Folmars Heroics Lead Delbarton over #2 DePaul Catholic
photo by: Anthony Ferrara
In a high-stakes encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last second, the Delbarton Green Wave orchestrated one of the most thrilling comebacks in high school football history against the previously undefeated DePaul Spartans. The hero of the night, Phillip Folmar, not only caught a miraculous 38-yard Hail Mary pass to push the game into overtime but also scored the decisive touchdown, cementing his place in Delbarto's historic night.
The stage was set at DePaul's home field, where the Spartans looked to extend their impressive win streak. The game began with high intensity, with DePaul establishing an early lead, showcasing their offensive weaponry with Dez Jones and Nolan James attacking early. However, Delbarton, undeterred and driven by a relentless spirit, stayed within striking distance.
Both teams put on an offensive show as Delbarton began to inch back. Each time Delbarton scored, DePaul answered back, maintaining their lead with crucial plays. AJ Larkin blocked a punt for a TD that was followed by a TD from Burress as DePaul reached 35 at the half. Plays from Matt Tufari and Phillip Folmar had the Green Wave got them to 21 at the end of the half.
Delbarton began to find their rhythm in the third quarter, adjusting their strategy to slow down DePaul's attack. Another TD from Folmar closed the gap to 7 and the defense stepped up to hold of the Spartans from scoring. We had a 35-28 ball game with the 4th quarter ahead.
As the fourth quarter wound down, the game's intensity amplified. After DePaul extended their lead to two touchdowns, Delbarton responded swiftly with a 53-yard touchdown pass from Jadon Prinzivalli to Brock Dandridge. This score set the stage for the most dramatic moment of the game. Following a successful onside kick recovery, Delbarton was in position to tie the game. With no time left on the clock, Prinzivalli launched a desperate Hail Mary into the end zone, where Phillip Folmar made a miraculous catch among a sea of defenders, sending the game into overtime and the Delbarton sideline into jubilation.
In overtime, the momentum was palpably shifted. Folmar continued his standout performance by scoring a 14-yard rushing touchdown, giving Delbarton their first lead. DePaul, not to be outdone, scored quickly but opted for a two-point conversion attempt to win the game—a gamble that did not pay off, securing Delbarton’s victory.
DePaul suffers their first loss of the season after going an impressive 7-0. Delbarton gets their biggest win of the season and has all the momentum in the world as playoffs approach.