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Bishop Guilfoyle beaten by McCort-Carroll in LHAC title game

H.S. football extra

By John Hartsock 5 min read

LORETTO -- Bishop Guilfoyle Academy is the state's elite PIAA Class 1A football program, having won five state championships in that classification, including last season.

The Marauders have a strong chance to win another state title this December.

On Friday night in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference championship game at Saint Francis University's DeGol Field, however, BG ran into a buzz-saw in undefeated McCort-Carroll Catholic, which is showing every indication of making a run for a state title in Class 2A this postseason.

After a close first quarter, the Crushers dominated the rest of the way, winning the conference championship and improving to 10-0 on the season with a resounding 46-18 win over the Marauders.

McCort-Carroll senior back Jon Delia rushed for 132 yards on 21 carries and scored three touchdowns on a 43-yard first-quarter jaunt and third-quarter runs of 1 and 16 yards.

McCort-Carroll also showed off a decent passing game, with junior Bentley Bainey completing 9 of 14 attempts for 117 yards and four touchdowns. Senior wideout Nick Dressick caught scoring passes of 2 and 8 yards in the third quarter, and senior back Josh Spontak grabbed an 8-yard TD pass in the second quarter for McCort, which racked up 346 yards in total offense.

"We took a little time to settle in tonight, but after that, we really played to our full potential,'' Delia said. "I love being out here with my boys.''

Tom Smith grew up in the McCort-Carroll program, and has come full circle as the school's athletic director and head football coach.

"We had to make some adjustments defensively because BG is a really good football team, but our kids came out and played well tonight,'' Smith said. "The first half was a grind, but we were able to break away in the third quarter.

"Bishop McCort has meant the world to me,'' Smith said. "I played high school football there, and now I'm the head coach. Bishop McCort is part of my family.''

McCort-Carroll punched in a late second-quarter touchdown to take a 20-6 halftime lead, and things were never in doubt after the Crushers expanded their lead to 33-6 in the third quarter.

"There is no doubt that they're a good football team,'' BG coach Justin Wheeler said of the Crushers. They were definitely the better team tonight. We've got to learn from this and get ready for the real season - the playoffs - which start next week.''

While the Crushers will tentatively host Bald Eagle Area in the District 6 Class 2A playoffs, BG (8-2) will open the District 6 Class 1A playoffs on its home field with a first-round game next weekend, tentatively against Purchase Line.

Play of the game: While Delia's 43-yard touchdown run certainly deserves mention, a 41-yard pass from Bainey to wideout Ka'leem Taylor in the second quarter probably gets the nod. Taylor -- who also caught a fourth-quarter TD pass -- made an acrobatic catch at the BG 6 between two Marauders defenders, setting the stage for Bainey's 2-yard, fourth-down touchdown pass to Dressick that put the Crushers ahead to stay, 13-6.

Player of the game: Delia.

Unsung heroes: McCort-Carroll's offensive and defensive lines made a strong statement, allowing the Crushers to monopolize time of possession and total plays, as well as the score.

Most vital statistic: The Crushers rolled up 229 yards on the ground and 117 through the air.

Dressick: "We really came together. All the seniors put in a lot of hard work and trusted our coaches.''

McCort-Carroll two-way senior lineman Rocco Fetzko: "We worked really hard for this all year. I think that we deserved this.''

Notable: Jake Kissell scored on a 1-yard first-quarter run for BG, while Wheeler's son, sophomore quarterback Justin Wheeler, hit junior wideout Evan Schimminger with a 78-yard third-quarter scoring pass. BG freshman quarterback Landon Shellenberger played well in late fourth-quarter duty, directing a touchdown drive that he capped off with a 1-yard run.

Records: Bishop Guilfoyle (8-2); McCort-Carroll (10-0).

Next week: The Marauders host a District 6 Class 1A playoff game, tentatively against Purchase Line, while McCort tentatively hosts Bald Eagle Area in the District 6 Class 2A playoffs.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Bishop Guilfoyle 6 0 6 6--18

McCort-Carroll 7 13 20 6--46

First Quarter

MC--J. Delia 43 run (Conner kick), 5:39.

BG--Kissell 1 run (kick failed), 1:41.

Second Quarter

MC--Dressick 2 pass from Bainey (kick failed), 7:29.

MC--Spontak 8 pass from Bainey (Conner kick), 0:57.

Third Quarter

MC--Dressick 8 pass from Bainey (Conner kick), 6:29.

MC--J. Delia 1 run (pass failed), 4:53.

BG--Schimminger 78 pass from Wheeler (pass failed), 3:48.

MC--J. Delia 16 run (Conner kick), 0:51.

Fourth Quarter

MC--Taylor 10 pass from Bainey (kick failed), 11:42.

BG--Shellenberger 1 run (kick failed), 0:13.

TEAM STATISTICS BG MC

First downs 9 18

Total yards 259 346

Rushes-yards 32-92 40-229

Yards passing 167 117

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 7-20-2 9-15-0

Punts/avg. 2-75 1-34

Fumbles-lost 1-1 5-1

Penalties-yards 10-80 8-61

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Bishop Guilfoyle, Shellenberger 7-30, Kissell 13-28, Hewitt 6-15, Boland 1-11, Gioiosa 4-6, Wheeler 1-0. McCort-Carroll, J. Delia 21-132, Gallucci 7-50, Bainey 4-29, Gordon 2-26, Spontak 2-8, E Wyant 2-6, E. Delia 1-0. TEAM 1-(minus 22).

PASSING--Bishop Guilfoyle, Wheeler 3-8-1-82, Shellenberger 3-7-0-46, Kissell 1-4-1-39, Boland 0-1-0-0. McCort-Carroll, Bainey 9-14-0-117, Gallucci 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING--Bishop Guilfoyle, Kissell 2-4, Schimminger 1-78, Lestochi 1-39, Taddei 1-22, Boland 1-11, Gates 1-10. McCort-Carroll, Taylor 4-73, J. Delia 2-26, Dressick 2-10, Spontak 1-8.

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