Missed opportunities again doom Carroll in loss to McDevitt
RADNOR — Friday’s first half told the story of the 2018 season for Archbishop Carroll. The Patriots drove the ball deep into Bishop McDevitt territory four times in the opening two quarters at Joe McNichol Stadium. They came away with seven points.
Carroll turned it over on downs at the 23. Backup quarterback Nick Lamey threw an interception from the 27. The Patriots botched a field goal from the seven. It left the hosts with a sour taste in their mouths and a 28-14 setback.
Carroll played McDevitt tough, outgaining the visitors, 340-313 yards for the game. But it didn’t translate into a win.
“We played so poorly defensively in the first half that we didn’t put ourselves in a position to be able to win this game,” Carroll coach Kyle Detweiler said. “We were better defensively in the second half, but it was just too much for us to overcome. That’s why we’re a .500 ball club.”
Missed opportunities have defined the Patriots’ campaign, none bigger than two one-point losses, to West Catholic and to Bonner-Prendergast, on a late two-point conversion. So when Carroll kept knocking on the door in the first two quarters to no avail, the past close-calls made it all the more frustrating.
“If we get both sides of the ball rolling, everyone is playing with more chemistry,” senior defensive back Zac Butler said. “When we get into the red zone, we’ve got to complete it. I think it’s right in your mind. You have to complete that every time.”
The Patriots started well. Quarterback Russell Minor-Shaw showed off both his legs and his arm. He broke off a 22-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. Later, on fourth-and-14 from the 33, Minor-Shaw escaped the pocket and found Matt Zielinski in the end zone.
Although McDevitt answered quickly — Lonnie Rice scored the first of his two rushing touchdowns 1:08 after Zielinski’s score — the Lancers missed the extra point, and Carroll led 7-6 going into the second quarter.
But the Patriots couldn’t build their advantage, nor could they keep pace with McDevitt’s quick-strike offense. Each stalled Carroll drive in the second was met with a Lancer touchdown.
Jovan Hinton, who rotated snaps with Rice in the first half before leaving with an injury, hit Emmanuel Sia down the right side at the 6:03 mark of the second quarter to give McDevitt its first lead. Jon-Luke Peaker rushed for a game-high 147 yards and made sure he got a score to go with it when he slipped in from the three just before the half. The Lancers (7-3, 5-2 Catholic League Blue) went into the locker room with 20-7 lead.
They quickly added another touchdown. With the help of a 56-yard kick return by Mike Price, Rice scored from the 13, then ran for the two-point conversion to make it 28-7.
“I just like the way all of our underclassmen stepped up, and our backfield got it done,” Rice said. “The o-line was just driving and driving and opening holes so that we could make plays.”
In addition to the three-touchdown difference, Carroll also faced the prospect of fighting back without its starting quarterback. Minor-Shaw took a hit at the close of the first half and left the stadium in a sling.
The Patriots, however, showed life despite the adversity. Malachi Hansen picked off Rice, as did Butler in spectacular fashion, falling down and snaring a tipped pass just before it hit the ground.
“I feel like I should’ve caught it the first time,” Butler said. “But it was awesome.”
That interception set up Carroll’s final scoring drive: Jalil Warren, on fourth-and-goal from the one, eased the red zone woes with a short touchdown. It gave the Patriots (4-5, 2-5 PCL Blue) a positive note to end on.
“They’re still learning how to win,” Detweiler said of his young group. “That’s why we’ve had the season we’ve had.”
Carroll has failed to capitalize on them all season. But the Patriots get a shot at redemption next week when they play Bonner & Prendergast in the Catholic League Playoffs.
“We’ve lost games that we should’ve won,” Butler said. “It’s going to be in the back of our mind all week. It’s do or die.”
