The drop to AAA may have been just what the doctor ordered for Bishop McDevitt, aside from that head-scratching 2-2 start to the 2010 season. Following that rocky beginning, the Crusaders promptly ran off 11 consecutive victories and reached the PIAA AAA championship game opposite Allentown Central Catholic and its record-setting offensive juggernaut.
The Crusaders do lose the services of quarterback Matt Johnson (Bowling Green, career 7,959 yards, 85 TD) and running back Jameel Poteat (Cincinnati, career 4,832 yards, 76 TD), but McDevitt has by no means fallen off the top tier of AAA teams entering the 2011 season.
Offensively, Alec Werner (6-0, 195) will assume the reins of McDevitt’s offense, and he’ll have two of the mid-state’s top receivers to throw to in Brian Lemelle (70 rec., 1,223 yds, 11 TD) and Shaun Seif (50, 710, 6). Backs Rashad Lawson and Darnell Holland combined to run for 353 yards and four touchdowns in relief of Poteat last year. In the trenches, the Crusaders can enjoy the efforts of returning linemen Kyree Ross, Deandre Lawson, TJ Krile and Pat Narus. Also, watch out for five-star D-1 prospect Noah Spence, who might make some cameo appearances in some of the Crusaders’ offensive formations.
Defensively, Noah Spence highlights the unit – his 102 tackles and team-leading 22 sacks certainly stand out. Brock Dean, a Maryland recruit, also returns to spearhead the linebacking corps after a 93-tackle junior season. Also returning to McDevitt’s defensive fold are Miles Williams (42 tackles, one sack, three INTs); Maurice Geter (36 tackles, two INTs, six PDs); Holland (64 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one INT; two FR); Anthony Shingara (31 tackles, one INT; 3 FR); Jayraun Smith (33 tackles, 1.5 sacks); Tariq Spence (54 tackles, one sack, 2 FR); Allen Holman (85 tackles, seven sacks, one INT) and Deandre Lawson (25 tackles, one FF, one FR). Kicker Connor Maloney is one of the tops in the state. He converted 66 PATs and nine field goals last season, scoring 93 points. In the last two years, Maloney has scored 166 points (139 PATs, nine FGs).
