McCoy Injured in 38-24 McDevitt Victory
This year's game will be remembered because LeSean McCoy got hurt.
Despite the terrific play by both teams, the huge momentum swings and the grand individual efforts by a score of players, McCoy's season-ending ankle injury cast a pall over the overflow crowd at McDevitt Field this morning. The amazing senior running back, in hot pursuit of the all-time Pennsylvania rushing record, saw his high school career end after a hard (but clean) tackle by Harrisburg's Xzavier Hunter late in the 4th quarter of the Crusader's 38-24 win. It was soon evident that the injury was serious, and Shady, in obvious agony, was carried off the field as spectators on both sides rose for a standing ovation. Later, when the ambulance drove to the sideline for McCoy's trip to Hershey Medical Center, the hushed crowd stood silently, the only noise an occasional sob. In retrospect, it's a tribute to the McDevitt players and coaching staff that they could complete their comeback after such an emotional scene.
The highly-anticipated contest began with a failed McDevitt drive. Aaron Berry returned the opening kickoff 17 yards to the MCD 35. Employing a variety of offensive sets, the Crusaders used 11 plays to march steadily downfield, mixing McCoy runs (5 for 33 yds.) with short passes to Berry and Brandon Brown. When a motion penalty stalled the drive, Mike Comasco was unable to convert a 30 yard field goal attempt and Harrisburg took over at the HBG 20. After a motion penalty of its own, the Cougar's QB, Nate Brown, completed a shovel pass to Lamar Jackson that was good for a 45 yard gain. Four plays later Brown lofted a screen pass to Jeremiah Hunter, catching McDevitt in a blitz. Hunter strolled down the left sideline for the game's first score, but a failed PAT attempt kept the Cougar advantage at 6-0, with 4:16 left in the opening quarter. After an exchange of punts, the Crusader started at the MCD 20 with a 10 yard McCoy run. After a holding penalty negated another Shady gain, quarterback Jeremy Ricker dropped a screen pass into the waiting arms of David Seiple. The 240 lb. "H" back flattened 2 would-be tacklers on the way to a 10 yard gain that fired up the large McDevitt crowd. Ricker got the first down on an 11 yard completion to Berry as the quarter ended.
The Crusaders opened the second stanza with 2 short McCoy runs, and then Harrisburg was called for pass interference to move the ball into Cougar territory. Ricker clicked for 16 yards, again to Berry, and then McCoy bulled for 3 yards to the HBG 22. After Brown gained 5 yards on a quick out, McCoy was dropped for a 2 yard loss on third down. With the spectators standing in anticipation, McCoy slipped off the left side behind Tucker Baumbach's block and bolted into the end zone, finishing the 13 play, 80 yard scoring drive and tying the game at 6. No one could imagine that they had just witnessed the final touchdown in Shady's already legendary high school career. A botched snap doomed the PAT attempt, and the score was 6-6 with 8:18 left in the half. On the third play of Harrisburg's next possession Brown fumbled the snap and Matt Dietz quickly pounced on the loose ball at the HBG 26. Following an incompletion McCoy weaved his way for a 14 yard gain to the 12, but 2 Shady plunges and an incompletion brought Mike Comasco back on the field. This time the sophomore drilled a 28 yard field goal to make the score 9-6, Crusaders. Now the McDevitt defense was beginning to take over the game. After gaining a first down at the HBG 32, the Cougars were unable to contain the swarming McDevitt pass rush, and Brian Weisser dropped Brown for an 8 yard sack. On the next play Jeremiah Hunter took a swing pass and was buried by 3 McDevitt defenders, 7 yards behind the line. Hunter then fumbled and Vince Comasco raced to the end zone with the ball, but the officials ruled Comasco down at the HBG 16. Ricker made the most of the Cougar turnover on the next play by lofting a pass for Berry deep in the corner of the end zone. The ball glanced off the Harrisburg defender and Berry alertly grabbed it for the score that gave McDevitt a 16-6 advantage with 2:54 left in the half. Harrisburg's nightmare quarter continued when a subsequent punt traveled only 12 yards to the HBG 43. Four McCoy runs netted 25 yards to the HBG 18. Ricker then dropped back to pass and, finding no one open, began to drift to the left. With plenty of open field ahead of him, the McDevitt crowd screamed for Ricker to run with the ball. But the senior calmly waited for Berry to cross the back of the end zone before firing an 18 yard bullet that Berry surrounded for the tally. Mike Comasco's PAT pushed the lead to 24-6 with 43 seconds left before intermission. The Cougars then tried to grab a quick score, but the ever-present Berry made an interception at the MCD 20 as the half ended.
After half time, Harrisburg came out of the locker room with a sense of determination and promptly marched 88 yards in 11 plays (despite another Weisser sack), eventually scoring on a 26 yard pass from Brown to Carlos Smith. With the score now 23-12, McDevitt used 4 McCoy runs and a pass completion to Julian Harrell to advance to midfield, but an incompletion forced a Crusader punt. Ricker pooched the kick beautifully, the ball rolling out of bounds at the HBG 5. On the next play Brown threw a fade pass to Smith with Berry covering the Cougar receiver stride-for stride. Suddenly Berry pulled up, hopping awkwardly with a leg cramp. The pass hit Smith in stride and Berry could only watch in agony as Smith cruised 95 yards for the score as the visitor's bleachers exploded in celebration. Hunter was stopped short on the 2 point conversion, and the McDevitt lead was reduced to 23-18 with 4:22 left in the third. When McCoy fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Harrisburg recovered at the MCD 25, the Cougars appeared ready to take the lead. But the McDevitt defense rose to the occasion, stopping 2 rushes for no gain and forcing 2 incompletions to avert the threat. The Crusaders then advanced 22 yards before the quarter ended.
On the second play of the fourth quarter Ricker tried to pass to Leon Black, wide open in the right flat. Defensive end Darnell Henderson made an incredible play, jumping to block the pass and somehow catching it at the same time. He then avoided Ricker's tackle attempt and rumbled 37 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. After Matt Vargo batted down Brown's pass on the two point conversion, Harrisburg led, 24-23 with 11:31 left in the game. Mike Comasco returned the kickoff 17 yards to the MCD 22, and then McCoy scampered for 18 yards. The Ricker-Brown connection added 6 more yards and Shady tacked on a 10 yarder, but 2 incompletions forced another Crusader punt, to the HBG 13. The Crusader defense stiffened when Keith Davis and Pat Berry stopped Brown a yard short of a first down, and the Harrisburg punt that followed rolled dead at the HBG 47. Shady then ran 11 yards for a first down at the 37, but Ricker was sacked for a 10 yard loss on the next play. Facing a 2nd-and-20 with the clock running down, Ricker dropped back to pass and targeted Berry near the McDevitt bench. Berry made a sweet, diving catch at the HBG 27 and the Crusaders were back in business. On 3rd and 1, McCoy slammed over left guard Ryan Finney and pushed the pile until he had gained 7 yards and a first down at the HBG 20. Then Shady drove through the Harrisburg line and cut to his left before Zxavier Hunter made the fateful tackle at the 12 yard line. After the injury 
delay, Mike Jones came in to replace McCoy and ran for 2 yard, and then Dave Onorato blasted for the first down at the 5. Onorato fought to the 1 yard line on the next play but fumbled. Jason Kates alertly fell on the ball to keep the Crusader hopes alive. On the next play, Ricker followed center Sebastian Sullivan across the goal line to recapture the lead, 29-24. Following the delay to allow the ambulance to leave the field, McDevitt coach Jeff Weachter decided to go for the 2 point conversion. Ricker took the snap and rolled to his right, looking at the McDevitt receivers who had flooder the right flat. Suddenly he turned and threw a dart to Brown, wide open under the goal posts in the back of the end zone. The well-executed conversion posted McDevitt to a 31-24 lead with 2:14 remaining. After returning the kickoff to its own 20, the Cougars hoped for their own comeback. But on the first play, Leon Black tipped a Brown pass and Vince Comasco grabbed the deflection and motored 36 yards for a game-clinching touchdown. Harrisburg's last possession ended with a Sullivan sack and 3 incompletions, leaving the exhausted Crusaders and their fans to a muted celebration of the 38-24 victory.
The undefeated Crusader's next game is Saturday, October 1st against Carlisle at McDevitt field. The game, which will include a salute to the 1995 State Championship team, begins at 10:30 AM.
QUOTES
Head Coach Jeff Weachter
It was a hard-fought game, just like any Harrisburg-McDevitt game. We got on top of them; we came out a little bit flat in the second half. We had them deep in their own territory and I think if we hold them down there it's an easy game. But give them credit; they made a big play and caught a pass over the middle to get them out of a hole and then came down and scored. I think the other thing that helped them was Aaron cramping up on that 95 yard touchdown pass. Aaron was with him stride-for stride and the next thing I see is Aaron falling down. But I'm relay proud of the team, the way they came back and pulled together. That's the sign of a true champion and I'm happy about that. On the last drive I thought we had a touchdown but we didn't pick up their blitz and Jeremy got sacked, but we had Brandon Brown wide open on a post. But we couldn't get the ball off. We then had 2nd and 20 and Jeremy made a great throw and Aaron made a great catch to get us out of the hole and get us the first down. I knew when we got the first down that we were going to go down and score. I think we'll come back and LeSean will be back in school sometime and he'll bring this team up. I think everyone is looking to prove that we're more than just a one man team.
Assistant Coach Jake Minnich
I have very mixed emotions. I don't worry so much about the tailback position, per se, as I do about the player because Shady is such a great kid. I feel bad for him, personally. We'll regroup. We have people that will go in; naturally, but they're not going to be Shady. I thought the line played pretty well; I really did. We made some adjustments at half time and came out and ran the ball a little bit better in the second half. The pass blocking schemes that we went over, well, I think Jeremy had plenty of time to throw the ball, so everything went pretty well as planned. We let them back in the game with some big plays, we had some people cramp up on us that led to big plays, but that's just one of those things. The last drive was key. Shady was running the ball real well and after he went down the kids stepped right in and picked it up. It worked out in our favor so let's just say a prayer for Shady.
Assistant Coach Pat Berry
There's definitely a lot of emotion in that locker room. The biggest thing is that we know Shady wants us to go on, so I think the kids are going to pull together; I really do. I think you're going to see a good effort on offense and on defense. We have a lot of good young running backs that are going to get their shot now. Vince Comasco always plays well against Harrisburg. He had the big play last year, chasing down the guy that ran free. He gave us a lot of relief. I'm glad he got in the end zone, too. The opening series they ran a little bit of "Utah", then after that they ran a screen pass and, to be honest with you, it was my fault. I called the wrong defense. In the second half they did mix it up on us a little bit. They had us a little bit off-balance but I still think we played well. All-in-all I think it was a great defensive effort. There will be no letdown against Carlisle. There will be no letdown.
WR Brandon Brown
We're just going to have to pull together as a family and just focus on the season. Shady is not going to want us to keep our heads down; he wants us to keep our heads up. If we stay focused on the season we have a real good chance to go to the state championship game. Shady's not going to want us to blow that. We re going to pick it up for Carlisle. I remember last year. We had controversy when Aaron went down and we came out and we weren't focused. Now we're losing an even bigger factor in Shady so we have to concentrate and prepare.
WR/DB Aaron Berry
This is something we have to get over. We have to keep our composure and still try to get to states even though he's out. Harrisburg is definitely good. We knew they weren't going to quit. We had to come out and play hard to pull this one out. On that last catch I knew I had to make a play because I dropped one on the other side. I don't know what was going on with the cramps. I guess I didn't have enough fluids in my body. We're going to come in on Monday and get to work. LeSean wants us to win it all so we are going to have to do it for him.
QB Jeremy Ricker
I just can't believe something like that could happen to such a good person. We couldn't have done it without Shady, what he means to us on and off the field. I wouldn't be where I am without him. We were working the whole week on getting Shady fired up and he did a beautiful job today, sucking the defenders up and allowing me to throw over them. We sure exploited it. After Shady got hurt it was a mess in the huddle. I threw the 2 point conversion to Brandon, and after that it was a mess, but we brought it all together in the huddle. But everyone worked together. You can tell that our team's a family because of the way we came back
C/DE Sebastian Sullivan
It was tough but I'm so proud of our guys for coming through. We had to come back after we lost Shady; it was a great comeback win. I feel that Harrisburg's line is much better than they were last year. They were solid. I think they got a little tired at the end of the game, though. I think that helped us come back and win. We knew coming in that we were going to have to get pressure on the quarterback. I mean, they're a decent line but we knew we could pressure them. Going both ways is fun but I kind of get tired after a while. We have some subs on defense that are real good so I'm happy about that. We have to remember last year, when we won the District championship but we got beat by Carlisle the first time.
DB Matt Vargo
I guess Shady's gone for the year so we'll have to find new ways to win. We made a couple of personnel changes in the defense. We knew they were going to spread us out and throw the ball. They kind of started running at the beginning but we made good adjustments to it. There was a lot of hitting but there's always a lot of hitting in this game. Everyone knows what kind of game this is, the city championship. It's intense, it's a rivalry. It's good for high school sports, I guess. We have to focus and put this behind us, but we can't forget about it. We have to use this as motivation and keep striving to win the state championship.
LB Pat Berry
I just can't comprehend this happening. You just don't think it can happen. We just have to move on, though, keep playing harder. The running game wasn't much of a factor but when they spread us out and started throwing we had some problems, and we had some guys cramping. But we're all right now. For Carlisle, well, we can't take a day off in this league. We have to step it up again next week.
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