaugh (36, 21), and Tristin Freeman (38, 13).
THE GOLDEN BURRS EVENTS
COMMITTEE OFFERS SINCEREST AND HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CLASSMATE
JIM LYNCH, HIS FAMILY, AND THE ENTIRE
WEST CATHOLIC COMMUNITY FOR BRINGING THIS DISTINGUISHED HONOR
TO WEST CATHOLIC. GO BURRS!!