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Bishop McDevitt Moves On To 5A State Championship With Win Over Pine-Richland

Tagged under: District 3, District 7, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

| November 29, 2024

The Bishop McDevitt Crusaders used a three touchdown night from Kentucky commit, Stone Saunders, to take down the Pine-Richland Rams 28-14. Bishop McDevitt moves on to the 5A State Championship with the win and will take on Roman Catholic at Cumberland Valley High School.

After back to back three and outs, Bishop McDevitt got their offense rolling from junior running back Nazir Jones-Davis. In just two plays, Jones-Davis breaks away a 64 yard run to set himself up for a three yard touchdown to put the Crusaders up 7-0.


Bishop McDevitt’s defense followed with another forced punt, this time coming from a sack by Landon Blauch. Pine Richland would also get a stop on defense, but they punted once again after getting two flags called on them. The Crusaders got the ball back and put a long drive together that was capped off by Saunders hitting Jontai Quick for an eight yard touchdown. This touchdown was Saunders 200th passing touchdown of his career.


“It’s gonna be a hard one for people to beat,” Bishop McDevitt Coach Jeff Weachter said. “That’s averaging 50 through four years.”

The Crusader defense stopped Pine Richland again with a sack, this time from Maurice Barnes. The Rams would get a stop and force a bad punt, setting them up inside the Crusader 25. Pine Richland continued to struggle to move the ball, resulting in a field goal attempt, but they missed.

Following the missed field goal, Bishop McDevitt drove right down the field and scored once again. Saunders found Dominic Diaz-Ellis for an eight yard touchdown to put the Crusaders up 21-0. The Rams attempted to score before the half, but Lucas Lawler got a sack to spoil any chances.


Pine Richland got the ball after the half and started driving, but Lawler got another sack, forced a fumble, and the Crusaders got the ball right back. The Rams did get the ball back shortly after and got on the board. Aaron Strader found Lawrence Timmons for a 28 yard touchdown to cut Bishop McDevitts lead to 21-7.


The Rams looked to gain some momentum with a defensive stop, but once they got the ball back, the Crusaders forced another fumble to get the ball back. Shortly after, Saunders hits Quick in stride for a 68 yard touchdown to put Bishop McDevitt up 28-7.

They get the ball right back on an interception from Blauch. Pine Richland eventually got the ball back and put together another drive. Strader found Dajaun Webb Higgs for a 29 yard touchdown to cut the lead to 28-14. Bishop McDevitt got a few first downs before setting up victory formation and pulling out the win.

Jones-Davis was the unsung hero tonight, rushing for 208 yards and a touchdown. Bishop McDevitt had to rely on the run game as Pine Richland forced Saunders to complete just five of his 13 passes. Quick reeled in three catches for 117 yards. Lawler finished the night with three sacks.

“It was a tough night,” Coach Weacther said. “They pressed, they overplay, they play a light box, so it’s tough to get things in the throwing game, but we knew down in the red zone we had some things because they ran straight man. Our receivers ran great routes. The third touchdown {From Saunders} I’m sitting there saying alright next play we’re gonna run that because they took the safety to the other side and I hear Stone checking. He checked to Tennessee to Jontai straight down the field. He {Saunders} is such a leader. This was our 51st game together with us winning at quarterback. He’s just amazing.”

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