Bishop Shanahan turns turnovers into points in rout of Chichester
By Bryan Davis
bdavis@21st-centurymedia.com
@btdavis25 on Twitter
DOWNINGTOWN >> The Chichester High School football battled two opponents on Friday night — Bishop Shanahan and the elements — and didn’t have much success against either.
Bishop Shanahan took advantage of multiple Chichester turnovers in the first half to build a big lead en route to a 34-8 nonleague victory at a monsoon-like Jack Mancini Field.
The conditions, heavy rain and wind, played havoc with Chi’s offense, they had six fumbles — three lost — and two interceptions in the first half. As expected, neither team threw much, the two teams combined for 10 pass attempts on the soggy evening.
Neither team put up dazzling offensive numbers, Chichester mustard just two yards on the ground and six through the air. Shanahan had 147 yards of total offense — 103 rushing. But, it was the homestanding Eagles who made the big plays when needed.
“I think the difference was up front,” said Shanahan coach Paul Meyers. “I know they’re big and physical, but we were lucky to capitalize on the turnovers and our defense played well.”
The visiting Eagles’ woes began on their first series A pass from quarterback Idress Holloman was tipped at the line of scrimmage by DaKendrick Daniels and hauled in by lineman Charles Adams on the Chi 17. Adams would later a fumble recovery.
“That was a blessing, it bounced off somebody’s hand,” said Adams. “I caught it, tried to run with it, got tackled. I had a good night. I’m happy.”
Shanahan, though couldn’t cash this opportunity in. They were turned away by the Chi defense deep in its territory.
The Eagles broke through a little later as Chi couldn’t move the ball and had to punt. The snap was dropped and
Shanahan took over on the Chi 6. Two plays later, Cooper Jordan slipped in from the three for the first score.
On the next Chichester possession, they fumbled and Shanahan recovered in the end zone and a 14-0 lead after one.
Another turnover keyed a Shanahan score in the second. A muffed punt, recovered by the Eagles, set them up on the 25. On the sixth play of the drive, Jordan powered in from the one for a 20-0 advantage.
The score stayed that way until late in the half. The Eagles were on the Chi 18 when Jordan scooped up a bad snap and found Nicholas Romano alone in the end zone for the score.
“The corner stepped up on the out route and left me wide open,” said Romano. “I didn’t see the bad snap, I just ran my route.”
Romano also got on the score sheet for the only TD in the third. He broke through the middle and sped past the defense for a 36-yard score.
Chichester (5-3) averted the shutout with less than two minutes left in the game. Henry Jones picked a fumble and sped 70 yards for the TD.
Shanahan closes out the regular season with a 7-3 mark and is expected to be in the top two for the District 1 4A playoffs.
Bishop Shanahan 34, Chichester 8
Chichester 0 0 0 8 — 8
Bishop Shanahan 14 12 8 0 — 34
First Quarter
Bishop Shanahan — C. Jordan 3 run (run failed)
Bishop Shanahan — Shanahan recovered fumble in end zone (C. Jordan rund)
Second Quarter
Bishop Shanahan — C. Jordan 1 run (run failed)
Bishop Shanahan — Romano 18 pass from C. Jordan (pass failed)
Third Quarter
Bishop Shanahan — Romano 36 run (Whitehill run)
Fourth Quarter
Chichester — Jones 70 fumble return (Holloman run)
team statistics
C BS
First downs 3 10
Rushes-yards 33-2 48-103
Passing 2-6-2 3-4-0
Passing yards 6 44
Total yards 8 147
Punts 1-25.0 1-33.0
Fumbles-lost 7-4 5-1
Penalties-yards 10-28 2-20
Individual statistics
Rushing — Chichester: Reaves 8-19; Bush 10-6; Swinton 1-4 Blackwell 8-3; Holloway 3-(-18); Rosario 1-(-12). Bishop Shanahan: C. Jordan 10-18 2TD; McGrory 10-15; Whitehill 11-20; Barbadora 8-21; Romano 1-36 TD; Gallagher 7-3; Domsohn 1-(-10).
Passing — Chichester: Holloman 2-6-2 6 yards; Blackwell 0-1-0 0 yards. Bishop Shanahan: C. Jordan 3-3-0 44 yards TD; Whitehill 0-1-0 0 yards.
Receiving — Chichester: Swinton 1-11; Ballard 1-(-5). Bishop Shanahan: McGrory 2-26; Romano 1-18 TD.
Interceptions — Bishop Shanahan: Adams; McGrory.
