CHAMBERSBURG HUMBLED, 61-0
October 11- Bishop McDevitt Crusaders 61, Chambersburg Trojans 0. The score says it all. This morning's game at McDevitt field was non-competitive, as the undefeated home team scored 42 points in the first quarter and the winless visitors were frustrated at every turn. McDevitt, hampered by slow starts in most of this year's contests, came out of the gate with guns blazing, using runs, passes, blocked punts, fumble recoveries and interceptions to build a 55-0 half time lead. For the first time in recent memory the Crusaders have the overall team depth to make up for the inevitable injuries that come with a 10 game regular season. Such valuable players as Brandon True, Pat Hannigan, Lukas Mason, Colin York and Darrell Fry have filled in and the McDevitt lineup hasn't missed a beat. Head Coach Jeff Weachter was able to sit his starters from the end of the second quarter through the end of the game and the reserves played with spirit and effectiveness. Eight players carried the ball for McDevitt and six different Crusaders scored touchdowns, 2 each by senior receiver Kyle Koncar and senior running back Aaron Marks.
Chambersburg kicked off and tried a short pooch kick, but junior linebacker Fred Dietz grabbed it at the McD 36. Using running plays by Marks, sophomore fullback Sean Barowski, sophomore running back Jameel Poteat and sophomore quarterback Matt Johnson, the Crusaders advanced to the CH 34. Johnson then targeted tight end Tarajhe Gratkowski, and the big senior went high to grab the 17 yard pass. Poteat ripped off a 14 yard scamper before Barowski bulled in from the 3 for McDevitt's first score. Fill-in kicker Jonathan Duckett booted the extra point and the score was 7-0, with 7:42 left in the quarter. The Trojans managed a rare first down on their first possession before punting into the McDevitt end zone. Marks then took a handoff and darted across the line of scrimmage and cut to the right. He headed for the right sideline and shifted into high gear, outrunning the Trojan secondary for a lightning-fast 80 yard scoring run. After Duckett's EXP the score was 14-0, at the 6:23 mark. Duckett's kickoff went out of bounds but Chambersburg couldn't take advantage of the good field position and the Trojans were soon lining up to punt again. This time Duckett got a piece of the kick, and the ball rolled dead at the McD 47. After an incomplete pass Johnson dropped back to pass, rolled to his left to avoid the rush and passed to junior Jeremy Cornelius for a 22 yard gain. On the next play Johnson flipped a swing pass to Koncar in the right flat and the shifty senior weaved down the right sideline for a 31 yard scoring play. After Duckett's kick the score was 21-0 with 2:50 left in the quarter, but McDevitt wasn't done scoring yet. A 3-and-out performance by the McDevitt defense forced another Trojan punt. Junior Dawan Smith had a 6 yard return to get McDevitt started at the McD 37 and an offsides penalty against Chambersburg pushed the spot to the 42. After an incompletion Johnson again hooked up with Koncar, this time in the left flat. Koncar turned the corner, broke two tackles and sailed into the end zone to stretch the McDevitt lead to 28-0. After the subsequent kickoff the Trojans had a rare positive play, quarterback Brian Reese passing for a 22 yard gain. On the next play the Trojans fumbled and senior linebacker Dante Ushery scooped up the loose pigskin and raced for a 42 yard touchdown. It was now 35-0 McDevitt, and there was still 1:04 left in the quarter! Time for one more score. Chambersburg fumbled the kickoff that followed and the Crusaders recovered at the CH 14. Johnson then rolled to his right and calmly waited for an open receiver, eventually picking out junior Salath Williams in the end zone. Duckett booted his sixth successful PAT of the quarter to set the score at 42-0 with 55 seconds left in the opening stanza. Chambersburg went nowhere on the next series and were forced to punt for the fourth time as the first quarter finally came to an end.
The second quarter (and the rest of the game) was far less explosive. The Crusaders had to punt after a 3-and-out, but a Dietz interception soon had them sitting pretty at the CH 31. A 12 yard pass to the sure-handed Gratkowski followed, and then Barowski carried half the Chambersburg team on an 18 yard piggyback ride to the 1. Poteat popped over from there and, after Duckett's kick was blocked, the score was 48-0. Two plays later McDevitt defensive end Ryan Kuntz recovered a Reese fumble at the CH 9 and Marks proceeded to hop across the prone bodies of Trojan defenders to cap the one play scoring drive and give the Crusaders a 55-0 lead with 7:57 left in the half. Chambersburg managed to string together a couple of first downs before a personal foul penalty stopped the drive. On the next series Barowski fumbled at the McD 34 and the Trojans recovered, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after an incompletion ruined the drive, forcing another punt. With Johnson done for the day Koncar moved to quarterback and directed a drive into Chambersburg territory before the half ended.
In the second half McDevitt's reserves got a chance to show the home crowd their stuff. Junior Maurice Williams and Freshman Brandon Wallace took over the running chores, and junior qb Harrison Mutch moved behind center. Linemen Ted Deily, Tony Harris, Justen Garlic, DeAndre Lawson and Ryan Kenney were solid on both sides of the ball, and sophomore Malcolm Spence had a sack. These hard-working Crusaders kept Chambersburg's goose egg on the scoreboard and added a late score. After freshman Brock Dean ran for a yard and Wallace darted for 8 more Williams broke off a 45 yard run to the CH 5. A motion penalty moved McDevitt back 5 yards before Williams fought his way to the end zone. His reward was to try to kick the extra point, which fluttered harmlessly into the crowd. After another defensive stop Mutch took a knee to end the rout.
Next Saturday, October 18th, the Crusaders welcome the Carlisle Thundering Herd to McDevitt Field for Homecoming. The game begins at 10:30 AM.
QUOTES
Head Coach Jeff Weachter
We went back to basics this week in practice. We weren't happy with the way we've been starting out games and I saw a real focus with the kids all week. In the locker room before the game, in the pre-game and even in our walk-through in the gym this morning I saw a little bit different focus. We wanted to come out and execute and I think we did. The other thing I'm happy with is the defensive coaches. We got on the defense a little bit because teams have been moving the ball against us lately. In particular the defensive line needed to start playing better and I think they did. We told them that we wanted to be sharp in all phases. I don't really care what it says in the press or on some message board. First of all we've been doing pretty well offensively in the first half with the exception of Altoona. One of the things that has hurt us is that Vince Sullivan is the only returning starter on the offensive line. Teams have been giving us different fronts than the ones we practice against and the young guys just don't know how to adjust on the run. We try to tell them on the sidelines but sometimes the corrections have to come in the locker room where they can see the changes on a wipe board. I did put a challenge on the offense. We hadn't scored on the first series in any game this year but we marched down today and scored. I guess we got what we needed out of it. When I say I want us to play "McDevitt Football" I mean sharp, aggressive play. In Altoona, other than a few guys, we stepped it up with aggressive football. To me Bishop McDevitt football is about class, it's about execution and physical toughness. Against Carlisle next week we have to come out and execute. We can't let up on anything, because that will hurt us in our remaining games.
Defensive Coordinator Pat Berry
The kids played well and I was happy with the second group, the way they tackled. In the beginning of the game we didn't tackle well but our objective today was to come out strong and we obtained our objective. One thing Carlisle presents next week is a very good running back and they're doing some nice things. Their offense is similar to Chambersburg's but with the Meese kid they're pretty good. We have to concentrate before we get to State College. Pat Hannigan started for us today and did an excellent job. He really stepped up and he's doing everything right. The second team linebackers, secondary and line all did their job, which was tough because Chambersburg gives you some looks with motion that we had to adjust to.
TE Terahje Gratkowski
The game plan coming in today was to throw a couple of balls to me and it worked out pretty good. Matt throws a nice ball; it's always there on time. The first one was a little high but I'm big, so it was no problem. Using my hands to catch the ball is kind of like a habit. Going from basketball to football, it's like going up for a rebound, so it comes natural to me. We have a lot of talent on this team. Sometimes we only played half a game, but that half is one of the best halfs you'll see. But this game we picked it up right away and I'm proud of what we did.
DE Ryan Kuntz
Our coaches challenged us. This year we haven't come out offensively and scored right away so they challenged us to come out and start executing or we're not going to be able to compete with teams like State College and Erie McDowell. I think we met the challenge. We have to stay focused on Carlisle and I think this team will. We're not the kind of team to overlook anyone. We have to put on a performance like we did today and I think we will.
DB/LB Pat Hannigan
I was nervous before the game so I just kept going over my reads, looking at the defense so I would know my responsibility on each play. Me and Coach Berry have a really good relationship and he told me right away that I was starting. He tells me when I do good and when I do bad. We really came out strong today. Coach Wec even said that if we don't come out of the gate strong today that we have practice on Monday in full pads! That was a little extra incentive.
LB Colin York
It was a great opportunity today for me to get in there and just have fun and be physical and knock the boys around a little bit. We did really well and, senior year, you can't ask for much more. We really came out with some intensity in the first half. We got the job done in the first half and still took care of business in the second half. Next week against Carlisle we have to be a little bit more physical than we were today. We have to keep the same pace we had this week, come out and dominate.
OT/DT Lukas Mason
I felt really prepared for today. All week we've been working hard as a team. Coach Harvey prepares the line so well; it was a tough, physical, very physical week of practice. We always think in terms of improvements. When it came to that Coach Wec said we had to pick it up in the first half and I think we did. When it comes to goals we're thinking states. We've been working hard all summer and we're a tight group of guys. There's basically no limit; we can go the whole way.