HARRISBURG — For almost the entire first half, Chambersburg was right there playing tough against the No. 2 Class 6A football team in the state, Bishop McDevitt.
The Trojans trailed only 14-12 until they allowed a Crusader score with 0:17 left in the half. It was still only 28-12 until McDevitt scored on the final play of the third period.
Chambersburg coach Gary Carter said the 42-18 final score doesn’t reflect how well his team played.
“I give a lot of credit to our coaching staff for the game plan and to the kids for playing hard,” Carter said. “That score wasn’t close to showing what kind of game it was.
“We just did not capitalize on some short fields and on some takeaways we had, and that made a big difference. The kids played lights out at times.”
The Crusaders (9-1, 8-1 MPC) were backed up to their own 4 in the first quarter after a punt by Colton Horst and a tackle by Jusdon Augustin. But on the next play, Sebastian Williams connected with Zayden Smith for a 96-yard pass-and-run touchdown.
A 1-yard rush for a score by Kaedyn Walker — the first of his 4 TDs — made it 14-0 after the first quarter.
But Chambersburg, which finished 3-7 (3-6 MPC), fought back. On the first play of the second period, QB Cam Green hit Keiandre Cross for 40 yards into the end zone, and after the kick was blocked, it was 14-6.
An interception by the Trojans’ Isaiah Wright, his second in two games, gave Chambersburg another possession at its own 20 with 2:56 left. Green completed throws twice to running back Malachi Tasker and to tight end Seth Gilliam, and got some help by a pair of 15-yard penalties from McDevitt.
Green then finished the impressive drive by finding Lucas Ocker in the back of the end zone from 20 yards out. A two-point conversion failed, but it was now 14-12 with 0:58 left in the half.
“We had a smart game plan,” Carter said. “We got pressure on their QB and moved him off of his spots. But they went to more runs in the second half and pounded us until we buckled down and stopped it.”
Unfortunately, the Crusaders, faced with a test, stung the Trojans right before halftime. They needed less than a minute to march downfield — including overcoming a third-and-24 situation — and a Williams TD throw of 12 yards made it 21-12 with 0:17 left.
Walker then scored twice in the third period and once in the fourth to make it 35-12.
Chambersburg’s final score came late in the game, with Tasker scoring from short range. Green hit Cam McNew twice in the drive and was 7-for-7 through the air.
“I feel like when we walked off the field we felt like we had won the football game,” Carter said. “And when they walked off, it seemed like they had lost. Credit to McDevitt because they are good, but we had kids making plays all over the field.
“The first four games were a little rough and we were 0-4. But it took until the CV game for us to find our identity. I was pleased with the effort from then on. I couldn’t be more proud of them, even though we were 3-7. In the last three weeks we played the No. 2 and No. 4 teams in the state tougher than anybody has, other than State College.”
NOTES: Deakon Snavely surpassed 100 tackles for the season from his linebacking position — as a sophomore … Snavely and Omar Hanchey recovered fumbles … Most stats are unavailable at this time, but will be updated on Saturday.
Bishop McDevitt 42, Chambersburg 18
Chambersburg 0 12 0 6 — 18
Bishop McDevitt 14 7 14 7 — 42
First Quarter
McD — Zayden Smith 96 pass from Sebastian Williams (Daniel Melinda kick), 7:18
McD — Kaedyn Walker 1 run (Melinda kick), 2:45
Second Quarter
Ch — Keiandre Cross 40 pass from Cam Green (kick blocked), 11:47
Ch — Lucas Ocker 20 pass from Cam Green (pass failed), 0:58
McD — N/A 12 pass from Williams (Melinda kick), 0:17
Third Quarter
McD — Walker 8 run (Melinda kick), N/A
McD — Walker 9 run (Melinda kick), 0:00
Fourth Quarter
McD — Walker 40 run (Melinda kick), 10:35
Ch — Malachi Tasker run (run failed), 1:50