October 23- Following a proven formula the Bishop McDevitt Crusaders cruised to win #8 of the 2009 football season, overwhelming the Carlisle Thundering Herd, 43-6, accompanied by few spectators and lots of rain at Ken Millen Stadium. The Crusaders exploded out of the gate for a 36 point lead over the home team and allowed its flashy defense to smother any attempted comeback. Playing in a rain storm that alternated between drizzle, downpour and deluge all evening, McDevitt showcased the usual suspects on offense: junior quarterback Matt Johnson, junior tailback Jameel Poteat, senior receiver Salath Williams and an ever-improving offensive line. The defense allowed one Carlisle scoring drive in the first half, a series keyed by successful pass plays, and then spent the second half recording sacks and interceptions. The win was McDevitt's 8^th straight in the soon-to-be-obsolete Mid Penn Keystone Conference, as the Crusaders outscored conference opponents 183-35 this year.

Carlisle received the opening kickoff and tried three consecutive running plays which succeeded in netting 4 yards and led to Carlisle's first punt, which rolled dead at the McD 35. Johnson began the evening's fireworks by passing to Williams for a 31 yard gain. Then, after Poteat's first run was stopped for no gain, the reliable junior sliced through the Herd defensive line and trotted for a 34 yard touchdown run. After Connor Maloney's successful PAT McDevitt had a 7-0 lead, with 9:19 left in the quarter. The ensuing kickoff was returned to the CAR 28 and, three plays later, Carlisle was punting again. This time the punt rolled to a stop at the McD 23 and the McDevitt offense was ready to score again. Poteat started this possession with a 13 yard run. Junior fullback Sean Barowski was stuffed for no gain and then Poteat fought for 4 yards. On the next play Johnson took the snap and lofted a deep pass down the left sideline. Williams cruised under the accurate toss, made the grab and strolled the remainder of the 60 yards to push the McDevitt lead to 14-0. After the next kickoff the Herd kept the ball on the ground and drove into McDevitt territory before a personal foul penalty and an incomplete pass snuffed out the threat. McDevitt took over at the CAR 41 and produced 2 short Poteat runs as the first quarter ended.

Johnson started the second quarter by hitting Poteat for a short 3 yard gain. Now facing a 4th-and-5 at the CAR 34, Johnson fired a low pass that Williams dove to catch. The play was good for a 17 yard gain and led to the 17 yard Poteat touchdown run that followed, at the 10:59 mark in the second quarter. Carlisle then let Maloney's kickoff roll to the 1 and returned to the 6. After a 2 yard run Carlisle quarterback Cody Failor tried running an option play to the right. Sophomore defensive end Noah Spence unloaded on Failor, sending the ball squirting into the nearby end zone. Sophomore linebacker Brock Dean appeared to recover the slippery pigskin for a touchdown but the official ruling was a safety, stretching the Crusader advantage to 23-0.The ensuing free kickoff went out of bounds, adding insult to injury and setting up the Crusaders at the MCD 45. This drive started with one of Johnson's rare incomplete passes, and then the reliable Poteat blasted up the middle for 10 yards that moved the chains. A Johnson pass to senior Jeremy Cornelius gained another 10 before Poteat fought for 2 more yards, to the CAR 23. The next play was another pass to Cornelius good for 18 yards, but a personal foul against McDevitt moved the ball back to the MCD 20. Three plays later the Crusaders were facing a 4th-and- 5, so Johnson smartly scrambled for 13 yards and the first down. A play later Poteat popped over the goal line and, after Maloney's PAT, McDevitt had a 30-6 lead, with 5:05 left in the half. After the kickoff Carlisle came to life, as Failor connected with receiver Lee Townsend for a couple of long pass completions. Tailback Hunter Robb ran for a two yard score to finish the drive, but the extra point attempt was bobbled and smothered by the Crusader rush. Senior safety Jon Duckett recovered the short kick that followed and McDevitt prepared to answer Carlisle's lone score. A questionable pass interference penalty benefited McDevitt and then, after a 2 yard Poteat run, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Carlisle bench moved the ball to the CAR 32. Poteat promptly blasted for an 11 yard gain and followed it with a run for 6 more. After an incompletion Johnson found reliable senior Aaron Sye in traffic for a first down at the 2, setting up Poteat's fourth touchdown of the half. Now up 36-6, the Crusader defense quickly forced a fumble (recovered by the Herd) and registered a sack by senior tackle Stephan Belle. After two motion penalties Carlisle was glad to see the half end.

The second half began with another squib kick by Carlisle, recovered by Duckett at the MCD 44. Poteat was done for the night, so sophomore Brandon Wallace reported for duty at running back. Wallace made his first carry a memorable one, rocketing for a 56 yard touchdown run on his first carry. The Extra point attempt was fumbled, but Wallace's run had pushed the McDevitt lead to 43-6, enacting the “Mercy Rule” and its continuously running clock. On the first play after the kickoff Duckett picked off a Failor pass attempt but, despite the fine field position, the Crusaders failed to score. Carlisle's next series was interrupted by another McDevitt interception, this time by senior cornerback Corey Ford. The Crusaders then worked on the running game but failed to advance the ball and turned it over on downs at the CAR 30. The Herd used up the remainder of the fast-moving quarter by moving into McDevitt territory, but 4 consecutive sacks by the rampaging McDevitt defensive line ended the threat. In the final stanza both teams traded possessions without doing damage, and the game ended with the Crusaders moving steadily down field behind the running of Wallace, sophomore Sean Seif and freshman Darnell Holland.

Next Friday, October 30^th, the Crusaders travel to State College to take on the State College Little Lions. The game will be televised state-wide by the Pennsylvania Cable Network ( PCN), and starts at 7:00 PM.

QUOTES

Head Coach Jeff Weachter

I was pleased tonight. You don't know how the field will be on a night like this. In the first half it was in pretty good shape so we didn't have to worry about the weather conditions. We came out and played well in all phases of the game. We were kind of shocked to see them playing press man against our receivers so, when they're doing that, we're just converting and going deep. The second half we just wanted to get in the Mercy Rule and get our guys out and keep them healthy for State College. We talked about driving the ball down and when Brandon broke that run I turned around and said, “So much for that drive!”. Brandon is a good running back and we wanted to get him some work and he did a great job. We do adjust a little bit in the bad weather. It's a little bit different last week compared to this week because, when you're on that artificial turf as long as it's not pouring-down raining (like it was sometimes!) it's tough to get a grip on the ball. Tonight we cut down our run game because it's very difficult for the linemen to pull in this, especially after the first quarter. I know State College didn't play well last week against East but those Sunday games are tough. Driving down here, playing against a team that's struggling like East, they may have relaxed. Going up there it's going to be a lot bigger game. It's going to be a great atmosphere and they're going to be ready to play. They lost that game against CD without their starting quarterback, Dom Mills, and he's been throwing the ball real well, so we're going to have our hands full next Friday night. 

Secondary Assistant Coach Andrew English

The weather doesn't change our plans in terms of game preparation, but we want to make sure we keep our footwork. You have be more disciplined than you normally are, especially in the secondary. I think we did a great job in the rainy weather tonight. Our kids do a great job preparing themselves mentally and physically for these type of conditions and I think they actually like these type of adverse conditions to show what they really have. I think we'll be prepared, once again, for State College. If we go up there and play our game I don't think we'll have a problem but we have to make sure we have good practices.

WR/CB Aaron Sye

The weather is what it is. We just have to play our best; that's all that is. I just do my role on the team, play hard to do whatever I can so we can win a state title. This week of practice is going to be crazy, working hard. It's going to be the biggest game of the year.

DE Noah Spence

We figured they were going to throw in the second half so we just tried to use our pass rush moves to get to the QB and this week we were successful doing it. Whatever the conditions we have to just do our best. Practice is important for the State College game for us to get the win.

LB Brock Dean

On the safety, it looked like a veer, Noah hit the quarterback and he fumbled on the pitch. I went and grabbed the ball and I thought it was a touchdown but they ruled that it was a safety. On the last three plays of the first half we ran a blitz and we saw that it was working well, so in the second half we came out and tried to blitz them as much as possible. That worked out pretty well. Against State College we have to stay at home. They run a lot of sweeps with Kenney and use his speed to get him outside, so as long as we stay at home we'll be fine.

G Andrew Miscannon

I think tonight the offensive line  made great strides of improvement. The conditions were great for us to improve, because these are the kind of conditions that linemen need.  It's tough, it's muddy and we have to prevail and move on. I thought we picked up the blitz pretty well tonight but with the conditions and everything, as long as we stood still we were fine to pick up anything coming. The State College game is going to be a big game. We have to be physical because of what they did to Matt last year; we won't forget. We have to be physical and take it to them every play.

DE Ryan Kuntz

We had rainy weather last week but Chambersburg had turf, so it was a little different. I personally like it because I like being in the slop, everything like that. It slows the running backs down so it's easier to make plays. It was a lot of fun in the second half. We knew we could get pressure on the quarterback from the beginning; we just cut it loose, pinned our ears back and got after it. I think we can pressure the quarterback without blitzing. We've learned a lot from our coaches, we're a veteran group, we've been through the wars so we know how to get to the quarterback

RB Brandon Wallace

The touchdown play was 21 Ice. I had Sean at fullback; he's always a good blocker for me. I just read the block and cut upfield. The field wasn't bad. I mean, we play at McDevitt so we've seen worse conditions than this the last few years, so we just did what we had to do. My approach to the game is to just be patient, stay stretched and hope that I can get in and do my thing. Against State College we have to play like we have in the last couple of weeks and, like Andrew said, we won't forget what happened last year.