STATE COLLEGE – On a night that you didn’t think you would be able to stay warm this reporter found out that you can stay warm watching two teams run up and down the field all night. Both teams traded scores the entire first half to make the score 21-21 at the half. But you knew something had to give and it did in a big way. The Crimson Crushers used 3 second half turnovers by the Bulldogs to complete history for Bishop McCort and get the victory 42-27. McCort will play Clairton next week for the PIAA single A title, the schools first title game in it’s history. “This is just a fantastic feeling,” McCort coach Ken Salem said. “I’m just so proud of these kids. They’ve worked so hard all year long and they’ve been through so much. When our backs were against the wall and Tri-Valley had some momentum, our kids stood tall and we weathered the storm.
Bishop McCort started the fireworks with trickery when Josh Seidel to the pitch right and instead of running as Tri Valley expected he pulled up and threw the ball downfield to a wide open Dane Domonokos whor ran 59 yards to the Bulldogs 5. 3 plays later Seidel scored from 1 yard and the pat made it 7-0.
Tri Valley answered in a hurry. Aided by two passes to from Matt McGinley to Matt Hepler the Bulldogs drove 60 yards to paydirt, the td a 3 yard run from Wyatt Straub. The track meet continued as Seidel continued to blaze through the Tri Valley line for 51 yards, including one run of 43 yards then capping the drive on a 1 yard td.
Tri Valley answered quickly, moving the ball 71 yards. Brandon Auman capped the drive with an electrifying 30 yard td run to knot the game at 14 with 1:30 left in the first quarter. Bishop McCort started on the 40 following Domonokos’ kick return of 39 yards to the 40 and drove to the Bulldog 16 where Tri Valley would make one of their few defensive stops, forcing the Crushers to attempt a 33 yard field goal by Domonokos that went wide right.
Tri Valley would then get their only lead of the night. Starting at the 20, Matt McGinley ( including 6-7 for 113yards and 1 td in the first half, 280 total yards on the game) used precise passing to move his team to the Crusher 45. Dropping back on 1st down he found a wide open Hepler who went the distance 45 yards for the score. Scott Ney would get the pat and give the Bulldogs a 21-14 lead.
Bishop McCort got the ball on the 35 and drove to the 13. On 4th down and 1 Pinkerton went 3 yards to get the first down and one play later hit Domonokos from 10 yards out to tie the score at 21.
Tri Valley got the ball to start the second half but on 3rd and 4 Auman fumbled the ball at the 45 and Christian Leech recovered it on the McCort 30. On the next play the McCort faithful held their collective breath as Seidel took the ball and was hit hard for a 4 yard loss and layed injured on the frozen turf. With Seidel on the sideline Domonokos filled in nicely bursting up the middle for a 67 yard td. His pat gave the Crushers a 28-21 lead and they would never look back. “I got lucky and saw the hole” said Domonokos.That’s the good thing about this team – you trust everyone,” Seidel said. “They’ll step in for you if you’re hurt. Dane is great for doing that. He’s a huge playmaker. He’s always there at the right time.”
Tri Valleys next possession resulted in the games first punt and it was a dandy, 51 yards. Bishop McCort took over and a refreshed and determined Josh Seidel returned to the lineup. Aided by carries from Seidel and Chaz Merriman the Crusher drove to the 6 where, with 32 seconds left in the 3rd Seidel would carry the ball into the endzone. The score after Domonokos pat was 35-21. Domonkos rushed for a
67-yard touchdown, had 107 receiving yards and booted six extra-points in another all-around performance.
Tri Valley didn’t give up despite being down by 14. Starting at their own 40 the Bulldogs drove to the McCort 2 but on 1st and 2 defensive lineman Shane Rugg recovered a McGinley fumble after a big hit near the goal line. The drive would stall and McCort would punt to the Bulldogs but on 3rd and 9 Seidel intercepted McGinley at the 36. One play later he ran 55 yards to paydirt giving his team a 42-21 lead. Tri Valley would score again to make the score 42-27.
