Marauders pummel rival McCort
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By Matt Michelone
For the Mirror
Having been bit by the injury bug this season, the Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic football team looked like it might have suffered yet another loss to its run game when Cooper Rother went down, appearing to be holding his left knee.
"I got a helmet right to my knee, and it didn't pop or anything," Rother said. "I just couldn't put pressure on it. It was like a dead leg almost. I knew it wasn't anything serious."
It turns out, he was just fine on homecoming night.
The junior running back racked up 132 yards on 16 carries and scored three touchdowns as the Marauders pummeled Bishop McCort Catholic, 42-0, Friday night in Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference action at Mansion Park.
Plays of the game: BG's Ryan Hagg's interception with 7:56 in the third quarter and at 6:19 in the frame set up the game deciding scores for the Marauders.
Player of the game: Rother racked up 132 yards on 16 carries and scored three times.
Bishop Guilfoyle coach Justin Wheeler on Rother: "He's such a big part of our offense. He's just a football player. He's so knowledgeable, he understands the game so well. He's truly an old-school-type kid. He's an emotional leader for us. Seeing him come back and play so well rallied everyone."
Unsung heroes: Hagg's two takeaways in the third quarter blew the game open for the Marauders. QB Karson Kiesewetter racked up 114 yards on the ground on 11 carries and two scores.
Hagg: "Honestly, my D-line making them get the ball out fast, and I made the play (on both interceptions)."
Wheeler on Hagg: "Ryan's been playing better. He's a kid that's worked in, and became a starter throughout the season, and every week he seems to get better. He's only a sophomore, and he looks really good, and we hope he continues to improve because we're going to need him for the next couple of years."
Most vital statistic: The Marauders had to overcome four holding penalties in the first half, and they ultimately crushed McCort on the ground 368-85.
Wheeler: "We thought we were doing some real nice things on offense and moving the ball. The only message was without penalties, we're in a different situation at halftime. They came out in the second half and responded.''
Bishop McCort coach Tom Smith: "That's just the way it has been for us right now. We've got to get some things fixed. The first half we were right there. They get an onside kick on us (in the second half), and I don't know if we recovered from that.''
Notable: Lady Marauder basketball standout Leah Homan and Marauder TE/LB Collin Campbell were crowned queen and king, respectively. ... The Marauders racked up 18 first downs to the Crushers' three. ... Members of BG's Class of 1956 were recognized.
Records: Bishop McCort (2-7), Bishop Guilfoyle (6-3).
Next week: Bishop McCort will wrap up the season by hosting Westmont Hilltop while Bishop Guilfoyle will close out the regular season at Bedford.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Bishop McCort 0 0 0 0 - 0
Bishop Guilfoyle 7 7 21 7 - 42
First Quarter
BG--Rother 6 run (D. Wyandt kick), 4:37.
Second Quarter
BG--Kiesewetter 5 run (D. Wyandt kick), 11:54.
Third Quarter
BG--Rother 28 run (D. Wyandt kick), 9:10.
BG--Abraham 62 pass from Kiesewetter (D. Wyandt kick), 7:43.
BG--Rother 4 run (D. Wyandt kick), 4:23.
Fourth Quarter
BG--Kiesewetter 30 run (D. Wyandt kick), Time.
TEAM STATISTICS BM BG
First downs 3 18
Total yards 85 368
Rushes-yards 16-5 45-302
Yards passing 80 66
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 4-14-2 1-3-0
Punts-avg. 5-34.8 2-53
Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1
Penalties-yards 2-11 5-56
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Bishop McCort, Fornari 12-(-1), Beppler 4-6. Bishop Guilfoyle, Kiesewetter 11-114, Rother 16-132, Hagg 4-21, Abraham 5-11, Kissell 5-24, Reilly 4-40.
PASSING--Bishop McCort, Fornari 4-14-2-58. Bishop Guilfoyle, Kiesewetter 2-4-0-66.
RECEIVING--Bishop McCort, Goins 2-6, Beppler 2-74. Bishop Guilfoyle, Abraham 2-66.