McDermott runs past Selinsgrove

BETHLEHEM – Allentown Central Catholic’s (9-5) senior running back Colin McDermott rushed for 379 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Vikings over Selinsgrove (10-4) Friday night in a PIAA 3A quarterfinal game at Frank Banko Field.

With the win, Allentown Central Catholic will play Archbishop Wood next Friday night at Frank Banko Field in Bethlehem. Wood won over Interboro 35-7.

Selinsgrove took the opening kick off and drove 58 yards for the score. Connor Liesenfeld capped off the drive with a one-yard run. The extra point was no good and the Seals led 6-0.

The Vikings drove down to the seals four and Robert Fidati missed a 22-yard field goal. The Vikings scored on their second possession on a 23-yard McDermott touchdown run with 3:05 remaining in the first quarter. ACC led 7-6.

The Seals would answer the Vikings drive with a Zach Adams 50-yard burst up the middle for the score. The Seals led, 13-7.

The Vikings went 67 yards to tie the game up at 13. Central Catholic was facing 4th-and-1 when McDermott went 43-yards and then finished off the drive with an 15-yard touchdown run.

The Viking’s Kevin Kern blocked the Seals punt and Jeff Gulyas recovered it on the Seals 23. Three plays later, McDermott went in from 14-yards out. The Vikings led, 19-13. “Kevin has stepped up for us this year” , said head football coach John Cupples. “He made some big plays for us tonight.”

At halftime, the Vikings led 19-13. McDermott had over 200 yards rushing. “It’s amazing how he can carry the ball so many times and still be fresh”, said Cupples.

“In the second half the offensive line took over and we wore them down, ” said McDermott. The Vikings marched 64 yards right down the field to extend their lead. McDermott went in from 22-yards out for his fourth touchdown of the game. The Vikings then lined up for the two-point conversion as McDermott took the handoff, took one step, stopped and passed the ball to Gulyas for the two-point conversion. The Vikings were up 27-13 with 8:08 remaining in the third quarter.

McDermott put the game away with an 35-yard touchdown run. The Vikings went up 34-13. The Vikings added one more score in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Anthony Beck hit Gulyas for a seven-yard touchdown pass with 6:22 remaining in the game.

In the end the Vikings ran out the clock and move on to Week 15. “Coach Cupples said one of our goals was going to play in December”, said McDermott. “We just had to take it one week at a time and we are playing in December.”

Note: Allentown Central Catholic has only given up 19 total points in four games in the playoffs. An average points allowed at 4.7.  “Our defense has stepped up and the kids have been working hard”, said Cupples.

McDermott finished the night with 379 yards rushing on 33 carries. “It’s amazing how he does it week in and week out,” said Cupples. “You ask him how he is doing and he wants to do more. He has been doing it all year.”

The Vikings finished the game with 445 yards rushing. After a close first quarter, Allentown Central Catholic out scored the Seals 35-0,

McDermott has rushed for 1,003 yards during the playoffs. He is over 3,000 yards rushing this season.

Next up is Archbishop Wood in the rubber match game. In 2010, ACC won 49-27 and in 2011, Wood won 70-14 last season. They are the last two PIAA 3A state champions.

Selinsgrove finished the night with 275 yards rushing. Freshman running back Juvon Batts rushed for 150 yards and Zach Adams rushed for 96. Batts went over 1,000 yards this season.