Leechburg gives up TD on 1st play, falls to Bishop Canevin in Eastern Conference game

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, September 15, 2017 | 11:27 PM

It was a night to forget for the Leechburg Blue Devils when they took on Bishop Canevin on Friday at Veterans Memorial Field. Spearheaded by a punishing rushing attack, Bishop Canevin downed Leechburg, 28-7, in a Class A Eastern Conference game.

The Blue Devils (0-4, 0-3) struggled from the start, surrendering a touchdown to the Crusaders (1-2, 1-1) on the first play from scrimmage: a 39-yard run by senior running back Zach Trusky. The score marked the first points scored by Bishop Canevin this season.

Bishop Canevin rushed for 303 yards. Trusky led the team with 171 yards on 24 carries and three touchdowns.

“We knew what they were going to do,” Leechburg coach Mark George said. “We had a couple decent stands there throughout the game, but it wasn't good enough obviously.

“I think the kids tried hard. I really do. They kept plugging away. I don't think they gave up.”

With the score 21-0 beginning the second half, Leechburg turned to its defense to try to change momentum. Bishop Canevin senior running back Robert Goodnight had other ideas. The Crusaders went on a five-play drive that featured three carries by Goodnight, including a 5-yard touchdown run that made the score 28-0.

“We wanted to set the tone early,” Bishop Canevin coach Darren Schoppe said. “We've taken a beating the last two weeks, and we were looking to set the tone with the running game early on.”

Late in the fourth quarter, Leechburg began to mount momentum on offense. With first-and-10 from their own 19, the Blue Devils began a 10-play drive that featured six runs by sophomore running back Jake Blumer, who gained 38 yards on the drive. It was capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by junior running back Bret Kardos.

Determined not to give up, Leechburg attempted an onside kick following the score, and it was recovered by freshman Chace Wadsworth. The drive stalled at the Bishop Canevin 39.

“It was a big confidence booster for our kids to be honest,” George said. They haven't had a lot of confidence in these first few games, but they felt pretty good about themselves after that.”

Blumer led Leechburg offensively, gaining 72 yards on 19 carries.

DJ Vasil is a freelance writer.

Tags: Bishop Canevin, Leechburg