Fort Washington, PA — In the unpredictable world of high school football, where injuries can catapult unsung heroes into the spotlight, the Flying Cardinals witnessed the rise of a star last night in the Dylan Moody Show! The 6’1”, 160-pound sophomore defensive back delivered a jaw-dropping performance, racking up five turnovers—four interceptions, three in the first half alone, and a fumble recovery on special teams—for a relentless Cardinals defense. Upper Dublin soared to a commanding 20-7 victory over the Bensalem Owls, holding their opponents scoreless until the final seconds when Owls running back Aidan Mayfield broke free for a 22-yard touchdown catch from Hollis Sanders as time expired.
Moody’s breakout night was a sight to behold, but was it a shock to the coaching staff? Head Coach Bret Stover called it “rewarding more than shocking,” praising the young star’s growth. “Dylan is growing up before our eyes, and he’s only a sophomore,” Stover said. “Ed Wall and Selvin Haynes have done a remarkable job bringing him along. You know you’ve been around a long time to witness two four-interception performances—Scott Mastromatto was the other.” Moody, beaming with pride, credited his teammates: “I feel great. My teammates kept boosting me up and encouraging me. I put in hard work at practice, and my coaches and teammates just believed in me. We came through, and we won!”
The Cardinals’ defense was a force of nature, with senior captains Justin Waugh, Kevin Williams, and Benji Ravitz wreaking havoc in the backfield all night. Coach Stover attributed their dominance to a mix of leadership and motivation: “Benji and Kevin are senior captains playing in their last home game, and I think that was their motivating force. Both have been impact players for us the last three seasons. Kevin, a junior, was hurt early in the year and is finally healthy, able to do what we’ve been waiting for all year. The three of them met the quarterback all night—it was fun to see!” The scoring ignited with 2:26 left in the first quarter when kicker Gavin Lapa drilled a 27-yard field goal, giving the Cardinals an early 3-0 edge. After Moody’s first interception, Bensalem’s defense briefly stalled the Cardinals’ attack, but quarterback Lawson Tyler found a wide-open Benji Ravitz for a 6-yard touchdown strike. Lapa’s extra point pushed the lead to 10-0 with 7:42 remaining in the half. Just before halftime, Moody struck again, hauling in his third interception to keep the Owls at bay.
The third quarter was a defensive slugfest until, with 1:47 left, Tyler zipped the ball to Kevin Williams, who blazed 66 yards to the end zone for a highlight-reel touchdown. Lapa’s PAT stretched the score to 17-0 heading into the final frame. Early in the fourth, the Cardinals tacked on three more points with another Lapa field goal at the 9:52 mark, making it 20-0. Bensalem battled to the end, capping a spirited final drive with Mayfield’s 22-yard touchdown scamper, closing the gap to 20-7 as the clock hit zero.
The game was a gritty clash in the trenches, and while the scoreboard favored the Cardinals, the Owls’ relentless spirit kept the pressure on until the final whistle. For their standout performances, Kevin Williams, Shane Greenberg, and Dylan Moody earned CDS Wealth Player of the Game honors, a testament to their heart and hustle.
Middle linebacker Shane Greenberg, the quarterback of the defense, credited communication for their success: “As the MLB, I’m the quarterback of the defense. I try to communicate with my guys, get them in the right spot, and we go out and execute to make big plays.”
Defensive lineman Kevin Williams echoed the sentiment, highlighting the team’s growth: “It starts with the chemistry we’ve built over the season. We started rocky, but as the season went on, we started trusting each other and our abilities. The coaches trusted us and set us up for success.”
As the Cardinals prepare for their final regular-season showdown against a playoff-bound 6A Souderton team, Coach Stover is keeping his squad focused: “Souderton is always a tough opponent and one we respect. We will need our best week of practice and an even better effort next Friday on the road in a hostile environment. One day at a time.” With momentum on their side and stars like Moody, Williams, and Ravitz leading the charge, the Flying Cardinals are poised to soar into their toughest test yet. This electrifying clash will be remembered as a classic—bring on Souderton!
CDS Wealth Player(s) of the Game
