DOWNINGTOWN >> When a football team scores late and faces a decision on whether to go for the two-point conversion or the extra point, the outcome can either be lauded or regretted. Friday night, Bishop Shanahan coach Paul Meyers was faced with this dilemma and his quarterback Zach Ferraro made him look like a hero.
Ferraro ran in the two-pointer following Pat Gallagher’s touchdown in the final minute as the Eagles rallied for a thrilling 29-28 win over Pottsgrove in the District 1 Class 4A semifinals at Jack Mancini Field.
Two years ago, Shanahan beat Pottsgrove for the district title. This year, the Eagles (6-5) clinched a berth in the final against the winner of Saturday’s game between top-seeded Pope John Paul II and No. 4 Pottstown.
The Eagles had a senior-laden team that year, and now they are back in that rarefied air of playing for a championship.
“I remember having those seniors two years ago and nobody gave us a chance to do anything the last couple of years,” said Ferraro. “I thought the sky’s the limit for this team and I’m happy we’re still in fighting. This team’s never gonna quit.”
After an exciting first half, which saw 42 combined points, both defenses tightened and didn’t allow any points until late in the fourth quarter.
The Falcons (5-6) went on a 62-yard drive. They negotiated down to the Shanahan 24. From there, quarterback Gabe Rinda scrambled out of the pocket. Before he crosses the line of scrimmage, he found Isaiah Rivera alone in the left flat and the sophomore did the rest, streaking down the sideline to break the tie to give the No. 3 seed a 28-21 lead with 2:09 left.
Shanahan came right back, the big play was a 29-yard screen pass to Trevor Barbadora that got the ball to the Pottsgrove 16. Four plays later, Gallagher bulled his way up the middle into the end zone to close to within one.
“We’ve been battle tested. We’re ready for moment,” said Gallagher. “These our the games we live for. I trusted my O-line and I ran to my assignment.”
Faced with a decision, Shanahan went for the win. Ferraro was looking right but was pressured with a defender in his face. He pulled the ball and ran to his left into the clear and in for the conversion and a 29-28 lead with 47.7 seconds left.
“We called a rollout pass to my right,” said Ferraro. “There was a guy who jumped up in my face, so instinct took over and I dashed to my left and there was no one there.”
The Falcons still had a chance and two pass plays had them at the Shanahan 40. Rinda was almost sacked by a Shanahan defender, but he got the pass off and it was intercepted by Aidan Civitella to seemingly end the game.
But, a defensive holding penalty gave Pottsgrove one final chance. Rinda’s pass in the left corner of the end zone attempted for Bryce Caffery was knocked away by Civitella and the Eagles celebrated the victory and a berth in the championship.
The game started off with a bang the first time Pottsgrove had the ball. Rinda was tackled and fumbled. Caffery picked up the ball and raced 40 yards for the opening score.
Shanahan came right back and tied the score on a 26-yard pass from Landon Wright to Barbadora.
“Landon played awesome,” said Meyers. “He battled back. He tweaked his ankle and that’s why Zach came in.”
Another exchange of touchdowns had the tied at 14-14 early in the second.
Gallagher electrified the crowd as he broke up the middle on a 63-yard jaunt to give Shanahan a 21-14 advantage.
“I don’t run outside, I only run up the middle,” said Gallagher. “I’m tired of being called slow by my teammates I want to show them I’m fast.”
Pottsgrove battled back again and made it 21-21 as Wright fumbled the ball trying to pass and Chase Wiley fell on it in the end zone.
