Bishop McDevitt Led by Stone Saunders Cruises to Victory in York Rose Bowl

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Phil Myers | August 24, 2024

The Bishop McDevitt Crusaders cruised as they defeated a tough Mt. St. Joseph Gael team by a score of 45-15 in the third game of Saturday’s York Rose Bowl contingent of four games at Smalls Field in York home of the York William Penn Bearcats.

The Crusaders were led by all-state quarterback, Stone Saunders.  He pitched the pigskin 22 times completing 14 for 268 yards and four touchdowns.  But, don’t think he is the only weapon on a very efficient McDevitt offense.

WR Dominic Diaz-Ellis caught 6 passes for 169 yards and two scores.  “Number two (Diaz-Ellis) is a stud,” said Coach Jeff Weachter.  “We have some good receivers,” he added.  Coach Weachter also has a plethora of running backs at his disposal that netted 107 yards rushing including Nazir Jones-Davis who scurried 30 yards for the first Crusader score.

Diaz-Ellis (#2 in gold) snags his second TD pass of the day in the 3rd quarter with this 40-yarder.

The defense played well using the bend don’t break theory in allowing only two Mt. St. Joseph scores. The Gael QB Ben Raines threw for 295 yards and a TD, but was sacked 8 times by a tenacious McDevitt defense.

After Jones-Davis scored his TD, the Gaels came back to tie the game at 7 before the end of the first quarter.  However, the McDevitt offense and defense took control in the second.

Saunders threw 3 touchdowns in the 2^nd quarter.  He connected with Gage Ruth for a 5-yard score, then hit Diaz-Ellis in stride for an 82-yard TD, and finally lobbed a screen to Maurice Barnes who took it to the house to complete a 57-yard touchdown.  To top the quarter off, Aidan Grella banged home a 34-yard field goal in the last second.  Grella was perfect on the night with his kicks as he also nailed all six of his PAT attempts.

Crusaders again. @_mbj08 off to the races. 53 yards. 28-7 @McD_Football_ 1:54 left in the half pic.twitter.com/DD8DOHrTC9

— Pennsylvania Football News (@PaFootballNews) August 24, 2024

McDevitt seemed to cruise on both sides of the ball in half two producing only two scores while giving up one.  The highlight was Dontavious Luckett’s 100-yard interception return where he broke a few tackles on his way to pay dirt.  “Our defense is young and they did a pretty god job tonight,” said Weachter.  There was over 700 yards of offense with McDevitt gaining 373 unofficial yards.

McDevitt will visit neighboring Harrisburg, who lost to LaSalle College 45-7, next week in a Mid-Penn matchup.

Score by Quarters:

Mt. St. Joseph – 7 0 8 0 – 15

Bishop McDevitt – 7 24 7 7 – 45

Scoring Summary:

First Quarter:

BM – Nazir Jones-Davis 30-yard run, (Aidan Grella PAT), 8:53

MSJ – Omari Wilder 1-yard run, (PAT), 7:07

Second Quarter:

BM – Gage Ruth 5-yard pass from Stone Saunders, (Grella PAT), 11:16

BM – Dominic Diaz-Ellis 82-yard pass from Saunders, (Grella PAT), 7:44

BM – Maurice Barnes 57-yard pass from Saunders, (Grella PAT), 1:54

BM – Grella 34-yard field goal, 0:01

Third Quarter:

BM – Diaz-Ellis 40-yard pass from Saunders, (Grella PAT), 4:24

MSJ – Peyton Youngbar 7-yard pass from Ben Raines, (Jayden Glipsy pass from Raines – 2-pt conversion), 1:06

Fourth Quarter:

BM – Dontavious Luckett 100-yard interception return, (Grella PAT), 5:55

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