Dunmore done in by big plays from Burrs

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November 29, 2008

Holloman and PSU recruit Drake are too much for the Bucks to handle in PIAA quarters.

TOM ROBINSON For The Times Leader

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia West Catholic did not need long to show the Dunmore Bucks how the Burrs have led all Pennsylvania high school football teams in scoring this season.

The Burrs used a deep pass, a quarterback keeper and a punt return to score three touchdowns from a total of 183 yards in the first 8:03 while racing away from the Bucks early on the way to a 49-21 in the state Class AA football quarterfinals.

“We just had a hard time controlling their speed,” Dunmore coach Jack Henzes said.

West Catholic added its first scoring drive of more than three plays to open a 28-0 lead in the first 14 minutes before Dunmore could respond with its first touchdown.

Working from a 28-point hole, Dunmore came within a close call on the final play of the second quarter of cutting the lead in half at the break.

The Bucks, trying to go 92 yards in 42 seconds after stopping West Catholic for the first time, threw a pass into the end zone. Dunmore’s Brian Copeland and West Catholic’s Robert Holloman were wrestling for Miller Holmes’ pass in the end zone. Simultaneous possession would have meant a Dunmore touchdown, but when they came down and continued their fight on the ground, the nearest official ruled that Holloman had possession for an interception.

“Our young man thought he had it,” Henzes said. “I think, from what I was told, their player was the one who came down with possession.”

Dunmore had started its attempt at a comeback on the previous possession when it moved 63 yards in seven plays. Holmes rolled right to find time to hit J.J. Dempsey, who made a sliding catch for a 21-yard gain on third-and-five to keep the drive alive. Michael Perry scored on a 10-yard run to cut the lead to 28-7 with 6:23 left in the half.

West Catholic, which is trying to win a state title in its first year as a PIAA member, used a 58-yard run by Curtis Drake to convert a first-and-40 situation after a pair of penalties. Dunmore recovered to stop the Philadelphia Catholic League champions on downs at the 8 in the final minute of the half.

The Burrs needed just three plays to display their offensive explosiveness.

“Since it’s our first year in the PIAA, a lot of people don’t know about us,” said Drake, a Penn State recruit who is likely to wind up as a wide receiver for the Nittany Lions. “It’s good to get a chance to show what we can do.”

The Burrs got started immediately on their 524-yard effort.

Drake and Holloman ran for first downs on the first two plays before Drake used play action and found Eric Young behind the defense for a 53-yard touchdown. In just 51 seconds, West Catholic had a 7-0 lead.

The Burrs did the same thing on their next possession, scoring from 53 yards on their third play. This time, Drake covered the yardage with a run. He took a bootleg right to gain first down yardage, then reversed his field and headed for the left flag and a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

West Catholic did not even need the offense to make the lead 21-0.

Holloman took a punt return 77 yards up the middle for the third score.

Drake’s 28-yard scramble on third-and-12 set up his 1-yard sneak for the 28-0 lead with 9:59 left in the half.

Drake finished with 165 yards on 10 carries. He hit Young with another touchdown pass in the third quarter, from 34 yards, to finish 4-for-7 for 91 yards.

Raymond Maples, who ran 80 yards for the score that put the game into the Mercy Rule with 5:57 left in the third quarter, carried eight times for 159 yards.

Holloman added a 17-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to finish with 80 yards on 12 carries.

Dunmore, which finished 11-2, got second-half touchdowns from Michael Ehnot and Michael Perry.

Ehnot caught a 60-yard pass from Holmes in the third quarter and Perry ran 2 yards in the fourth.