STATE COLLEGE – Before the game between highly ranked Bishop McDevitt and State College both coaches said “this game is like a tune up for playoffs”. They forgot to tell the players. Both teams fought hard all night long, each coming from deficits throughout the game. State College was the first to battle back but McDevitt got the last comeback trophy. Starting at their own 2 yard line to begin the fourth quarter the Crusaders drove to their 43 on the back of Jameal Poteat, who had over 150 yards rushing on the night, then on 3rd and 18 Matt Johnson let sail a pass down the sideline to Dan Leonard who made an insane leaping catch at the 11. 3 plays later Johnathon Duckett scored from the 2 and capped a 98 yard drive to give McDevitt a 27-17 lead and seal the win.
The Crusaders started fast in the first quarter going 89 yards for the first score. The drive was highlighted by catches of 23 and 34 yards from Salath WIlliams. Duckett would score from the 3 and Connor Maloneys pat made it 7-0 to end the first quarter. On the ensuing kickoff Shane Dorner muffed the kick and Fred Dietz recovered the ball for McDevitt at the State 37. The Crusaders then drove to the endzone on the legs of Poteat and a 7 yard TD pass from Johnson (6-13 for184 with 1 int and 1 td) to Williams in the corner. The score was quickly 14-0.
State would drive to the Crusader 39 and on 4 and 6 State lined up for a punt but punter Aaron Sallade tossed the ball to Colby way and he rumbled to the 23 for a first down. The Crusaders held State College to a Zak Khayat field goal making the score 14-3. On McDevitts next possession Brad Holzarth sacked Johnson for a 17 yard loss and on the next play John threw to Williams only to have the ball bounce off his shoulder and into the hands of Alex Kenney. Kenney used some nifty running to return the ball to paydirt, Keving disanto kicked the pat and it was 14-10 in a hurry. “Of all kids that ball had to land in kenneys hands” said McDevitt coach Jeff Weachter. McDevitt would try to score before the half ended but Colby Way harrassed Johnson, sacking him for a 12 yard loss and carrying players on his back to hurry Johnson on several plays. “In the second half we tried to account for Way by changing blocking scemes. It didn’t work well, he’s a great player” said Weachter.
On the first play of the second half Johnson rolled left heavily pursued by Way and tried to option to Poteat but the ball bounced off the back of Poteat and Micah Porter recovered at the 46. State then used some hard running by Jalal Albro and Kenny to drive to the 21. On 3rd and 15 Dom Mills hit Shane Dorner on a quick pass, Dorner then made up for his fumble earlier and ran to the endzone giving the Little Lions its first lead of the night. 21-17 was the score with 5:43 to go in the 3rd.
Poteat then carried his team back into the lead rushing for 63 yards on their next drive, including a 36 yard td run to give the Crusaders the lead back for good. State College gave one more good effort to score after Dawan Smith dropped and punt on the McDevitt 23. Colton Myers recovered the fumble and State drove to the 2 yard line but on 4th and 7 instead of kicking the field goal coach Al Wolski sent in an option pass play. Dom Mills had nobody open so he ran for the endzone crushing two Crusader defenders at the 2 but came up short. Brandon True of McDevitt didn’t know what hit him as he sat bloody and battered on the sideline after the hit. “he (Mills) took out our qb last year and this year it was me” said True. Both teams will qualify for playoffs and don’t be surprised if they dont meet again. “Our Kids played hard tonight but we just came up short” said Wolski.
