Philly-area quarterback nears 1,000 on the run

Brian FitzPatrick has led Episcopal Academy to a 5-1 start.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
It's not unusual for a high school football player to have more than 900 yards rushing at this point in the season. It is unusual when that player is the team's quarterback.
Brian FitzPatrick, a senior at Episcopal Academy just outside Philadelphia, has carried 100 times this year for 930 yards. He's one of the reasons the Churchmen are 5-1 overall and 1-0 in the Inter-Academic League.
"We run the option and Brian is an outstanding runner, which is why he has all the rushing yardage," Episcopal Academy coach Rick Knox said. "He isn't a burner or anything ... but he has good speed."
The number of teams that use an option offense has dwindled in recent years. These days, many high school offenses employ three- and four-wide receiver sets.
The Churchmen's only loss this season was to a team from Loyola, Md., 21-7. In that game, FitzPatrick received a concussion and was sidelined.
He bounced back last weekend to rush for 219 yards on 24 carries in a 13-7 victory against Penn Charter. It was the first time since 1989 Episcopal Academy had defeated that team.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound FitzPatrick has completed 20 of 46 passes for 350 yards and seven scores. He also starts in the defensive backfield and was part of an unusual defensive effort.
Episcopal Academy's defense scored five touchdowns in a 44-8 victory against Chestnut Hill earlier this season. FitzPatrick found the end zone on a 42-yard fumble recovery and a 22-yard interception return.
Episcopal Academy, which would be a Class AA school in the PIAA, has four games remaining in the regular season and finishes against Haverford School. The two schools have been meeting off-and-on in football since 1889.
Going strong
Bethlehem Liberty defeated Northampton 22-7 last week to run its record to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in the Lehigh Valley Conference.
This is the best start for Liberty since 1970. Should it defeat Nazareth on Friday to reach 8-0, it will be Liberty's best start since 1934.
Penn State bound
Neshaminy kicker Kevin Kelly has verbally committed to Penn State.
This season, Kelly, who is 5-foot-7 and 170 pounds, has made six of seven field goal attempts. He kicked eight field goals as a junior and as a freshman made a 54-yard field goal attempt.
Kelly had also been offered scholarships by Syracuse, West Virginia, Indiana and East Carolina.
Meanwhile, Clearfield wrestler Brad Pataky has also committed to Penn State.
The senior was the PIAA Class AAA 112-pound champion last season and finished with an undefeated record. He will take a 94-4 career record into this season.
Pitt, Edinboro, Virginia and Bloomsburg were also recruiting Pataky.
Forced to forfeit
Duquesne High School has been told it will have to forfeit a 42-12 victory against Pittsburgh North Catholic on Sept. 4 because it used an ineligible player.
The District 7 Board of Control ruled senior running back Shane Brooks, who rushed for 251 yards on 23 carries in the game, was ineligible because the proper paperwork had not been filed on his transfer from Wilson Christian Academy to Duquesne. The schools have a cooperative agreement for athletics.
Duquesne's record drops from 6-2 to 5-3, while North Catholic goes from 4-4 to 5-3. The forfeit does not affect Duquesne's status for the District 7 playoffs.
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