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Behind Irwin, BG keeps streak alive

Photo for the Mirror by Ed Lee BG players, including Andrew Irwin (2) and Kyle Green (64), celebrate their win over Johnstown.

This one actually lived up to the pregame hype.

Unbeatens Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic and Johnstown met at Mansion Park Friday night with the Laurel Highlands Conference championship on the line.

The two-time defending Class A state champion Marauders have had few regular-season tests the past three seasons, mercy-ruling many of their opponents, but the speedy Trojans figured to give BG a tussle this time — and did.

In the end, though, it wasn’t a Trojan horse that was the difference, it was BG’s horse — tailback Andrew Irwin. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Irwin, who will play linebacker at Harvard, carried the ball 37 times for 202 yards and scored three touchdowns, including the game-winner with only 24 seconds to play in BG’s 21-14 victory.

“The last couple of weeks we haven’t used (Irwin) as much as we’d like,” BG coach Justin Wheeler said. “We want to be diverse, but the wind tonight was so crazy strong that both teams had a hard time throwing, so we’re going to rely on our big guys up front when we need to and we’re going to give the ball to Andrew Irwin.

“He’s our emotional guy and team leader.”

For most of the night, it was Irwin right, Irwin left or Irwin up the middle.

Johnstown coach Tony Penna Jr. made it a point to seek out Irwin in the postgame handshake line.

“I told him in the line he’s a bad man, and I mean that in a football sense,” Penna said. “He’s outstanding. He carried and carried and carried.

“That’s a heavy load to carry, and he carried it well.”

Irwin’s second TD, a 6-yarder on a sweep left, tied the score at 14-all on the first play of the fourth quarter.

One of the biggest plays of the game came seconds later when Johnstown’s center snapped the ball over the head of quarterback Austin Barber, who covered it for a 16-yard loss at the Trojans’ 18.

The Trojans went three-and-out, the Marauders went three-and-out and the Trojans went three-and-out again with BG taking over at the Johnstown 47 with 4:32 left.

Then it was Irwin time.

Eight straight carries and three first downs later, Irwin cracked into the end zone from the 2. Kolton McGhee’s PAT made it 21-14 with 24 seconds remaining.

“We call them championship drives,” Wheeler said, “and that’s what it turned out to be.”

Barber hit two passes and Johnstown moved to BG’s 32 with four ticks left, but Barber’s Hail Mary sailed out of the end zone as time expired, setting off a celebration on the BG sideline.

“That was a high school football game,” an excited Irwin exclaimed. “What can I say? Hard hitting all around. Went down to the wire. One fun game.”

“We knew they were great and knew we’d have to execute,” QB Josh Trybus said. “We executed and punched one in to win. The line did a great job, and Andrew did the rest.”

BG’s defense held Johnstown to only 62 yards rushing on 20 carries and 137 overall.

“We tried to keep them inside because they’ve got some game-breakers,” defensive end Luke Frederick said.

Penna was proud of his team’s effort but said there are no moral victories.

“We came here to win against a great ballclub,” the Johnstown coach said. “The kids did everything we asked, but we couldn’t dial up another score.”

Johnstown scored first on a 45-yard pass-run from Barber to Raushad Jordan-Mainess in the first quarter, but Irwin (who else?) blocked the extra point try.

BG led 7-6 at the half, but Johnstown reclaimed the lead, 14-7, on Bryce Gibson’s 4-yard run in the third. Irwin’s two fourth-quarter TDs sent the Marauders to their 41st consecutive win.

“It was an unbelievable game,” Wheeler said. “Johnstown is a tremendous team, one of the tops in Class 4A. For our guys to battle back in this atmosphere was unbelievable.

“Our guys showed what they’re made of in the fourth quarter.”

Game notes: It was BG’s senior night with players, band members and cheerleaders recognized. … The Marauders close the regular season next Friday at Somerset.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Johnstown    6 0 8 0 — 14

Bishop Guilfoyle    0 7 0 14 — 21

First quarter

J–Jordan-Mainess 45 pass from A. Barber (kick failed), 1:15.

Second quarter

BG–Irwin 3 run (McGhee kick), 7:45.

Third quarter

J–Gibson 4 run (Loe run), 4:11.

Fourth quarter

BG–Irwin 6 run (McGhee kick), 11:55.

BG–Irwin 2 run (McGhee kick), :24.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Johnstown–Gibson 15-47, A. Barber 4-30, TEAM 1-(-15). Bishop Guilfoyle–Irwin 37-202, Trybus 10-41, Wills 1-2, Fanelli 1-1, Yasulitis 1-(-2).

PASSING: Johnstown–A. Barber 7-13-0-137. Bishop Guilfoyle–Trybus 3-5-0-38.

RECEIVING: Johnstown–Tinsley 3-62, Price 3-30, Jordan-Mainess 1-45. Bishop Guilfoyle–Conrad 1-30, Irwin 1-6, Frederick 1-2.

INTERCEPTIONS: none.

TEAM STATISTICS    J    BG

First downs    8    16

Rushes-yards    20-62    50-244

Passing (comp.-att.-int.)    7-13-0    3-5-0

Yards passing    137    38

Total yards    199    282

Fumbles-lost    0    0

Penalties-yards    6-30    5-40

Punts-avg.    4-36    3-21

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