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Bishop McDevitt bounces Crestwood

Tagged under: District 2, District 3, Game Photos, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

| December 3, 2022

Rico Scott returned kickoff 81 yards

EXETER TWP- The Crestwood Comets knew coming into their PIAA State 4A Semifinal match-up with powerhouse Bishop McDevitt, if they were to have any chance of winning, was to find away to keep the Crusaders vaunted offense off the field and they would have to score at every opportune time. The game started in a positive way for the comets as Noah Shultz too the opening kickoff from his own 15 and returned it to the Comets 46. Setting up in its single-wing formation, but then using a shifting formation drew the Crusaders offsides three times and then going away from their traditional run oriented offense with two pass completions, the Comets moved the ball to the McDevitt 27. From there the drive stalled after using up almost seven minutes of time off the clock.

That would be the only time all Friday night that Crestwood would come close to having a scoring opportunity as Bishop McDevitt would produce their second consecutive shutout 35-0 to advance to the 4A state championship next Thursday night at Cumberland Valley against a familiar foe, the Aliquippa Quips, who defeated Allentown Central Catholic 31-10. These two teams met in last years final, won by Aliquippa 34-27.

Behind Sophomore quarterback Stone Saunders then proceeded to methodically move his squad down field and then with just four seconds left in the opening quarter and after being sacked to face a fourth-and-seventeen at the Crestwood 30, Jeff Waechter’s team rolled the dice and decided to go for it as Saunders bought some time rolling out and then found Rico Scott in the end zone and placed a perfect spiral that Scott cradled in for a score as time expired. The PAT was no good making the score 6-0 to start the second stanza.

The McDevitt defense then adapted to the Crestwood shift and proceeded to for three straight three-and-outs where just barely a minute of possession time was used off the clock as the Crusaders offense began to click much to chagrin of the Crestwood squad.

Saunders who finished the night completing 20 of 26 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns then connected with Tyshawn Russell from 7 yards out with 7:40 left in the half and this time Gus Garcia made good on the PAT making it 13-0. Russell would have 9 receptions for 83 yards in the contest and two scores.

To cap off the first half, on McDevitt’s third drive of the game running back Marquese Williams would make his way, behind his blockers, zig-zagging his way in to the end zone from 15 yards out making it 20-7 after Garcia tacked on the extra-point at the 3:20 mark. That score would hold up till intermission.

Crestwood came into the game averaging over 350 yards rushing per game were held to just five yards on 21 carries. Running Back Noah Shultz who came into Friday night with over 2,000 yards rushing officially finished zero yards on ten carries. Freshman quarterback Jaden Shedlock was harassed all night by the Crusader pass rush completed only 5 of 19 passes for 20 yards. The Comets were outgained by a 386-25 margin.

The second half was covered by a myriad of yellow flags as the game did get chippy at times. McDevitt had 18 penalties for 162 yards while Crestwood was flagged ten times for 105 yards.

Coming out of the locker room with a 20-0 lead, McDevitt was poised to take the second half kickoff. Rico Smith took the ball from his own 19, proceeded to make his way around the left end of the field, out-flanking the Crestwood special team defenders and scooted down the sidelines en route to an 81 yard return making it 27-0.

“That kickoff return was the back-breaker,” Crestwood coach Ryan Arcangeli stated. “You don’t get a chance to get your feet under you.”

Sanders then tossed his final touchdown of the night, this time from 15 yards out to Russell with 8:05 left in the third quarter. They decided to go for the two-point conversion to put the game into mercy rule as Saunders fired a laser to Scott in the front corner of the end zone.

McDevitt coach Jeff Waechter had this to say about the Crestwood offensive scheme to start the game. “It’s a tough offense when you’re not used to it. It’s a single wing and our players never saw it before. We adjusted. We took a shot from them early but our defense did a great job after it. And we were able to get our offense going.

With 1:24 left there were offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties called on both teams and not wanting any further escalation that may jeopardize any players participation in the state championship game the McDevitt coaching staff decided to take their team into the locker room and avoid the handshake line at the end of the game.

Crestwood finished it’s best season at the school with a 13-2 record and won their first state playoff game last week over Bonner-Prendie 21-14.


 

 

Thanks Anthony Jardinefor the pics

 

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