A bad bounce

Footballs have been known to take crazy bounces, and one that went Bishop McCort's way Saturday night was the turning point as the Crimson Crushers claimed another District 6 championship.

With Bellwood-Antis holding a 20-13 lead late in the third quarter, B-A defensive end Jared Minori sacked McCort quarterback John Pinkerton.

However, instead of the Blue Devils recovering, the ball bounced right to Crusher running back Chaz Merriman, who proceeded to dash 29 yards to the B-A 11. Three plays later - actually the first of the fourth quarter - Josh Seidel scored from the 2-yard line to tie the game at 20-all.

Bellwood then fumbled on each of its next two possessions, Seidel turned them into two more TDs and McCort celebrated a 34-20 Class A championship on the Mansion Park turf.

Although McCort dominated the game after the two Bellwood fumbles, it was Merriman's recovery and return of the Pinkerton fumble that changed the momentum.

"That was the most unconventional answer that I've ever seen in all my years of coaching," said Ken Salem, whose McCort teams have won four consecutive District 6 titles - Class A in 2009 and 2008 and Class AA in 2007 and 2006.

"Chaz Merriman had an outstanding game tonight," Salem said. "He blocks for Josh [Seidel], he had the big fumble recovery for a huge first down, and he also ran the ball with some great intensity in the fourth quarter to help us finish eating the clock."

Merriman said it was a matter of good fortune for him.

"It was actually my fault," Merriman said. "I let him fumble because I missed my block, so I knew I had to pick it up and do something or we were done, because we were hurting for a play.

"It actually took a real nice bounce into my hands ... I got so lucky."

Minori, who made the big defensive play for B-A, wasn't sure what happened.

"I made the hit, and then heard the crowd cheering," Minori said. "I thought [Pinkerton] might have passed it, but then I saw No. 28 [Merriman] running,and they told me on the sideline what happened. That's how it goes, I guess.

"I don't want to say we should have won, but ... I just don't know."

The game, matching the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds, both 11-0, had three lead changes before the Crushers took control in the fourth quarter.

Dane Domonkos kicked a pair of field goals (22 and 34 yards) and Pinkerton scored on a 2-yard sneak for the Crushers, but three Zack McCaulley touchdowns - runs of 4 and 3 yards and a 10-yard pass from Nate Plummer - had Bellwood on top 20-13 before Merriman's clutch play turned the game around.

"Throughout the game, we were the victims of some big plays," B-A coach John Hayes said. "... A couple of fourth-down plays in the first half where I thought we were going to stop them, but they converted.

"Then we gained control and were playing really good defense, had the pressure and made the big defensive hit, but unfortunately, that crazy ball bounced the wrong way for us.

"Their guy [Merriman] was able to pick it up and go the right way, and, from that point on, they were like sharks."

The Crushers, behind the running of Seidel and Merriman, controlled the clock in the fourth quarter and racked up more than 300 yards on the ground. Seidel finished with 203 on 29 carries and, in the process, became McCort's single-season rushing leader.

"They're a very good football team," Hayes said of the Crushers. "They were probably the better team tonight. They made more plays, but I'm so proud of our kids because they played to the end.

"It happened, though, and you've got to live with it."

Game notes: When McCaulley scored on a 4-yard run in the first period to put B-A ahead, 7-3, it marked the first time McCort trailed all season. ... Crushers face District 3 champ Millersburg next Saturday at noon at Hershey.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Bellwood-Antis7 7 6 0 - 20

Bishop McCort3 7 3 21 - 34

First quarter

BM-Domonkos 22 FG, 7:14.

BA-McCaulley 4 run (Plummer kick), 3:16.

Second quarter

BM-Pinkerton 2 run (Domonkos kick), 8:06.

BA-McCaulley 10 pass from Plummer (Plummer kick), :18.

Third quarter

BM-Domonkos 34 FG, 6:41.

BA-McCaulley 3 run (kick failed), 3:34.

Fourth quarter

BM-Seidel 2 run (Domonkos kick), 11:56.

BM-Seidel 17 run (Domonkos kick), 8:46.

BM-Seidel 13 run (Domonkos kick), 3:56.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Bellwood-Antis-Beech 6-69, McCaulley 13-41, Shaw 2-6, DeGol 1-4, Plummer 3-0. Bishop McCort-Seidel 29-203, Merriman 17-94, Pinkerton 6-17, Domonkos 2-2, TEAM 1-(-1), James 1-(-2).

PASSING: Bellwood-Antis-Plummer 5-13-0-76. Bishop McCort-Pinkerton 2-4-0-52.

RECEIVING: Bellwood-Antis-DeGol 2-41, Campbell 1-14, Minori 1-11, McCaulley 1-10. Bishop McCort-Domonkos 2-52.

INTERCEPTIONS: none.

TEAM STATISTICSBABM

First downs1123

Yards rushing25-120 56-313

Passing (comp.-att.-int.)5-13-02-4-0

Yards passing7652

Total yards196365

Fumbles lost2-23-0

Penalties-yards6-437-65

Punts-avg.3-260