Blue Devils make way to host playoff game
In a game that was as much about keeping on target for the postseason as it was with wrapping up the regular season with a win, the Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils overwhelmed Big Spring and then cruised to a 41-22 victory. The win made the Mid-Penn Conference Colonial Division champions unbeaten at 7-0 in the division, raised their stock in the playoffs and got a lot of players on the varsity field.
The result propelled the Blue Devils (8-2) into the seventh spot of the District 3-AAA power rankings and assured them a home game as the playoffs begin Friday, Nov. 11. And it will be a familiary foe for G-A as the draw pits the Devils against 10th-seeded Shippensburg. In a showdown for the division title just two weeks earlier the Devils edged Ship in double overtime 28-27.
The round one playoff game is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Kaley Field. Ticket gates will open at 5:30 p.m. with no reserving of seats permitted. Pre-sale tickets are available from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 9 and 10 and from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, in the high school main office lobby. Pre-sale tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students. All tickets sold at the gate will be $5. No passes will be accepted.
District 3 prohibits signs, banners, whistles, cow bells and noisemakers at playoff games.
Last Friday the Bulldogs put up a good early fight, answering a first-quarter touchdown by the Devils with one of their own. Any thoughts of being in this one were dashed for Big Spring in the second quarter. G-A sxored four touchdowns to take a commanding lead.
Denton Cordell had scored the opening touchdown on a 33-yard run. He found the endzone again in the second with a 10-yard scamper. Twin borther Denver Cordell also chalked up a pair of second quarter scores. His came through the air as Grant Murray hit him for TD strikes of 31 and 22 yards.
Ashtin Byers got in on the scoring act in the second with a nien yard run and the Devils went into the locker room with a 34-7 advantage.
Big Spring managed to keep the mercy rule from kicking in and had two late scores to nurse the deficit. Aaron Bumbaugh was off to the races with a 62 yard touchdown run in the third stanza.
Both Cordells neared 100 yard rushing games with Denton tallying 98 on just six carries and Denver notching 94 yards on 13 totes. Byers also neared the century mark with 84 yards. Murray was efficient and productive, going 6-of-10 for 118 yards and two TD passes. Matt Montedoro went 2-for-2 in relief of Murray.
Defensively the Devils got eight tackles from Josh Horenstein and seven from Stephen Ernharth. Six each came from Holden Baker, Cameron Christman and Ian Spencer. Denver Cordell had an interception and Zachary Mowen recovered a fumble.
