Crusaders Second Half Comeback Leads to 20-13 Win Over CD

September 11- Today's contest with the Central Dauphin Rams was hardly a game in the Bishop McDevitt Crusaders' comfort zone. Due to flooding throughout the Harrisburg area the game was moved from McDevitt's customary 10:30 AM Saturday time slot to a Sunday game beginning at 4:00 PM. Also, soggy conditions at McDevitt Field forced a venue change to CD's Speed Ebersole Field, a welcome development for the Rams. Add to those adjustments the abbreviated practice week for the Crusaders (again, due to the weather) and it's no wonder CD jumped to a 10-0 first half lead. But credit the McDevitt coaches and players for keeping their composure and engineering a second half comeback that resulted in a 20-13 McDevitt victory. Behind the accurate arm of junior quarterback Alec Werner and an opportunistic Crusader defense, the home-team-turned-visitors overcame the early deficit (and 4 turnovers) and evened McDevitt's 2011 record at 1-1. The Rams managed to stall the Crusaders' running game, so Werner looked to veteran receivers Brian Lemelle and Shawn Seif for relief through the air. The dynamic duo came through with a combined 11 catches for 249 yards, as CD was unable to cover McDevitt's receivers and Werner's precision throws kept the chains moving. Meanwhile, the defense was holding the Rams to 3 second half points, adjusting to stop the big plays that hurt the Crusaders in the opening half.

    Central Dauphin returned the opening kickoff to the CD 25 and tailback Zayd Issah dashed for a 35 yard gain on the first play from scrimmage. After Issah's second rushing attempt was stopped for no gain by senior Kyree Ross, Ram quarterback Bobby Schaffer bobbled a handoff and senior linebacker Brock Dean recovered for the Crusaders at the McD 46. After junior running back Darnell Holland was held for no gain Werner and Lemelle connected for a 12 yard advance, to the CD 46. A 3 yard Holland run preceded another Werner-Lemelle hookup, this time for 15 yards and another first down. The 3 McDevitt tailbacks joined forces for the next first down, as Holland ran for 7 yards before freshman Andre Robinson gained a yard. Sophomore Rashad Lawson then squirted ahead for 2 yards to move the chains, as McDevitt advanced to the CD 14. Werner's first pass to Seif was good for a 6 yard gain before Lawson ran for 3 more yards. Holland then plunged through the CD line for a 1 yard gain and the Crusaders had a first-and-goal at the CD 4. The promising field position was wasted, however, when Werner was sacked on the next play and fumbled, with the Rams recovering at the CD 9. After advancing for one first down CD was soon facing a third-and-14, at the CD 16. The Rams went into a spread formation, with Issah in the right slot. At the snap Schaffer heaved a rainbow down the middle of the field. Issah beat his coverage, made the catch and raced untouched for an 84 yard touchdown that gave CD a 7-0 lead, with 2:01 left in the first quarter. The short kickoff that followed was returned 11 yards by Robinson, to the McD 39. The Crusaders wasted little time getting into scoring position, using Werner passes of 25 yards to Seif and 23 yards to Lemelle to advance to the CD 10 as the quarter ended.

    McDevitt looked ready to score as the second quarter began with a 4 yard Holland gallop. On the next play Werner dropped back to pass and then decided to run. He had just crossed the line of scrimmage when he was hit and fumbled again, with the Rams recovering at the McD 5. From there CD launched a 14 play drive consisting of 13 running plays and one incomplete pass, relying on Issah and backs Adam Hollinger and Drew Scales, as well as a 34 yard Schaffer keeper. When the Crusader defense, led by linebackers Tariq Spence and Alan Holman, finally stalled the advance, Evan Brandes came on to kick a 22 yard field goal. The Rams now led 10-0, with 4:51 left in the half. Another short CD kickoff was fielded by Lemelle at the McD 22 and advanced 4 yards. Werner then passed to Lemelle for a 30 yard gain but the turnover bug bit the Crusaders one play later. Werner was sacked as he was stepping up in the pocket and fumbled to the Rams at the McD 48. At this point the McDevitt defense came together, holding CD to a three-and-out and forcing a 27 yard punt that rolled dead at the McD 19. From there the speedy Lawson ran a draw good for a 13 yard gain, and then Werner passed to Seif, running a crossing pattern. The shifty senior cruised for a 51 yard gain, to the CD 17, as the first half neared an end. Two Lawson carries netted 6 yards before a Werner pass was wide of its intended target, junior Nate Showalter, at the goal line. It was Werner's only incomplete pass of the half. Junior kicker Connor Maloney then drilled a 28 yard field goal to narrow the CD lead to 10-3, with 1:17 left in the half. The Rams could only manage a short kick return and 2 minor Issah runs before the half ended.

    Lemelle began the second half for the Crusaders with a dashing 30 yard kick return to midfield. Holland then had a 5 yard run and that was followed by a 3 yard Werner scramble. Holland then fought for a 4 yard gain and a first down at the CD 43 before a holding penalty against McDevitt moved the ball back to the McD 44. Werner promptly targeted Lemelle with a 37 yard arrow, to the CD 19. After another Werner scramble gained a yard Holland advanced 2 yards before fumbling to the Rams, the Crusaders' fourth turnover. CD's first play of the half was a run to Hollinger, but he was flattened for a 1 yard loss by senior defensive end Noah Spence. After an incompletion and a short Issah run the Rams were forced to put. a 38 yarder that the ever-present Lemelle returned 15 yards, to the CD 38. This time McDevitt took advantage of the good field position. The scoring drive began with a 4 yard Robinson run, but Werner was dropped for a 3 yard loss on second down. After a 5 yard toss to sophomore tight end Nick Barowski the Crusaders faced a 4th-and-4 at the CD 32. Werner then threw a bullet to Seif for a clutch 7 yard gain that moved the chains. On the next play Werner dropped back to pass and found Barowski wide open over the middle. The sophomore grabbed the accurate pass and raced into the end zone for the score and, after Maloney's PAT, the score was tied at 10 with 4:40 left in the 3rd quarter. The Rams returned the ensuing kickoff to the CD 28, and then Schaffer bolted 23 yards, to the McD 49. After Schaffer gained another first down with a 10 yard scamper Spence clobbered Issah at the line of scrimmage forcing a fumble that was recovered by junior safety Connor Marsico at the McD 40. One play later Werner passed to Showalter and the tall junior battled his way to a 29 yard gain, to the CD 30. A penalty erased another Werner-Barowski connection but, after an 8 yard Werner run, the Rams were flagged for interference and McDevitt had a first down at the CD 7. Werner then suffered a 10 yard sack on the final play of the quarter.

    The final stanza began with an 11 yard Werner gain, but another sack brought on Maloney for a field goal attempt. Normally Maloney's kicks rocket off his foot, but this attempt fluttered away and headed for the goal post. The ball kicked high off the right upright and dropped over the crossbar, giving the Crusaders a 13-10 lead, with 10:36 remaining in the game. Now trailing for the first time in the game, the Rams retaliated quickly, using a 65 yard Sales kick return to advance to the McD 30. A 10 yard Issah run earned a first down and then 3 short CD plunges moved the ball to the McD 8. Strong line play by sophomore Mike Perloski and senior DeAndre Lawson kept the Rams from advancing so CD had to settle for another Brandes field goal, a 26 yard effort that knotted the score at 13 with 6:15 showing on the game clock. Yet another short Ram kickoff was returned 19 yards by Lawson and McDevitt began at the McD 40. Werner promptly found Lemelle open in the Ram secondary and the shifty junior advanced 30 yards, to the CD 30. After a rare incompletion Werner dropped off a screen pass for Lawson, who dashed 14 yards, to the Ram 16. Lawson, who seemed to run stronger as the game went on, then followed the block of senior tackle Tom Scully for a 9 yard gain. On the next play Lawson took the handoff and made a sharp cut as he crossed the line of scrimmage. He avoided a would-be tackler and finished the 7 yard touchdown run that gave McDevitt a 20-13 lead, with 4:37 left. The Rams had one final trick left to play, using a wide receiver screen to Issah to advance into Crusader territory. Schaffer's 4th down pass was well defended by senior cornerback Khalid Carter, though, and McDevitt took over at the McD 38. The Crusaders ran the clock down to 0:05 on 4th down before Maloney fielded a low snap and got off a punt ahead of the onrushing Rams. Sales fielded the punt and was quickly planted by junior Porter Miller to end the game.

Next Saturday, September 17th, the Crusaders welcome the Cumberland Valley Eagles to McDevitt Field. Game time is 10:30 AM.