So, what do you do for an encore? In 1995, the Bishop McDevitt football squad defied the odds and became trend setters by which all future teams would be measured. They never left the field in defeat. Fifteen wins, a MidPenn championship, a District III Class AA championship and the school's first ever state title. They did it all. Many a football follower said, "1996 will be different...There is no way they can repeat what they (the Crusaders) accomplished in '95." 1996 was indeed different and many a change took place, particularly in player personnel and coaching. However, the 1996 season brought many of the same results and great memories much like the '95 season, culminating in another Mid-Penn championship (shared with Cedar Cliff) and a second consecutive district title.
Many changes and new faces greeted the Crusader faithful on Aug. 31 at McDevitt Field. All-American Raki Nelson departed for Notre Dame. All State performers Corey Deibler, Jordan Scott and Don Painter also moved on to college. Even Coach Four Chapman took a much needed rest and turned the coaching reigns over to his assistants, Scott Feldman and Brian Bullock. The Crusader fans may havc been uneasy at first until they noticed the return of a healthy Ajani Walton at tailback and the surprise emergence of an incredible pass-catch combination in junior quarterback Mike Eismann and junior wideout Brian Manni. All-Conference and All-Area guard and defensive tackle Steve Spoljaric returned along with 280-pound sidekick Rocco Cangialosi. Ballhawking linebacker Todd Mealy, one of the Crusaders' defensive leaders, also was back. Only time would tell if the Crusaders could successfully defend the titles they so deservedly achieved the previous year.
The Crusaders' '96 season had an auspicious beginning with a 43-6 pasting of Theodore Roosevelt from Washington D.C. Eismann threw for 268 yards and four touchdowns to four different receivers. The defense limited the Rough Riders to just 27 yards on the ground and only four first downs, many of them coming late in the contest.
Week two was a repeat of the opener. This time, however, Walton was on display. The Crusader tailback scored three first-half touchdowns and was well on his way to another 100-yard rushing effort when the first team was rested in the second half. A 39-0 half-time lead ovcr the outmanned Mustangs from West Perry would swell to an even greater bulge when tight end Kahlil Nash caught his second touchdown of the season. The 46-13 victory may have been too sweet and the Crusaders got fat from it. The lard would be trimmed the following week.
For the third straight week, the Crusaders got to play within the friendly confines of McDevitt Field. The first two opponents cooperated graciously as the Crusaders' winning streak ran to 17. It would end there. The Rams of Central Dauphin refused to play like an invited guest, more like an obnoxious relative that just does not know when it's time to go home. The Crusaders drew first blood with an Eismann to Manni connection for a 13-yard TD. A missed extra point left the score at 6-0. That score would be the only one for McDevitt until the middle of the third quarter.
The Rams' Brian Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards to knot the score at six. After an apparent McDevitt touchdown pass from Eismann to Manni was called back for holding, the Crusaders were forced to punt. Early in the second quarter with the Rams pinned in the shadow of their own goal line, CD's outstanding quarterback Rich Hamilton, broke four tackles before firing a desperation pass downfield while being sacked. Somehow, tailback A.J. Connely, running the wrong pattern, was still in the right place at the right time and reeled in Hamilton's chuck at the 40-yard line, then outran the Crusader secondary for the final 60 yards to complete a miraculous 99-yard score. Frank Brescia added the point and Central Dauphin had its first lead over a McDevitt team in five years. The Rams would add another score just before half and took a two-touchdown lead at intermission.
The Crusaders answered the bell to start the second half with two key runs by Walton leading to a 3-yard TD carry by Eismann to turn the momentum toward the home team. With the Rams still on their heels, Manni outleaped Ram cornerback Rudy Garcia to pull in a 24-yard pass from Eismann and the game was tied at 20. In the fourth quarter the two teams exchanged punts until the Crusaders put together a nifty 50-yard plus drive that ended in an interception at the goal line. Big-time players always seem to make big plays at the most crucial time in big games. No time was more crucial than this moment in the game and Hamilton was certainly the one to come through for the Rams. On 3rd and long, Hamilton broke an option 73 yards. After weaving through the entire McDevitt defense, the Ram quarterback was finally pushed out of bounds at the Crusader 10 with less than two minutes on the clock. Two plays later, fullback Mick Blosser plowed through the heart of the McD "D" for seven yards and the apparent game-winning touchdown.
A champion always shows what he is made of when he appears to be defeated. It was time for McDevitt's BIG players to shine. Elsmann directed a gutsy 80-yard drive in less than a minute. Nash lassoed a 12-yard strike from Eismann and the game was tied again.
One of the most exciting games to
be played at McDevitt Field would only get better in overtime. On 4th and goal from the 1-yard line, Coach Feldman went for the touchdown rather than opting for a field goal attempt from kicker Armando Chilmaza, who missed one PAT already and looked shaky on his other two attempts. Walton scored and Chilmaza added the PAT for a 34-27 lead. CD immediately responded with Connely rushing around the end for a 10-yard score. Brescia responded to the pressure kick and a second overtime was required. The Rams were forced to settle for a field goal, but the Crusaders could only match the Rams field goal with one of their own. In the third overtime, McDevitt was stopped on fourth down while Brescia won the game for the Rams with a pressure field goal from 19 yards out. The streak was over and as the Crusaders fell from their perch atop Mid-Penn I, they would land on their feet at Chapman Field in New Kingstown.
Following a brutal week of practice, the offensive line would dominate a proud Cumberland Valley squad, a picture rarely seen since Tim Rimpfel took over as CV's coach in 1989. Walton opened the scoring with a 1yard plunge. Cumberland Valley's flanker Adam Kiess made a spectacular reception of a James Lawlor pass for a 34 yard touchdown. With the score tied at seven it was time for the "O" linc to take control. Running the veer to perfection, Eismann and fullback Kevin Mitchell carried the Crusaders to a two-touchdown lead in the third quarter. Walton continued to dominate in the second half, breaking numerous tackles on his way to a 158-yard game and two touchdowns. The Crusaders rushed for 298 and threw for another 178 yards. A late Charlie Adams touchdown reception kept the game close but the 9-point lead was too big to overcome. 10,500 fans witnessed the resurrection of McDevitt football team and a 28-19 victory.
The following week, fearing a letdown, the coaching staff put the Crusaders through long and hard practices. The extra work paid off as the Crusaders mauled a disinterested Carlisle squad with a 42-point first half. Week five provided the Crusaders with a very lively and enthusiastic Steel-High team. The Crusaders broke open a tight game with a Jason Pagano 55-yard TD reception. Manni would add two more touchdown receptions in the second half. Eismann threw for 296, while backup tailback Spencer Waters and Mitchell contributed greatly to a 213-yard team rushing effort. The 41-14 win set the stage for another Mid-Penn showdown with undefeated Cedar Cliff.
Ten thousand high school football fans packed West Shore Stadium for this important Mid-Penn I contest. The Crusaders welcomed back Coach Chapman in an assistant's role and it seemed to motivate this team to reach new heights. After Lee Champ fumbled a punt on his own 10-yard line, the Colts made short work of this mistake with sensational tailback Coy Wire plunging over the goal line from two yards out. The Crusaders immediately responded with a 45-yard scoring strike from Eismann to Manni to tie the game at seven.
In the second quarter the Colts managed their best offensive series of the game driving almost the length of the field, only to be held to a Brian Patterson 22-yard field goal. The Colts possessed the football for nearly the entire quarter only to have McDevitt respond with the same lethal combination that burned them in the first quarter - Elsmann to Manni, this time for 46 yards and another score. McDevitt would lead at the half 14-10.
Eismann and the Crusaders picked up where they finished the first half by receiving the second half kick-off and driving for another score, an Eismann 9yard dash. Cedar Cliff would close within three with a Wire touchdown. However, the McDevitt "D" came up with big' stops in thc fourth quarter and Eismann sealed the Colts' fate with a 28-yard keeper to close the scoring at 26-17. The Crusaders were in first place in Mid-Penn I, tied with Cedar Cliff and Harrisburg.
Week eight brought Homecoming and a soggy day to McDevitt Field and the Crusader faithful. The Crusaders responded to an early Chambersburg lead by scoring 28 consecutive points and demolished the Trojans 28-7. Eismann was once again the hero, throwing for two and running for two touchdowns. For the second year in a row the Trojans were only the appetizer for the Crusaders. The Harrisburg City Championship and the Mid-Penn I title were once again on the line.
A beautiful, sunny autumn day along with 7,000 patrons greeted both teams. Neither squad had much success moving the ball in the first quarter. Taking advantage of a Crusader turnover, the Cougars wasted no time in putting up the first points, a Calvin Everett 5-yard touchdown run. Sensational wideout Marc Lester increased the Cougar lead with an outstanding catch over the outstretched arms of McDevitt cornerback Spencer Waters. The extra point was blocked (which would later come back to haunt the Cougars) and Harrisburg took a 13-0 lead into intermission.
The Crusader line, after being verbally barraged by a very upset Coach Bullock, dominated the second half. Despite having some success with Walton on the ground and Eismann-toManni in the air, McDcvitt still showed a goose egg for its efforts. It took a great catch by Brian Rohacek for a 67yard touchdown run to bring the Crusaders back into the fray. In the fourth quarter, another HUGE special teams play by McDevitt would set up the go-ahead score. A blocked punt put McD's "O" in business inside the Harrisburg 30-yard line. Walton, running with all heart and power, carried the Crusaders inside the Harrisburg 10 in three plays. Eismann would score on third down from the 1 and Chilmaza added the all-important PAT.
Near exhaustion, the Cougars still managed to penetrate deep into Crusader territory with only seconds remaining. A big sack by linebacker Earnie Crist forced a field goal attempt by Mywana Jenkins from 52 yards away. The kick was well short and once again the Crusaders celebrated another Mid-Penn Championship. Once again the City Championship, played at Severance Field was decided on the last play.
With nothing to play for (a playoff berth had been sewn up two weeks prior) the Crusaders came out flat in their last regular season contest. The Middletown Blue Raiders jumped out to a 10-0 lead before Walton went to work in the second half. Playing in his last home game, Walton led all rushers with more than 100 yards. He capped his home career with two touchdowns, including a 60-yard gallop that signaled the end for Middletown. The Crusaders would now take their show on the road through theDistrict III and PIAA state playoffs.
Littlestown provided little challenge to McDevitt as the Crusaders cruised to a 57-21 win. Walton, along with crazy weather (rain, sleet and snow at one point in the game), provided most of the excitement. The senior tailback rushed for 137 yards and scored three touchdowns. The District Championship was next.
The contest began much like the previous week. McDevitt jumped out to a commanding 26-0 lead and never looked back. Conrad Weiser did make life a little interesting though, as they continued to claw back in the game. The Scouts would never quit and actually closed within 26-21. The Crusaders then woke up from their twoquarter nap to paste four more touchdowns on the board en route to a 53-34 triumph.
The Crusaders traveled up to the Pottsville area to tackle North Schuylkill. The defense was challenged by the coaching staff to step up its efforts after giving up 34 points the previous week. It responded immediately. On the game's very first play, linebacker Kevin Mitchell returned an interception 29 yards for a score. In the second quarter, Eismann added a 4-yard touchdown run to his already glowing resume. The Spartans responded with a Russ Probst 1-yard run to close within seven at the half. North Schuylkill would never threaten again.
Chilmaza broke the defensive stalemate with a late third quarter field goal. The Crusader offense finally figured out the puzzling Spartan defense and put another touchdown on the board early in the fourth quarter when Mitchell recovered Eismann's fumble in the end zone to give McD a 24-7 lead. A blocked punt three plays later followed by a TD pass to Rashad Jeffries increased the lead to 31-7. It was now time to turn out the lights, the party was indeed over. Scott Koppenheffer added a 30-yard run to close the score at 37-7. Mt Carmel and the Eastern Championship was next, and the game would take place in the heart of the anthracite coal region, Shamokin. The only problem was McDevitt would play the game without star tailback Walton, injured late in the third quarter.
A frozen field and a very hostile crowd greeted the Crusaders. The Mt. Carmel Red Tornadoes treated the Crusaders with the same flair, scoring three first half touchdowns en route to an 18-0 halftime lead. McDevitt refused to roll over and die. The Crusaders moved the ball 56 yards to the Mt. Carmel 1, but Waters, subbing for the injured Walton, was denied on 4th-and-1. Five minutes later Jeffries made a leaping catch in the back of the end zone to cut the deficit to 18- 7. McDevitt would get no closer. Twice the Crusaders threatened in the fourth quarter and both times they were turned away. Mt. Carmel would receive all the accolades and praise in '96. The Crusaders drove home and while some could only wonder what it would have been like to win consecutive state rifles, others reflected on a wonderful season that went well beyond expectations. This '96 was indeed a memorable one.
-Coach Rick Pierce
Mid-Penn Division I 1st Team
OL-Rocco Cangialosi
WR-Brian Manni
OL-Steve Spoljaric
QB-Mike Eismann
DT-Rocco Cangialosi
LB-Todd Mealy
DE-Kahlil Nash
DT-Steve Spoljaric
DB-Jacoby Pittman
Mid-Penn Division I 2nd Team
RB-Ajani Walton
TE-Kahil Nash
All State 1st Team
QB-Mike Eismann
WR-Brian Manni
All State 2nd Team
LB-Todd Mealy
OL-Steve Spoljaric
All State 3rd Team
DE-Kahlil Nash