Powerful 2022 RB Emeka Megwa Leads Nolan Catholic in Rivalry Victory

Emeka Megwa (Photo: Guy Frazier)

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Nolan Catholic's defense started the game off on the right foot by stopping All Saints offense on an opening drive three and out. The opening stop would be followed by a score and early lead that the Vikings would not relinquish for the rest of the night.

Nolan Catholic was able to build a 21-point lead before the conclusion of the first quarter. This was a result of great complimentary football. The Vikings forced three punts on All Saints' first three drives of the game and then manufactured those stops into points.

Leading the Nolan Catholic offense was 2021 QB Jimmy Taylor (6'2, 210). The Cornell commit started the game 7-for-7, including a 59-yard bomb on the Vikings' first drive that would set up his rushing score and a 25-yard passing touchdown to 2022 RB Emeka Megwa (6'0, 225).

Megwa finished the night with four total touchdowns. 

"That's our biggest rivalry. We practiced like crazy. We had to win," Megwa said after the game. 

The powerfully built tailback finished the night with only 95 yards of offense but was super efficient when he did touch the ball. His highlight of the night featured him lined up in the slot on a play that ended in the aforementioned 25-yard touchdown reception. The bigger-framed back looked relatively smooth while maneuvering in space too.

From a recruiting standpoint, Megwa is hearing from a slew of schools since September 1st. "I've been hearing from Texas, LSU, OU, and Washington. I've been hearing from Washington a lot," he said with emphasis regarding the recent contact from the Huskies. 

The four-star also mentioned enjoying Texas' location in Austin and the quality education associated with the in-state program. 

Penn State is one out of state school that he's also had contact with in the past and might be a school to keep an eye on in his recruitment process.

While Nolan grasped early control in this game, All Saints had their opportunities to wrangle the game's control back into their own hands. After a slow start, the Saints fought back to a 21-14 score before halftime to cut the game to one possession at the break. 2021 QB Hampton Fay (6'5, 210), who committed to Michigan State in April finished with three touchdowns behind an offensive line anchored by 2021 Alabama commits OT Tommy Brockermeyer (6'6, 283) and OC James Brockermeyer (6'3, 273). The Brockermeyer twins are thought of by many as two of the best offensive lineman in the country.

In the end this game broke down in the early portions of the fourth quarter when Nolan Catholic scored two quick touchdowns in less than two minutes. Amid this scoring run was an All Saints fumble on a kickoff return that would doom the Saints. By the end of this sequence, the game turned from a 27-20 score to a 41-20 score, with only 9:38 to play. Not enough would change this game's outcome in the several final possessions as the game concluded with a 41-27 victory for Nolan Catholic.

"We heard everybody picked All Saints. We did what we did and won 41-27," Megwa said of the rivalry victory. 

A talented front anchors the Vikings defensive front seven that includes members such as 2021 DE/OLB J'Dan Burnett (6'1, 220), 2022 LB/DE Vincent Paige (6'2, 226), 2023 SDE Kaleb James (6'4, 235), and 2023 SDE Curlee Thomas IV (6'4, 240)

From that group of defenders, Burnett and James stood out. 

In August, Burnett committed to Louisiana Tech after holding offers from Arkansas State, North Texas, San Diego State, UTSA and others. He was active on the defensive line and in special teams play, which included an extra blocked point in the third quarter. 

James lined up on the Viking defensive line as well, finishing with nine tackles for the game. The sophomore prospect already holds offers from Baylor, Houston and Illinois State.

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