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Bishop Guilfoyle’s offense clicks in topping Central

By Nate Ritchey 6 min read

ROARING SPRING -- Bishop Guilfoyle Academy entered the halftime locker room having won every aspect of the opening half.

However, the Marauders only led by 20 points as the Central defense held them to three field goal attempts with two being converted for points.

The two touchdowns BG had in the first half came following interceptions by its own defensive unit, which had held the Scarlet Dragons to 58 yards of offense.

Bishop Guilfoyle came out of the half poised to score touchdowns, and it was able to accomplish that goal by crossing the goal line on 4-of-5 possessions in the second half en route to a 49-7 mercy-rule victory over Central on Friday night in Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference action at Roaring Spring Athletic Field.

"We thought we were playing really well in the first half except for finishing those drives," BG coach Justin Wheeler said. "It was 20-0 but we weren't happy either. So, it was about finishing drives, it was about getting opportunities. We told our DB's -- they were seeing things --it's just that confidence that new DBs need. … Between Tyson (Lestochi) and Jack (Gioiosa) making some plays -- giving us short fields. That really was the spark we needed."

Play of the game: On BG's first drive of the second half, quarterback Justin Wheeler faked two inside handoffs and decided to keep it. The sophomore took off around the right side before slowly working his way back through the Dragon defense and finding running room all the way to the left side on a 52-yard TD scamper that put BG up 27-0.

QB Wheeler: "Those runs -- those big plays -- allow us to be able to open our playbook up and perform at our best."

Player of the game: Lestochi was all over the place on the defensive side of the ball as the senior intercepted two passes, nearly picked off three others and used his athleticism to force a few quick and high throws from the Central quarterback. He also grabbed four catches for 43 yards and ran twice for a total of six yards. Lestochi also hauled in a two-point conversion pass from Wheeler following a Connor Okonak 3-yard TD run that kicked the mercy-rule running clock into effect at 5:21 of the third quarter.

Lestochi: "I thought our defense was great. I think, on run plays, all 11 people were there. Passing (defense), the whole week we just worked on it. The coaches put us in the right positions. I wouldn't have those picks if it wasn't for the coaches."

Unsung hero: BG's Jake Kissell carried the ball just seven times for 51 yards, but two of those attempts were for touchdowns. He also caught two passes that went for 44 yards.

Most vital statistic: Central's offense continued its struggles as it managed just 74 total yards through three quarters against the Marauders' first-string defensive unit. The Dragons' lone touchdown came at 7:33 of the fourth when Carter Schenk found JJ Moushlian for a 25-yard TD strike.

Central coach Jerry Albright: "The hardest part is we gave up 49 points, but a lot of that is because of our offense. We had turnovers, we had special team's breakdowns. Believe it or not, our defense is still getting better week-in and week-out after week one at Philipsburg."

Notable: Bishop Guilfoyle's Carter Boland delivered a 37-yard field goal in the first stanza to account for the 3-0 edge, then missed on a 41-yard attempt in the early stages of the second quarter before connecting on a 34-yarder with no time left in the first half to put the Marauders up 20-0. .. BG had an interception by Okonak negated in the first quarter and two touchdowns wiped off the scoreboard due to penalties in the second quarter -- an Okonak 25-yard TD run and Wheeler-to-Lestochi 16-yard touchdown pass -- on separate drives. … The Marauders' lone turnover came immediately following Lestochi's second INT as the Dragons were able to bounce on a center snap that Wheeler wasn't expecting in the third stanza. … Keegan Hewitt reached the end zone on a 31-yard sprint to make it 42-0 in the third, and then Theo Lawson set the final on a 20-yard scamper with 3:50 remaining in the contest. … Central hosted a "Kick Cancer Night'' to benefit the foundations of Tana Byler, Monte Smith and Lisa Meyers Audet.

Coach Wheeler: "We knew we had some things at halftime we wanted to run that were good -- we were disappointed in the penalties. In games that are rivalries and, in your section, -- there's a lot of talk. We don't want to do that. So, we got an uncharacteristic penalty, and we've got to be able to come back from that. I thought we did that no matter what happened. I thought our guys are growing up a little bit."

Records: Bishop Guilfoyle (4-1); Central (1-4).

Albright: "I thought we played with a lot of intensity and a lot of heart -- especially that first half. We were able to step up and make some stops as that's what we have been preaching to these guys all along."

Next week: Bishop Guilfoyle hosts Tyrone on Saturday, Sept. 27; Central travels to Huntingdon next Friday.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Bishop Guilfoyle 3 17 22 7 -- 49

Central 0 0 0 7 -- 7

First Quarter

BG--Carter Boland 37 field goal, 6:44.

Second Quarter

BG--Kissell 8 run (Carter Boland kick), 7:01.

BG--Kissell 3 run (Carter Boland kick), 1:46.

BG--Carter Boland 34 field goal, 0.0

Third Quarter

BG--Wheeler 52 run (Carter Boland kick), 9:11.

BG--Okonak 3 run (Lestochi pass from Wheeler), 5:21.

BG--Hewitt 31 run (Marasco kick), 0:51.

Fourth Quarter

C--Moushlian 25 pass from Schenk (C. Marks kick), 7:33.

BG--Lawson 20 run (Carter Boland kick), 3:50.

TEAM STATISTICS BG C

First downs 19 9

Total yards 405 164

Rushes-yards 36-266 19-79

Yards passing 139 85

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 7-12-0 10-24-3

Punts-avg. 0-0 4-32.3

Fumbles-lost 3-1 3-0

Penalties-yards 9-80 6-53

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Bishop Guilfoyle, Gioiosa 4-11, Lestochi 2-6, Kissell 7-51, Wheeler 9-76, Schimminger 3-20, Hewitt 7-60, Okonak 2-12. Central, Musei 2-0, Schenk 13-75, C. Marks 3-2, Ritchey 1-2.

PASSING--Bishop Guilfoyle, Wheeler 7-12-0-139, Shellenberger 0-0-0-0. Central, Schenk 8-20-3-75, Oakes 2-4-0-10.

RECEIVING--Bishop Guilfoyle, Lestochi 4-43, Marasco 1-52, Kissell 2-44. Central, Musei 1-8, Moushlian 4-38, Dickson 3-29, Kocsis 1-2, Scott 1-8.

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