Offensive stars lead Lions over Crushers

Tagged under: District 5, District 6, Gameday Hub, News

Ryan Spring | September 19, 2020

Chestnut Ridge head coach Max Shoemaker, and quarterback Logan Pfister.

FISHERTOWN – Welcome to the Logan Pfister and Matt Whysong show.
That was the case on Friday night at Chestnut Ridge, as the Lions with those two playing the leading parts, rolled to a 37-13 victory over Bishop McCort in Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference action.
Pfister and Whysong were undoubtedly the stars, with two long touchdown connections between them in the second quarter to break the game open among their notable highlights.
Pfister, named to the Pennsylvania Football Writers’ All-State Team a year ago, had another brilliant night overall with 11 completions for 209 yards. Whysong was the main recipient of those with six grabs for 167 and the two scores.
Leading 9-0, Chestnut Ridge took possession at its own 20-yard line after a curious missed 47-yard field goal attempt for the Crimson Crushers. The Lions began their drive inauspiciously with a five-yard loss on a sack and an incomplete pass.
On third down, Pfister drew McCort offsides to gain back the five yards. On the next snap, the senior quarterback faded a couple of steps to his left before pump-faking and then hitting Whysong in stride on a long pass that ended up 80 yards and the score. Jack Moyer’s extra-point made it 16-0 at the 7:57 mark of the quarter.
In the half’s final minute, the Pfister to Whysong song found its sweet tune again on a 32-yard touchdown that culminated a seven-play, 64-yard possession in less than two minutes of game time.
On that one, Whysong caught the pass in the middle of the field near the McCort 20, then turned and broke two tackles before lumbering into the end zone with a couple of other Crushers on his back with 28 seconds on the clock. Moyer hit another PAT and it was 23-0.
“My offensive line gave my quarterback (Pfister) the time to put perfect passes on it,” Whysong said of the touchdown throws. “It was a whole team effort to get me into the end zone. Logan and I have great chemistry. He’s a great teammate and I couldn’t ask for a better quarterback.”
“I think all five of our offensive linemen were down near the goal line on Matt’s nice catch and run touchdown right before halftime,” added Chestnut Ridge head coach Max Shoemaker. “We told the kids this week that we really needed to finish plays, and you saw that right there. Our efforts to emphasize that paid off.”
Jonah Hillegass had a two-yard touchdown run that kept the scoring going for Ridge at the 6:37 mark of the third period, with Moyer adding the point-after.
It was then the defense’s turn for the Lions as Trevor Weyandt read a Trystan Fornari pass perfectly and stepped in front of it to make the interception. Weyandt secured the ball and turned up the near side of the field before cutting back the other way and finishing a 45-yard pick six in the corner of the end zone on McCort’s sideline.
Moyer hit the extra point with 2:48 left in the third to make it 37-0 and begin the mercy-rule clock.
Amir Ortega-Andrews had a pair of touchdown runs late to put the Crushers on the scoreboard.
Chestnut Ridge, 1-1, is at Forest Hills, 0-2, next week.
“The kids were mostly just disappointed last week,” Shoemaker said of his team’s 35-7 defeat at the hands of local rival Bedford. “We tried to put that behind us and move on, and I think we did a good job of that. Sometimes, tough losses can help you down the road.”
GAME NOTES – Pfister led Chestnut Ridge in rushing with 71 yards. … The Lions earned a quick 2-0 lead in the game when Bishop McCort lined up for a punt and snapped the ball out of the end zone with 9:47 to go in the opening quarter. … Hillegass had the other touchdown, a five-yard run with 4:06 on the first period clock. … Ortega-Andrews tallied 107 yards rushing and 25 yards receiving for the Crimson Crushers, who are 0-2 and play at Richland next Friday. … Chestnut Ridge’s players ran onto the field with the American flag and a flag honoring the late Kai Burkett. Burkett, a senior at the school, died in an automobile accident last month. A moment of silence was also observed for him.

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