Devils tripped by Jefferson
By JAI E. COURTER Echo Pilot

Jared Doyle (65) and Jared Smith (50) pursue a Cougar (at left). D.J. Cordell (21) is on his way to a tackle. And to the right, .Jason Koons (5) is shown right after his touchdown reception.

The Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devil football team saw its fourgame win streak come to an end, falling 19-7 to Jefferson out of West Virginia Friday in a wet, sloppy non-league battle at Kaley Field.

Jefferson quarterback Brandon Hyler accounted for all three touchdowns and 90 of the teams 150 rushing yards. Hyler also had an interception late in the game to seal the victory for the Cougars.

The Blue Devil defense forced a third-and-12 on Jefferson's 28-yard line but couldn't bring Hyler down as he scrambled for a 72-yard touchdown run just five minutes into the game. The Devils got the ball back and drove down to the Cougar 36, but turned the ball over on downs. The defense held tough for a couple downs but let up a 39-yard pass on third-and- 13 that put the Cougars on Greencastle's 28.

Yet again the Devils forced a third-and-10. However, they allowed Hyler to get loose again this time untouched up the middle for a 15-yard touchdown run. Jared Smith broke through and blocked the PAT to keep the lead at 13-0 with less than a minute left in the first quarter.

G-A started their next drive from their own 41. On the first play, Dustin Barry fumbles the pitch from Brett Meyers and the Cougars recovered the ball in Blue Devil territory. G-A caught a break when a 38-yard touchdown run was called back on a holding call. The defense forced the Cougars to turnover on downs on the G-A 36.

After exchanging posessions, the Devils got the ball back on the Jefferson 30 thanks to a 20- yard punt return from Rusty Cordell. On their first play of the drive, Cordell received the pitch and threw a halfback pass to Adam Ritchey, who took it down to the one yardline. Meyers then tossed it to Jason Koons for the touchdown. Christian Hoover converted the PAT. The half ended with the Devils trailing 13-7.

The Devils defense took over at the start of the second half. Smith and Jared Doyle drilled the running back for no gain on the first play. The Devils looked confused on the next play when a pass to the G-A 20 was dropped with no one around the receiver. Barry and Jordan Statler both came up big on defense throughout the quarter making key stops. The biggest hit of the night came late in the third quarter when Cordell drilled the ball-carrier in the backfield for a loss.

On the second play in the fourth quarter, Hyler scrambled yet again down to the goal line from 14 yards out. On the next play he ran the quarterback sneak in to give them a 19-7 lead. The Devils' next drive came to a quick halt when Meyers threw an interception on the second play.

G-A put together a nice drive late in the quarter in an attempt to come back. Meyers completed a 14-yard pass to Barry, an 11- yard pass to Cordell, and a 10- yarder to Ritchey. Ritchey rolled out from the Jefferson 11 but his pass was picked off by Hyler at the goal line with just over two minutes remaining. The Devils couldn't overcome the deficit and fell 19-7.

The defense held the Division 1 prospect to just 28 yards on 28 carries. Jesse Lenharr led the defense with 11 tackles. Matt Copenhaver chipped in with six tackles, while Smith and Doyle each had five stops.

Cordell ran five times for 51 yards, while Ritchey added 43 yards on 14 carries. Ritchey also completed three passes for 18 yards. Meyers went 5-10 in the air throwing for 53 yards and a touchdown.

The junior varsity team defeated Mercersburg Academy Monday by a score of 12-0. Brandon Trefelner was eight-for- 18 in the air for 77 yards and two touchdowns.

The Blue Devil varsity will host West Perry on Friday at 7:30 p.m. A win will put the Devils in the District 3-AAA playoffs, but a loss could keep them out of postseason play.