SFA junior varsity footballers raise record to 5-2

SFA’s Nicky Kutufaris and Justin Shields team up to stop a St. Dot’s extra point attempt.

SFA Junior Varsity
SFA 19, St. Dorothy 12
The St. Francis of Assisi (SFA) fifth and sixth grade football team raised their record to 5-2 by subduing St. Dorothy’s at Steel Field in Havertown.
It was a tale of two halves: SFA dominated the first half; and St. Dot’s battled back to tie the score in the second half before succumbing at the end.
Liam McKnight hooked up with Nicky Kutufaris for a 58-yard scoring strike on the third play from scrimmage. In the second quarter, McKnight completed a ten- play, 54-yard drive with a four-yard keeper. SFA failed on both PATs, and the half ended 12-0.
Defensively, SFA allowed only one first down and 17 total yards.
St. Dot’s came alive in the second half and tied the score midway through the fourth quarter on a long touchdown run. SFA stopped both extra point attempts to preserve a 12-12 tie.
St. Dot’s then had a chance to take the lead after recovering an onside kick, but Derek Strain recovered a fumble for SFA to thwart the threat.
The offense took advantage of the turnover, and proceeded to drive 72 yards in four plays for the winning score. N. Kutufaris accounted for 71 of the yards, including a 30-yard dash off tackle for the final touchdown. McKnight connected with N. Kutufaris for the extra point and a 19-12 lead.
SFA then withstood a final St. Dot’s effort, with Connor Crawford helping to secure the victory with an interception.
SFA accumulated 220 total yards, as linemen Patrick Devine, Cole Dumont, Derek Strain, Alex Smith, Connor Hoffner, Tommy Kutufaris, Adam Klein and Luke Sprague did a good job battling in the trenches.
N. Kutufaris tallied 108 rushing yards, and Justin Shields chipped in with 40 rushing yards.
SFA will clash with St. Anastasia this Saturday at noon at Church Road Field.