Werner, Defense Lead Crusaders in 28-21 Triumph over Susquehanna Twp.

September 24- After a week of doubt, second-guessing and projections of gloom and doom, the Bishop McDevitt Crusaders were more than ready to play football against the Susquehanna Township Indians at Roscoe Warner Field. Ever since McDevitt's 3-0 loss to state-ranked Cumberland Valley last Saturday (which left the Crusaders with a 1-2 record) area football fans had debated whether McDevitt would live up to the lofty expectations expected of the team this year. CV's shutout, in particular, indicated to some that the Crusaders may not be able to qualify for the District 3 playoffs for the 8th consecutive year. Tonight's performance by junior quarterback Alec Werner, though, should go a long way toward calming down the McDevitt faithful. Werner threw for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns against a team ranked in the top 10 in the state in class AAA. Not to be outdone, the Crusader defense limited 'Hanna's high-powered offense to barely 200 yards in total offense and only 6 first downs. The defensive line of seniors Noah Spence DeAndre Lawson and Kyree Ross, and sophomore Mike Perloski dominated the Indian offensive line with constant pressure on ST quarterback Anthony Gelbaugh. McDevitt linebackers Tariq Spence, Alan Holman and Brock Dean kept the speedy Indians at bay, while Khalid Carter, Darnell Holland, Miles Williams and Maurice Jeter blanketed 'Hanna's talented receiver corps and provided dynamic run support. McDevitt is now 1-0 in the Mid Penn's Keystone Conference, with 5 consecutive conference games ahead on the 2011 schedule.

    Both teams came out sluggish, perhaps a result of the game being moved from its scheduled Friday night kickoff due to torrential rain. The squads traded punts twice before McDevitt began possession #3 from the McD 30. Werner threw a 4 yard pass to junior Brian Lemelle before sophomore tailback Rashad Lawson struggled for a yard. On third down Werner targeted junior Nate Showalter on a slant and the tall junior fought for 15 yards and a first down at midfields. After a 7 yard pass to senior Shaun Seif and a short run by freshman Andre Robinson, Werner tried to connect with Lemelle on a long pass down the left sideline. ST's talented Leroy McClain intercepted, though, and returned the ball to 44. After gaining the team's initial first down Gelbaugh passed to junior Colby Grant who, thanks to some shoddy tackling, advanced to the McD 4. Former Crusader Brandon Wallace scored from there and Susquehanna Township was on the board first with a 7-0 lead, with 1:30 left in the first quarter. McDevitt managed a 12 yard Werner-to-Lemelle hookup but faced a 4th and 2 at the McD 37 as the quarter ended.

    Lemelle dropped back to punt to start the second quarter, but the shifty junior took the snap and bolted 7 yards around right end to earn the first down. The play seemed to energize the Crusaders because, on the next play, Lawson squirted through a hole provided by DeAndre Lawson and tackle Pat Narus and raced passed the stunned ST secondary for a 56 yard touchdown. Bobby Zweigart, substituting for regular kicker Connor Maloney, drilled the first of his 4 perfect PAT kicks and McDevitt had tied the score, 7-7, with only 16 seconds gone in the quarter. The home team was then forced into another 3-and-out before McDevitt used short Lawson runs to advance to the McD 41. Crusader Head Coach Jeff Weachter decided to go for it on 4th-and-one, but Warner's sneak was stopped. Weachter's faith in his defense was confirmed when the Indians had to punt 4 plays later, but that stand only led to both teams engaging in a punting contest. Finally Lemelle fielded a "Hanna punt at his own 48 and scampered in for the score, only to see the play erased by a holding call far from the ball carrier. McDevitt then began at the McD 44 with a 6 yards Lawson run. One play later Showalter grabbed a Werner dart for a 16 yard advance, to the ST 36. Werner passed to Seif for 8 but then suffered a 7 yard sack. On the next play Werner scrambled for a clever 10 yard run, stepping out of bounds as the end of the half neared. Lemelle corralled a 5 yarder and then Werner spiked the ball to stop the clock, now under a minute. After an incompletion Werner found Lemelle wide open in the left corner of the end zone to post McDevitt to a 14-7 lead, with 48 seconds left in the half. After the kickoff Gelbaugh dropped back to pass and suddenly crumbled, clutching his knee as he fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Crusaders at the ST 25. The senior signal caller was carried off the field and didn't return, the victim of a knee injury. With 25 seconds left McDevitt was now given a splendid opportunity to stretch the lead. Werner quickly passed to Lemelle for a 19 yard gain, to the ST 6, and then hurried to the line of scrimmage and spiked the ball. Flags flew, though, as McDevitt was called for a procedure penalty. The referees marched off the 5 yard penalty and signaled to start the clock, much to the surprise of Werner and Weachter, who were in a deep discussion at the McDevitt sideline. By the time Werner scrambled back to run the play 15 seconds had counted down so, when Werner completed a pass to Seif for a 7 yard gain, the half ran out as the Crusader offense watched helplessly.

    When "Hanna came out on offense to start the second half diminutive sophomore Jordan Millberry was under center, replacing Gelbaugh. He took his first snap at the ST 42 and bolted around right end for an apparent score, but a block-in-back flag brought the ball back to the McD 31. Four quick plays later Millbury was stuffed on a 4th-and-one play and McDevitt took over. The two teams again traded punts before ST launched a drive, mostly on short Wallace runs, that advanced inside the McD 10. After the Crusader defense stiffened Millbury tried a pass that sailed far over the heads of Jeter and Grant. Interference was called on the puzzled Jeter, however, and 'Hanna regained possession at the McD 2. The McDevitt defensive wall held for 2 plays before a backfield collision caused Millbury to fumble and Perloski recovered at the McD 11. Two plays later, though, Werner returned the favor, fumbling the snap with ST recovering as the 3rd quarter ended. Millbury ducked under center to take the snap on the first play of the fourth quarter and squeezed over the goal line to knot the score at 14. A penalty on the ensuing kick return placed the Crusaders on the McD 7 and Werner promptly drifted back to pass. His throw looked short and a 'Hanna safety tipped the ball into the air, but Seif dove and made a fingertip catch that was good for a brilliant 24 yard gain. Lawson and Holland combined to gain a first down before Werner went back to Seif on a long pass. Seif gathered in the accurate toss and cut behind Showalter's key block, scurrying down the right sideline to complete the 57 yard scoring play. Now leading 21-14, the McDevitt defense flattened Millbury on 3 consecutive plays, forcing the Indian's 7th punt of the game. Beginning at the ST 47, the visitors launched the most impressive drive of the season taking 12 plays to cover that 47 yards and using up most of the 4th quarter clock to do it. Two short Werner-Seif passes were followed by Holland's 6 yard run on 3rd down. Lawson lost a yard and Werner threw an incompletion before Werner ran for a 5 yard gain, to the ST 29. On 4th down Lemelle snagged an 11 yard dart to keep the drive alive, but 2 short runs and another incompletion later McDevitt faced another key 4th down. Lemelle ran a precise out route and Werner completed his 20th and final pass of the evening, to the ST 4. Robinson strolled over the goal line from there and the Crusaders had a 28-14 lead, with only 3:02 left in the contest. Susquehanna Coach Joe Headen then tried junior Jordan Baskerville under center and Baskerville completed 2 short passes. On third down the junior backup floated a high pass into double coverage. McClain made a leaping catch as the two McDevitt defenders collided and fell, and McClain then raced untouched for a 55 yard touchdown that narrowed the Crusader advantage to 28-21, with 1:53 left to play. 'Hanna then tried the inevitable onside kick but Showalter allowed the rolling pigskin to bounce out of bounds, ensuring McDevitt possession and the victory.

Next Saturday, October 1st, the Crusaders welcome the Lower Dauphin Falcons to McDevitt Field for a Keystone Conference game. Game time is 10:30 AM.