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Late Td from Stone Saunders to Rico Scott sends McDevitt to the Class 4A Semi-Finals

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

| November 24, 2023

In a battle for the PI AAA district 3 class 4a title Bishop McDevitt’s Rocco Ortenzio Stadium The defending champions Heather work cut out for them. The Crusaders trailed for nearly the entire game but for a short 8 to 7 lead In the second quarter. But a long Td pass by Stone Saunders followed by a Barons fumble and another Td pass that gave the Crusaders a hard fought 23-17 win, the D3 Class 4A title and another week of football.

“We had guys open I. The first half. Our defense bailed us out in the first half. We reminded our guys that we were down by more to Mt. St Joseph’s earlier in the year and we found a way to win tonight” said Crusaders head coach Jeff Weachter

It was a bad snap that led to the first score of the game. Saunders picked the snap up and got off a pipe but it only went a couple of yards and the barons were in business at the Mcdevitt 33 yard line. It took seven plays but on fourth and goal from the one Michael Torres III made his way in for the score. With 6:20 left in the first quarter the Barons led 7-0.

On the ensuing drive McDevitt punted the ball and downed it inside the Baron one yard line. Zack Hahn Set up and shotgun formation but the Mcdevitt defense swallowed him for a safety Making it a 7-2 game.

The Crusaders took the lead when Hahn threw a pass over the middle. Chase Regan picked it off and returned the ball 66 yards to give the Crusaders an 8-2 lead with 11:09 remaining in the first half.

 

Manheim Central battled back and Drew Greiner nailed a 32 yard field goal to put the Barons up 10-7 with 5:32 left in the second quarter. The Baron defense was relentless the entire first half, keeping pressure on Saunders.

After a Barons punt put the ball on the McDevitt 6, that defense continued to push and forced a Crusader punt that hit a McDevitt lineman. The ball bounces backwards into the end zone and Dylan Werner pounced on the ball for the Td giving the Barons a 17-8 lead at the break.

 

“We told our offensive line start blocking people” Weachter said of his halftime adjustments. “They did a much better job of pass protection in the second half and that was the difference.”

It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that Saunders found his rhythm.  He hit Jlntai Quick for a 27 yard gain then he found a wide open Gage Ruth to make it 17-15. On the next Baron play the ball hit the ground and McDevitt recovered at the 25. Saunders found a wide open Rico Scott on the next play for the lead and final score of the game.

 

“We went toe to toe with one of the best. They’re a great team, we just didn’t finish and that’s on me” said Manheim Central head coach Dave Hahn.

The Crusaders will face Dallas next week in the class 5A Eastern semifinal for the right to play for a state championship.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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