History won’t repeat itself for Devils in football clash with Trojans
The deja vu was a little scary Friday night. If it had worked out it that way, it would have turned from eerie to ecstatic. But in a change of fortunes, a close battle in 2011 between the Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils and Chambersburg landed in the Trojans’ favor by a 43-42 score.
In 2010 the Devils won on a last second field goal. This time the officials waved a field goal attempt with 23 seconds left on the clock as wide left and left Chambersburg with the spoils on their home field as the season opened for both teams before upwards of 7,000 spectators.
In a game with lots of offense and big plays, Chambersburg wasted no time in scoring a few minutes into the game. G-A returned the favor as Denver Cordell executed the halfback pass to Aaron Bumbaugh for 27 yards that set up Tyler Szaflarski’s 3-yard scamper into the endzone. Luke Bitner made the first of six point after boots before the one kick that got away at the end.
Szaflarski scored again, this time from one yard out, with 1:52 left in the first quarter to post a 14-10 lead for the Devils after a frame. Austin Scott kept the excitement going by stopping a Trojan drive with his first pick of the night at the G-A 15 yard line. Denver Cordell made his first trip to the end zone at 8:49 in the second quarter when he returned a punt 87 yards for the score. The teams went to the half with the Devils leading 21-17.
G-A opened up the game to an 18-point lead in the third quarter. Bumbaugh scored on a 57-yard run at the 10:32 mark of the third quarter. Denver Cordell scored a little over a minute later by returning another Chambersburg punt to the end zone. This one went for 89 yards. Scott put GA's final points of the night on the board with an 11-yard scoring run with 1:55 left to play in the third.
Gabe Fridgen's interception and return for 55 yards on the goal line as Chambersburg was attempting to score on fourth down and thirteen set up a replay of last year's finale to this match up. With 23 seconds left on the clock, Bitner came on to attempt a 26 yard field goal. The ball sailed just left of the upright. Chambersburg took over on downs and ran the clock out.
Bumbaugh had nine carries for 143 yards. Szaflarski carried 21 times for 101. Scott had 122 yards passing. Denver Cordell had 94 yards receiving followed by Bumbaugh with 36.
Defensively, Denver Cordell led with 14 tackles followed by Fridgen with 11. Szaflarski added six.
The Blue Devils are scheduled to take to their brand new home field Friday, Sept. 9, to host New Oxford. Kick off is set for 7:30 p.m.
In a bit of a repeat, the Blue Devil junior vasity team was edged by Chambersburg Monday by a 46-41 tally.
G-A had a very productive first quarter with four scores. Devin Statler had touchdown runs of 65 and 12. Kareem Aiken made a 65-yard TD run in the first quarter and a 20-yarder in the second. The Little Devils were up 29-14 after a quarter and 35-26 at the half. Josh Young iced the half with a 20-yard pass reception for the score.
The Devils didn't see the end zone again until late in the fourth quarter. Kyle George recovered a Trojan fumble with 2:34 left in the game. Hunter Szaflarski ran it in from 19 yards out with 1:52 left to play to close to within five of the Trojans. G-A's subsequent two-point attempt and on-side kick were unsuccessful. Chambersburg knelt to run out the clock for the final play of the game.
Aiken led the offense with 120 yards rushing followed by Statler with 81 and Young with 71. Montedoro completed five passes for 59 yards. His targets were Aiken and Young for 20 yards each and Cameron Chilcote for 16.
Ryan Ricci led the defense with nine tackles followed by Byers with eight and Young and Kristian Shelley with seven each.
The Blue Devils will travel to New Oxford Monday.
