Crestwood’s Noah Schultz returns a kick in the second quarter against Bishop McDevitt.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Powerhouse McDevitt ends Comets’ historic season
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Crestwood’s Nick Miscavage is brought down by Bishop McDevitt’s Kraig Sullivan.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Crestwood’s Magnus Bibla sacks Bishop McDevitt’s quarterback Stone Saunders.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Crestwood’s Zach Sheloski streches for a pass just out of reach while being defended by Bishop McDevitt’s Navan Hopkins in the first quarter.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Crestwood quarterback Jaden Shedlock is forced to scramble in the first quarter against Bishop McDevitt.
Crestwood running back Noah Schultz shakes of an attempted tackle by Bishop McDevitt’s Tyler Sidella on the opening kickoff.
EXETER TWP. — Crestwood’s Noah Schultz returned the game’s opening kickoff on Friday night 31 yards.
The Comets then proceeded to do what was necessary against state power Bishop McDevitt. They drained over half of the first quarter clock, keeping the ball away from McDevitt’s quick-strike offense.
The strategy only worked once. The rest of the half, Crestwood struggled to move the ball and gave it back to McDevitt.
And McDevitt struck three times in the first half on the way to defeating Crestwood 35-0 in a PIAA Class 4A semifinal game at Exeter Township High School.
District 2 champion Crestwood ended its season at 13-2, setting the school record for wins in a season and give the program its first victory in state competition a week earlier. District 3 champ McDevitt (12-1) will play District 7 champ Aliquippa on Thursday for the state championship, a rematch of last year’s title game.
Crestwood moved to the McDevitt 27-yard line on its first possession, using completions to Brendan Dennis and Schultz and three offsides penalties to pick up two first downs. The drive stalled on an incompletion with 5:23 left in the first quarter.
“We ate the clock, we flipped and zipped and ripped and everything we could do to try and earn some first downs,” Crestwood coach Ryan Arcangeli said. “We were able to. (We) tried to keep them off balance because if you try to line up on them there’s just too much speed. It certainly worked. We were able to move the football. We made them earn the heck out of every one of their drives.”
Crestwood deviated from its single-wing, run-heavy attack on the possession, throwing three times.
McDevitt didn’t change much when it got the ball. The Crusaders moved right down the field and on a fourth-and-17 play quarterback Stone Saunders avoided a tackle attempt by Crestwood linebacker Cole Kakalecik and zipped a 30-yard TD pass to receiver Rico Smith.
“It’s a tough offense when you’re not used to it,” McDevitt coach Jeff Waechter said. “It’s a single wing and our players never saw it before. We adjusted. We took a little shot the first drive for them, but our defense did a great job after it. And we got our offense going.”
The McDevitt defense then produced three consecutive three-and-outs against Crestwood. The Comets possessed the ball 60, 61 and 61 seconds on those possessions, giving the ball back to a McDevitt offense loaded with Division I college prospects.
Saunders threw a 7-yard TD pass to Tyshawn Russell the next time the Crusaders had the ball, his 48th touchdown throw of the season. Another three-and-out by the defense resulted in McDevitt taking a 20-0 lead into halftime on a 15-yard run by Minnesota recruit Marquese Williams.
“They settled in like we knew they would and we couldn’t find a way to make a play,” Arcangeli said.
The second half didn’t start well for Crestwood as Smith, who has 16 Division I offers, returned the kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown.
“The kickoff return, that’s a killer,” Arcangeli said. “You don’t get chance to get your feet under you.”
McDevitt finished of its scoring on a 15-yard Saunders-to-Russell touchdown pass with 8:05 left in the third quarter. A pass for the two-point conversion made it 35-0 and set forward the mercy rule.
Crestwood didn’t get another first down after its initial drive until a 4-yard run by quarterback Jaden Shedlock with 10:21 left in the game. The Comets threw a season-high 19 times. Schultz, who had over 2,000 rushing yards entering the game, finished with 10 carries for no yards. The offense which regularly produced over 350 yards on the ground per game was limited to 5 total on 21 carries.
The game was marred by penalties. McDevitt was flagged 18 times for 162 yards. Crestwood was penalized 10 times for 105.
After offsetting personal fouls with 1:24 left, Waechter decided it was best his team head directly to the locker room after the game and not shake hands with the Comets.
PIAA Class 4A Semifinals
Bishop McDevitt 35, Crestwood 0
Crestwood`0`0`0`0 — 0
Bishop McDevitt`6`14`35`0 — 35
First quarter
BM — Rico Scott 30 pass from Stone Saunders (kick failed), 0:00
Second quarter
BM — Tyshawn Russell 7 pass from Saunders (Gus Garcia kick), 7:40
BM — Marquese Williams 15 run (Garcia kick), 3:20
Third quarter
BM — Scott 81 kick return (Garcia kick), 11:44
BM — Russell 15 pass from Saunders (Scott from Saunders), 8:05
Team statistics`CRE`BM
First downs`6`22
Rushes-yards`21-5`22-149
Passing yards`20`237
Total yards`25`386
Passing`5-19-0`20-26-0
Sacked-yards lost`0-0`1-9
Punts-avg.`5-45.5`1-32
Fumbles-lost`1-0`1-1
Penalties-yards`10-105`18-162
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Crestwood, Noah Schultz 10-0, Jaden Shedlock 7-16, Robert Knight 1-3, Brendan Dennis 2-(minus-3), team 1-(minus-9). McDevitt, Williams 18-153, Saunders 2-(minus-2), team 2-(minus-2).
PASSING — Crestwood, Shedlock 5-19-0-20. McDevitt, Saunders 20-26-0-237.
RECEIVING — Crestwood, Dennis 2-8, Schultz 2-10, Knight 1-2. McDevitt, Smith 8-120, Russell 9-83, Jeff Penn 1-15, Williams 3-19.
INTERCEPTIONS — none.
MISSED FGs — none.