McDevitt routed by Old Forge
BRODHEADSVILLE, Pa. - The sound of muttering was mixed with the click-clack of cleats during Bishop McDevitt's solemn halftime march to the locker room.
BRODHEADSVILLE, Pa. - The sound of muttering was mixed with the click-clack of cleats during Bishop McDevitt's solemn halftime march to the locker room.
Twenty-four minutes of game time later, the Lancers returned to the locker room, looking forlorn after losing, 51-7, to District 2 Old Forge in a PIAA State Class A quarterfinal at Pleasant Valley High School.
"It's hard to explain," McDevitt coach Pat Manzi said. "We just didn't have it today. They were that much better than us today. The score speaks for itself."
The Blue Devils dominated from nearly start to finish. Senior running back Cooper Califano took the opening play from scrimmage 65 yards for a touchdown, his first of six touchdowns on the ground.
Califano finished with 262 rushing yards on 28 carries. Sophomore running back Brendan Mozeleski added 105 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries.
The Blue Devils (13-1) took a 26-7 lead into halftime and never let up. Jaret Horn intercepted a pass on the first play of the second half, which led to another Califano touchdown.
Old Forge finished the game with 397 rushing yards. McDevitt (7-7), which committed seven offensive penalties (11 total for 67 yards), finished with 13 rushing yards and yielded five sacks that cost 35 more yards.
The Lancers were led by senior Dontae Mason, who played hard until the end.
The 5-foot-9, 160-pound wideout and defensive back finished with 35 rushing yards and the game's hardest hit, which he made on its last play. Mason was a catalyst who helped McDevitt win its previous five games, which led to the state playoff berth.
Despite the loss, Manzi, who led the Lancers from 1982 to 2013 and returned this season after taking a leave of absence last year, was proud of his team's progress.
"Well, we went through some ups and downs because we play a tough schedule," he said. "I thought we came together at the end, and the last four weeks we've played pretty good football. We had good practices, good football, and good attitude."
McDevitt 7 0 0 0 - 7
Old Forge 13 13 19 6 - 51
O: Cooper Califano 65 run (Jaret Horn kick)
O: Califano 22 run (run failed)
M: Jaron Macon 42 pass from Max Bryson
O: Califano 22 run (run failed)
O: Califano 51 run (Horn kick)
O: Califano 26 run (kick failed)
O: Brendan Mozeleski 49 run (kick failed)
O: Mozeleski 19 run (Horn kick)
O: Califano 33 run (kick blocked by Dontae Mason)
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