McDevitt brings big-time talent to State College

Guy Cipriano

Of all the talented teams that have visited Memorial Field since State College joined the Mid-Penn Conference, none produced more hullabaloo than the cast Bishop McDevitt brought here to begin the 2005 season.

CDT/Christopher Weddle

A group of State College defenders take down Altoona's Josh Adams on Friday, October 23, 2009. CDT/Christopher Weddle

View larger

The Crusaders’ riches back then included a future Philadelphia Eagle running back everyone called “Shady” and multiple other players on their way to major colleges.

Four years later, State College ends its home schedule against a Bishop McDevitt team with similar talent.

This year’s Crusaders don’t have a player with the acclaim of LeSean McCoy. But their roster includes multiple Division I-bound players, including wide receivers Salath Williams (Pitt) and Jeremy Cornelius (Purdue). More importantly, they are 8-0.

Add it up, and State College is entertaining the state’s top-ranked Class AAAA team, according to the Patriot News of Harrisburg, tonight at Memorial Field.

“It’s one of the best teams assembled I have seen in quite a while,” State College coach Al Wolski said. Details please.

“They have big linemen, backs that can run, receivers that can run and catch the ball. ...They have it all,” Wolski added.

They also haven’t have been challenged.

Bishop McDevitt’s toughest game was its opener: a cozy 41-16 victory over rival Harrisburg. The Crusaders have posted seven straight mercy-rule victories since then.

State College (7-1) should push Bishop McDevitt, which averages 46 points per game. The Little Lions are a two-point loss at Central Dauphin away from being undefeated. Plus, State College veterans own pleasant Bishop McDevitt memories. The Little Lions won last year’s meeting 20-19.

The Little Lions lost more key players than the Crusaders, whose roster includes five three-year starters. Bishop McDevitt coach Jeff Weachter said his team hasn’t used that game as motivation. The Crusaders, who don’t play next week, are using tonight as a postseason tune-up.

“It’s a new year and our guys are just looking forward to getting ready for the playoffs,” Weachter said. “State College is the best team we have played so far.”

Calling Bishop McDevitt the Little Lions’ best opponent generates little debate.

The Crusaders compiled 489 offensive yards against State College’s stingy defense last year. Their key skill players — Jameel Poteat at running back, Williams (6-foot-4, 186 pounds), Cornelius (6-3, 194) and Aaron Sye (6-0, 182) at wide receiver and junior Matt Johnson at quarterback — remain the same. Johnson didn’t receive a chance to finish last year’s game because of a vicious first-quarter hit by State College safety Dom Mills.

The Little Lions face some immense challenges and slowing McDevitt’s passing game ranks high on the list.

Nothing has rattled Johnson this year. He’s completed 89 of 129 passes for 1,463 yards with a 21-to-1 touchdown-interception ratio.

There’s little doubt the Crusaders will attack State College’s pass defense.

Bishop McDevitt players and coaches have attended multiple State College games, including one when the Little Lions allowed 232 passing yards earlier this month at Cedar Cliff. Altoona tried testing State College’s secondary last week, but cornerback Alex Kenney intercepted three passes.

Kenney said he’s looking forward to facing Williams and Cornelius, who have combined to catch 41 passes for 801 yards.

“Our coaches said their athletes are the same guys we played against last year,” said Kenney, who orally committed to Penn State this past summer. “I’m excited to see how I match up against a Division I wide receiver.”

Following Kenney and Bishop McDevitt’s skill players will be an entertaining endeavor.

But serious intrigue also exists up front.

The Crusaders have two massive offensive junior tackles the Little Lions must navigate in Justen Garlic (6-5, 285) and Tony Harris (6-3, 335). The only Mid-Penn team with comparable size could be State College, whose offensive line includes seniors Jack DeBoef (6-8, 270), Mike Laskowski (6-3, 270) and Vinh Voung (6-2, 282).

The Little Lion offensive line will be trying to shove around a defense allowing 8.9 points per game. Bishop McDevitt’s starting defensive lineman — Stefan Belle, Noah Spence, Ryan Kuntz and Steve Mosey — all weigh 230 pounds or more.

“They put 11 guys four or five yards off the line of scrimmage and come right after you,” Wolski said. “They come off blocks really well. They don’t run with deep people. They stop you right there.”

A few big drives could benefit the Little Lions. State College ran just two second-half offensive series last week, with the second one resulting in a kneel-down.

The Little Lions average 262.9 rushing yards per game. They have gained huge chunks on long runs by Kenney and quarterback Matt Mazzara, who both average at least eight yards per carry. Mills, who plays quarterback on offense, also averages 6.2 yards per rush.

“Long drives are part of the game plan if things happen the way we want them to,” Wolski said. “Hopefully, we can go on some 10-, 11-, 12- play drives and keep the ball out of their hands.”

State College concludes its regular season next week at Chambers-burg, so ending a regular-season home schedule against Bishop McDevitt, one of Pennsylvania’s five undefeated Class AAAA teams, adds to tonight’s allure. State College is 5-0 at home this season, but rain-thinned crowds against Cumberland Valley, Harrisburg and Altoona. Bishop McDevitt is 4-1 at Memorial Field.

“It’s not as bad of a trip as Altoona,” Weachter said. “That’s the worst trip we make. State College’s student body is loud and they call us names, but our kids enjoy things like that. It’s becoming a good rivalry.”

The game could mark the last State College-Bishop McDevitt meeting for at least two years because the teams play in separate district playoff brackets. The Crusaders are moving to Class AAA and will play Harrisburg, Cumberland Valley and Central Dauphin in Mid- Penn crossover games the next two seasons.

Weachter said he wants to resume playing State College when Bishop McDevitt moves into its planned new high school, which will include an 8,500-seat stadium with lights. Bishop McDevitt officials are hoping to open the school in 2012.

“Most of our games with State College have been nail-biters,” said Weachter, whose 2005 team defeated the Little Lions 28-26 in the opener and 20-17 in the District 3-6 Class AAAA final. “We’re going to miss playing them. There’s a possibility of us going back to Quad-A when we move into our new school. We would want to play them again.”

Guy Cipriano can be reached at 231-4643.