Glen Galeone Lee Marvel A Look at the Streak . . . All-Catholic Defensive Players During the Streak's Five Years All-City Honorees (1), (2), (3) FIRST TEAM DL Brian Devine (1) 1990 DL Tom McGarrity (1) 1990 LB Gene McAleer 1990 DB Jim Magee 1990 IL Pat Joyce 1991 LB Gene McAleer (1) 1991 DB Anthony Desher 1991 DL John Del Ricci 1992 E/OB Paul Goral (2) 1992 ILB Gene McAleer (1) 1992 DB Dave McDonald (1) 1992 DB Gerry Gontz (3) 1992 DE/OB Brian Cowden 1993 ILB Jim Emanuel 1993 DB Jaime Brown (3) 1993 (DB Santiago Juarez (3) 1993) DL Brian Semereglia 1994 DE/OB Drew Costello 1994 ILB Jim Emanuel (1) 1994 DB Lou DeCree 1994 SECOND TEAM E Ryan Hulmes 1991 IL Rich Grutzmacher 1991 L Ryan Connelly (2) 1994

Tribute Page Ryan's Great Defense, 1990-94 This story was written in 1992 about senior linebacker Gene McAleer, who twice earned first team Daily News All-City honors and was a three-year starter during the streak. He played college ball at Hofstra and earned first team All-American honors. By Ted Silary   Before each Archbishop Ryan football game, the best is saved for last.   When the Raiders trot onto the field in single-file style, seniors are followed by juniors, then sophomores.   But the last man is not some third-string defensive back with a body that's way too small and pants that are way too big.   It's Gene McAleer, star linebacker.   "That started in 10th grade," McAleer said. "We had to be at the back, then I just decided to keep myself there. It's tradition. I'm always last and Paul Nice (also a three-year starter at linebacker) is always next to last."   Perhaps it's symbolic that McAleer, whose talents will be on display tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Northeast High when Ryan meets Father Judge in an early-season Catholic League Northern Division showdown, chooses to place himself last in line.   Some people fear he still could be there when Division I-A college coaches decide which inside linebackers are worthy of scholarship offers.   McAleer, who has been a dominant defender for three seasons, wants nothing more than the opportunity to play on the inside in Division I-A, but . . .   He is only 6-1 and 210 pounds and does not run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds.   "I don't feel he's big enough to play that position at most places," Ryan coach Glen Galeone said. "Most inside guys are 230, 240.   "Gene's lean and can still bulk up, but he might be better off as an outside linebacker or strong safety. It could depend on what teams expect out of their inside linebackers. In some schemes, maybe he would be a good fit. I just think he has to be careful" in choosing a school.   In 1990 and '91, as Ryan went 19-0-1 against league opposition and won back-to-back championships, McAleer was the leading vote-getter at linebacker on the coaches' All-Catholic team. In '91, he was also a first-team Daily News All-City selection.   "He's one of those kids that just has it," Galeone said. "He's a born football player. You don't get one very often."   In a 30-0 win over Norristown two weeks ago, McAleer turned in a vintage performance in just three quarters. He had nine tackles in 18 plays, including seven for losses totaling 34 yards, as well as an interception.   After the game, he approached Galeone and suggested that the game ball be presented to senior defensive tackle Kevin Dingas, who had decided to stay with team although he'd been told that playing time likely would be nonexistent.   When being interviewed for this piece, McAleer asked if he could say some things about Nice.   "He doesn't get enough press," McAleer said. "He gets overshadowed by me, but there are a lot of things he does better than me."   "Gene is totally out for the team. That's why we respect him so much," said senior tackle Steve Paul, McAleer's neighbor and lifelong buddy. "That's why, when he talks, everyone listens.   "The younger guys see him as a hero. Even the seniors see him as that. If something goes wrong on the field, he maintains his cool. He never talks down to you."   McAleer, who will turn 19 in January, got his football start at age 5 with the Parkwood Youth Association 75-pounders. He was two to three years younger than everyone else, and 20 to 30 pounds lighter.   "I wasn't bothered" by the age and weight disadvantages, he said. "I got banged around by my brothers a lot worse than that."   Sean, 25, was a third-team All-City linebacker at George Washington in '85, then played small-college and semipro ball. Michael, 26, stopped playing after youth football.   "My brothers, they've been my main push," Gene said. "They taught me everything I knew up until high school, then my coaches at Ryan took it from there."   It was through Sean that McAleer came to admire linebacker Sam Mills, of the New Orleans Saints.   Though only 5-9, 225, Mills has made three Pro Bowl appearances. From '82 to '84, he excelled for the United States Football League's Philadelphia Stars.   "Sean used to work out with the same strength coach Sam Mills had," Gene said. "I went to almost every one of his games with the Stars. "I love watching that guy. I've seen him on interviews. Everyone always said he probably wouldn't make it. I feel as though I'm in the same predicament."   According to Galeone, schools such as Penn State, Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, Boston College, North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia and Wisconsin have inquired about McAleer. Notre Dame, he said, just requested a videotape.   "He went to Boston College for a Junior Day and seemed to like it," Galeone said. "That might be a good place for him."   Steve Paul, who also attended St. Anselm grade school with McAleer, characterizes him as the consummate competitor.   "We used to play stickball in the street," he said. "He hated to lose in that. He plays football like he refuses to lose. But the best thing is, when the game is over, he leaves it on the field.   "In anything Gene does, he's always striving to do better. You should see him in class. He always has his hand up. Always trying. Anything that kid gets, he deserves. He works so hard.   "I don't think the coaches should worry about his size, either. His mom was telling me that Gene's brothers were built like him until about 19. Then they sprouted and put on weight."

  This story was written in 1991 after the Raiders pitched a shutout to win their second
straight title . . .

By Ted Silary
  Unlike oil and water, paint and ink do mix.
  At least they mixed for a wounded football team in search of a psychological boost. Fact is, they made for a potent
concoction.
  As you might remember, Archbishop Ryan fell on Thanksgiving for the first time ever to arch-rival George Washington,
28-24, after rolling to a 21-0 halftime lead.
  Early last week, someone painted "St. James #1" on a goal post at Ryan's practice field. Then, the sports editor of a
suburban newspaper - one that covers neither team - picked St. James to hammer Ryan, 33-13, in the Catholic League
championship game.
  So what happened Saturday in front of 5,000 at La Salle University?
  Ryan won, 13-0, to take its second title in coach Glen Galeone's two years (at 19-0-1, he has yet to lose a league game)
and its third in four years overall.
  Galeone, still incredulous over the newspaper prediction, said afterward that he had told his players, "See, this is what
happens! You lose the Washington game, a game you should have won, and then you lose respect from people who have
never seen you play!
  "The kids were hissed," he added. "We had (copies) all over the locker room. The guy did me a favor. I should send him
a thank-you note."
  As for the painted goal post, a Washington loyalist presumably was the culprit. Then again, teams' own assistants have
been known to resort to such tactics.
  Whatever, it worked.
  "We saw that on the goalpost when we came out to practice one day," tailback Mike Erbrick said. "That got us so pumped
up. It was the hardest-hitting practice of the season."
  Erbrick, a 5-8, 185-pound senior, rushed 31 times for 147 yards against the Bulldogs, though the game's lone touchdown,
a 9-yard, second-quarter run, went to fullback Brian Weiss. Brian Hamill added field goals of 28 and 34 yards.
  In 14 games, Erbrick carried 329 times for 1,774 yards, the second-best single-season rushing total in Catholic League and
city history, and 14 touchdowns. Father Judge's Bill Foley had 2,116 yards in 1968.
  "Being the first Ryan team to lose to Washington was a real shock to us," said Erbrick, who is receiving mail from some
Division I-AA and II programs. ''People were saying, 'Ryan's not that good. The defense doesn't have it anymore. ' The
guy in that paper was making us big underdogs. I thought that was a lot of bull. Our defense was still great. They showed
it right here."
  Consider:
  *The Raiders had six shutouts in 10 games against league opposition (seven division, three playoffs) and allowed just 29
points. It was the skimpiest league average since Cardinal O'Hara allowed 23 points in nine games in 1979.
  *They became the first team to go unscored upon in 29 years of CL playoff history. Keep in mind, from 1963 to '72,
barring first-place ties within the division, a team needed to win just one playoff game each year. Two were necessary
from '73 to '80. It's been three from '81 on.
  *They allowed no rushing touchdowns in the 10 games. In two years, one of the 10 touchdowns scored against Ryan in
20 league games came on the ground.
  Ryan's defense, coached by Lee Marvel, included ends Mike Amodei and Ryan Hulmes, tackles Rich Grutzmacher and Pat
Joyce, inside linebackers Gene McAleer and Paul Nice, outside linebackers Jeff Seaman and Dan Kilpatrick, cornerbacks
Anthony Desher and Dave McDonald and safety Gerry Gontz. Amodei, Hulmes, Joyce, McAleer, Nice and Desher were
starters in 1990. Grutzmacher and Seaman were key subs.
  McAleer, a 6-1, 195-pound junior, was the only acknowledged headliner. But what made the crew great was the absence
of weak links.
  "It was mostly preparation," McAleer said. "The coaches always had us ready for anything we could possibly see. We
had something called 'overtime' after our regular practice. We'd go over all the possible plays. This week it was an hour,
hour and a half. We'd be out there in the dark. Then we'd go in and watch films."
  In 1988, Galeone was an assistant at Bishop Egan. He saw enough of that season's Raiders to compare and contrast the
three title teams. Not that anyone could pin him down.
  "The '88 team was more balanced offensively," he said. "But I don't think there's been a better defense at Ryan than the
one we've put on the field these last two years. "
  Which defense was best?
  "These two, obviously," he said with a smile.

This story was written after the streak was ended in a 1994 quarterfinal . . .

By Ted Silary
  Matt McFillin was around for it all.
  Two seasons as a ball boy. One as a little-used substitute. One more as a much-used substitute and eventual starter. One more
as a starter and captain.
  Through five seasons, he cheered then contributed to what was one of the more amazing runs of success in Philadelphia
scholastic sports history.
  The Archbishop Ryan Raiders went unbeaten for 47 Catholic League football games, counting playoffs. They won four league
championships. Won five Northern Division regular-season championships. Posted 26 shutouts. Surrendered an average of
only 3.3 points.
  Mostly, they worked an ongoing miracle.
  The end came Saturday night in a quarterfinal at Northeast High. After 45 wins and two ties, the Raiders lost to Bishop
McDevitt, 10-0.
  So long, streak.
  "I couldn't even think of losing," McFillin said. "When I saw the clock ticking down, I'm still not sure I could think of it.
  "I'm still stunned. I don't think I'll realize what happened until I see somebody else go on and win the championship."
  McFillin, a 6-4, 240-pound senior, is Ryan's center and long-snapper. His father, Frank, is an assistant under coach Glen
Galeone, so Matt has been immersed in Ryan's program for as long as he can remember.
  One memory he always will retain from Saturday night will be of the play that broke Ryan's back.
  Midway through the first quarter, McFillin snapped the ball from Ryan's 27 to punter Kevin Wyszynski, briefly blocked his
man and charged upfield in hopes of making a tackle. He didn't get very far.
  "I heard 'Boom!' then the people in McDevitt's stands going nuts," McFillin said. "I turned around to see the guy falling on the
ball in the end zone. More loud cheering from McDevitt's stands. It wasn't a good feeling."
  McDevitt's Chris Westerman blocked the ball. Pat Watkins recovered. Ryan never did.
  The Raiders, whose last league loss had been to McDevitt, 16-12, in a 1989 quarterfinal, were limited to 101 yards of total
offense and seven first downs, and committed three turnovers.
  One sequence summed up the night. Facing fourth-and-maybe-3-inches with 2:38 left in the third quarter, the Raiders were
flagged for one of their five illegal-procedure calls.
  "They were using a lot of different looks on defense," McFillin said. ''Our rushing game couldn't get into a rhythm.
Usually, we get it going at some point. Not this time. Our passing game wasn't good enough to make up for it."
  The Raiders reacted admirably as the game ended. Though several walked away in disgust or anguish, most immediately
headed to midfield to shake hands and- or exchange hugs with the Lancers. Leading the way was franchise linebacker Jim
Emanuel.
  McDevitt's players were properly respectful. There was no trash-talking, no in-your-face taunting. It was as though they
knew that Ryan's players deserved such treatment for how they had carried themselves through the streak: almost always
with class.
  Galeone, who experienced his first league loss, concentrated mostly on the cold, hard reasons for the loss while speaking
with a group of reporters.
  "We're good defensively," he said. "We're just OK offensively. We got away with it a few times. It caught up to us tonight."
  As Galeone began to walk off the field, he allowed his emotions to show.
  "It's almost a relief," he said. "When you go out there every game for five years and everybody's dying to beat you . . . I
told some people a couple of weeks ago, 'I don't feel happy after we win anymore. I just feel relieved. ' It was just, 'Well,
we got through another one.' . . . It's all off us now."
  Said Matt McFillin: "A lot of the kids were saying they really didn't worry about the streak. But we all did, I think. We
wanted to keep it alive."
  A week earlier, the Raiders had defeated Conwell-Egan, 14-0, in their regular-season finale for their 25th consecutive
league victory. That's the best streak ever compiled by a Catholic League team and by any team inside the city limits.
  "I'm not sure anybody realizes what we did," McFillin said. "When you think about it, it is kind of unbelievable."

GAME-BY-GAME RESULTS 1990 Ryan Opp. Northern Division     Bishop Egan 24 0 Bishop McDevitt 14 7 Cardinal Dougherty 23 3 La Salle 10 0 North Catholic 15 7 Father Judge 22 6 Archbishop Wood 38 0 Playoffs     Father Judge 14 7 La Salle 17 0 Archbishop Carrroll (OT) 20 13    10-0 197 43 1991 Ryan Opp. Northern Division     Bishop McDevitt 15 12 Cardinal Dougherty 14 0 La Salle  **tie** 7 7 North Catholic 47 0 Father Judge 7 3 Archbishop Wood 20 7 Bishop Egan 20 0 Playoffs     McDevitt` 13 0 Father Judge 12 0 St. James 13 0    9-0-1 168 29 1992 Ryan Opp.  Northern Division     Archbishop Wood 14 6 Father Judge  **tie** 0 0 North Catholic 15 0 Bishop McDevitt 23 0 Cardinal Dougherty 14 0 La Salle 3 0 Bishop Egan 41 0 Playoffs     Cardinal Dougherty 14 7 Father Judge 14 7 Roman Catholic 25 8    9-0-1 163 28 1993 Ryan Opp.  Northern Division     Archbishop Wood 13 7 Father Judge 20 6 North Catholic 16 0 Bishop McDevitt 14 0 Cardinal Dougherty 21 19 La Salle 34 0 Conwell-Egan 28 0 Playoffs     La Salle 19 3 Cardinal Dougherty 17 7 Archbishop Carrroll 10 0    10-0 192 42 1994 Ryan  Opp.  Northern Division     Bishop McDevitt 23 0 La Salle 7 3 Archbishop Wood 21 0 Cardinal Dougherty 26 0 North Catholic 27 0 Father Judge 14 11 Conwell-Egan 14 0    7-0 132 14     TOTALS (45-0-2) 852 156 Opponents scored . . .     21 TDs   126 5 FGs   15 11 Kicks   11 2 Conversions   4

Defensive Starters During the Streak First Last Pos. Year Mike Amodei L 1990-91 Jaime Brown LB-B 1992-93 Kevin Campbell LB 1994 Ryan Connelly L 1993-94 Drew Costello L 1994 Jerry Crane B 1993-94 Brian Cowden L 1993 Lou DeCree B 1994 John Del Ricci L 1992 Ken Denski L 1992 Anthony Desher B 1990-91 Brian Devine L 1990 Jim Emanuel LB 1993-94 Joe Gizzi L 1993 Gerry Gontz B 1991-92 Paul Goral L 1992 Rich Grutzmacher L 1990-91 Chip Guinan LB 1994 Ryan Hulmes L-LB 1990-91 Mike Jadach L 1994 Pat Joyce L 1990-91 Santiago Juarez B-LB 1992-93 Dan Kilpatrick LB 1991 Eric Krawczyk B 1994 Jim Magee B 1990 Gene McAleer LB 1990-92 Jim McCaffery B 1990 Dave McDonald B 1991-92 Tom McGarrity L 1990 Brian McMenamin L 1992 Bill McVey LB 1993 Mike Miller LB 1993 Brian Nacci L 1992 Paul Nice LB 1990-92 Chris Nocco L 1993 Ken O'Connell B 1993 Matt Ott L 1990 Gary Pacitti B 1992 Ed Pisarek L 1994 Bob Rahn B 1992 Jeff Seaman LB 1991 Mike Semeriglia L 1994 John Sitler B 1990 Jim Wilson L 1992 Dan Wright L 1992 Tom Zeo B 1990

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100-Yard Efforts by Opposing Rushers/Passers
RUSHER
Name	School	Yards	Year	Kind
Terrence Mordecai	Cardinal Dougherty	152	1993	RS
PASSERS
Name	School	Yards	Year	Kind
Derrick Norris	Cardinal Dougherty	172	1990	RS
Bill Ring	Bishop McDevitt	163	1991	RS
Sekou Wilson	Bishop McDevitt	159	1990	RS
Bill Ring	Bishop McDevitt	149	1991	Play
Walt Bartle	Cardinal Dougherty	141	1993	Play
Joe Affet	Father Judge	138	1991	RS
Walt Bartle	Cardinal Dougherty	138	1993	RS
Greg Yodis	Father Judge	113	1994	RS
Ben Conway	Archbishop Carroll	109	1993	Play
Chris Hayes	North Catholic	100	1993	RS
RS - Regular Season / Play: Playoff
100-Yard Efforts by Ryan's Rushers/Passers
RUSHERS
Name	Opponent	Yards	Year	Kind
Mike Erbrick	Father Judge	248	1991	RS
Mike Erbrick	Cardinal Dougherty	192	1991	RS
Mike Erbrick	Bishop Egan	184	1991	RS
Mark Ostaszewski	Father Judge	156	1990	RS
Mike Erbrick	St. James	147	1991	Play
Jaime Brown	Cardinal Dougherty	138	1992	Play
Mike Erbrick	North Catholic	135	1990	RS
Mark Ostaszewski	Archbishop Carroll	130	1990	Play
Ray McFall	Cardinal Dougherty	130	1992	RS
Mike Erbrick	La Salle	124	1991	RS
Chris Kennedy	North Catholic	125	1994	RS
Ray McFall	Cardinal Dougherty	123	1993	Play
Mike Erbrick	Father Judge	119	1991	Play
Mark Ostaszewski	Archbishop Wood	115	1990	RS
Curt Gallagher	Bishop McDevitt	114	1994	RS
Mike Erbrick	Bishop McDevitt	105	1991	RS
Mike Erbrick	North Catholic	107	1991	RS
Curt Gallagher	Archbishop Wood	107	1994	RS
Ray McFall	Cardinal Dougherty	105	1993	RS
Ray Sell	Bishop McDevitt	104	1992	RS
Ray McFall	Bishop McDevitt	103	1993	RS
Gary Pacitti	Bishop McDevitt	101	1992	RS
Curt Gallagher	Conwell-Egan	101	1993	RS
PASSERS
Name	Opponent	Yards	Year	Kind
Adrian Dumchus	Cardinal Dougherty	140	1993	RS
Jamie Sutton	Cardinal Dougherty	133	1990	RS
Jamie Sutton	Archbishop Wood	109	1991	RS
RS - Regular Season / Play: Playoff

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Recaps of Wins in Catholic League Championship Games 1990 At Villanova Stadium Ryan 20, Carroll 13 (OT)     Jamie Sutton passed 15 yards to Jim Stott for the decisive score as Ryan won the first CL title game to go overtime. Brian Hamill kicked field goals of 32 and 39 yards, setting a one-season, city-league record with 11 (in 16 attempts). Mark Ostaszewski rushed 35 times for 130 yards. For Carroll, Sean McGarvey returned a kickoff 86 yards for a TD and star lineman Ray Kane, forced to sit out with a severe knee injury, was presented a game ball by first-year Ryan coach Glen Galeone. 1991 At La Salle University Ryan 13, St. James 0     Mike Erbrick gained 147 yards on 31 carries and Brian Hamill kicked field goals of 28 and 34 yards. Erbrick finished the season with 1,774 yards, the No. 2 total in CL history, and 14 TDs. The Raiders became the first CL team in 29 years to go through the playoffs unscored upon and they allowed just 29 points in 10 games against CL opposition -- the best effort since O'Hara's 23 in '79. In 20 games against CL opposition in '90 and '91, Ryan yielded just one rushing TD. 1992 At La Salle University Ryan 25, Roman 8     Gene McAleer (six tackles) and Dave McDonald (three interceptions) led a defense that limited Roman to 60 yards total offense and gave Ryan its first unbeaten season (12-0-1) in 25 years of CL competition. McDonald returned one of his pilfers for a 34-yard TD. Jaime Brown carried 24 times for 72 yards and a score. Eugene Small ran for Roman's TD. 1993 At La Salle University Ryan 10, Carroll 0     Bill McVey ran 5 yards for a TD on a tight-end reverse and Kevin Wyszynski kicked a 36-yard field goal as Ryan became the first CL team to finish unbeaten against league opposition for a fourth consecutive year (38-0-2). In those 40 games, assistant Lee Marvel's defense allowed 3.6 points per game and posted 21 shutouts. Jaime Brown rushed 22 times for 76 yards and caught a 37-yard pass from Adrian Dumchus in the TD drive.

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