The long awaited game was finally here on Friday night. Manheim Central, district 3 powerhouse, played host to the Lancaster Catholic Crusaders. Many people had been wondering why this game has not happened sooner. The schools are only 20 minutes apart and with the storied programs that each school has, it seems like this would be a natural matchup.
Friday morning the rain started coming down on Elden Rettew Field and it never let up. The game started with a fine mist that picked up to a downpour in the third quarter. The Crusaders never let up on the Barons either.
The first quarter was quiet and ugly as both teams looked like they were attempting to get used to playing in the rain. But as soon as the second quarter started, the Crusaders were on a mission. Two minutes into the second quarter, QB Kyle Smith found Andrew Millay across the middle and he got loose down to the 1. Jordan Stewart punched the ball in from there and Catholic was up on the Barons 7-0.
Nine minutes later, the Crusaders got on the board again when Alan Berlucchi took a short pass from Smith into the end zone. That put Catholic up 14-0 with 2:57 left in the half. That play was again set up by a long pass from Smith to Millay to get the Crusaders inside the redzone.
The third quarter opened up and late in the third Smith again found a receiver open. This time it was Quinn Houser. Houser took the ball at about the 18 and found the end zone after making three Baron defenders miss. The score was 21-8. The rain picked up after that and it was a fumble fest.
Neither team could hold on to the ball and fumbles and punts were traded back and forth. Finally with less than 2 minutes left in the fourth quarter Baron runner Dakota Royer took a hand off and got it down to the 4 yard line. Two penalties on the Crusaders moved the ball to the 1. Joe Gruber got it in from there and Alex Shenk added the two point conversion to make it 21-8. But it was too little, too late for the Barons as the Crusaders ran the clock out after the score.
The 1-2 Barons start their section play next week as the travel to Cocalico. The 2-1 Crusaders go home and Donegal comes to town.
