The Cougars Get Eaten, Poteat Runs All over Them

HARRISGURG – The beginning of high school football season holds high expectations for any team that plays.  Most fan’s believe that their team can go deep into the playoffs.  Enter Harrisburg and Bishop McDevitt.  Two of the most talented teams in the state a year ago.  Both made runs deep into the playoffs.  Both came in ranked in the top 10 in the easternpafootball.com Top 10 big schools.  Both have high expectations this year.

But this one looked like it was over almost from the beginning.  The Cougars stopped the Crusaders on their first drive.  McDevitt had all of seven yards and had to punt.  Harrisburg blocked the kick and recovered at the 18 yard line.  After a 9 yard pass from senior Anthony Holmes to Leon Bullock, the Cougars received two straight 5 yard penalties.  Then two incomplete passes forced Harrisburg to kick.  The field goal was no good.  And McDevitt came alive.

McDevitt then went on to put up 42 unanswered points.  Harrisburg finally answered with 6 late in the game.  But ultimately, the Crusaders won 42-6. 

The first touchdown came on a wonderful drive anchored by a 5-5 for 72 yard performance from sophomore quarterback Matt Johnson.  He hit three different receivers on the drive.  Jameal Poteat, a sophomore, who had 15 carries for 94 yards and four touchdowns stuffed the ball in from the 2.  So with 3:17 left in the first it was McDevitt 7-0.  Three minutes and 10 seconds later Poteat scored again.  On three carries for 56 yards, he punched another one in from the 1.  Score 2 seconds into the second quarter, 14-0 McDevitt. 

A couple of minutes later, the sophomore running back from McDevitt took a 19 yard pass from Johnson to the house.  That was after a holding call put McDevitt in a 3^rd and goal from the 19.  After a gift of a failed fake punt, the Crusaders took over late in the second on the cougar 25.  Seven plays later, Sean Barowski, a sophomore full back, punched the ball in from the 1.  And the score was 28-0 at the half. 

Less then 4 minutes into the third, it was McDevitt on the board again.  This time it was senior Aaron Marks in from the 2 to push the score to 35-0.  With only a couple of seconds left in the 3^rd it was Marks who finished off the scoring for McDevitt with a 31 yard TD. 

The lone Harrisburg touchdown came from sophomore QB Jalen Fitzpatrick as he found Bullock streaking down the sideline for a 58-yard touchdown pass. 

The Crusaders look lean and mean as they head to Cedar Cliff next week.  The boys from Harrisburg have a lot to work on as they travel to Central Dauphin next week.