The last time SCH played GA, the Devils took a 28-0 lead to propel themselves to 7-0 and gave them a win that put the entire league on notice that they were a legit threat to contend for their first Inter-Ac title since 2009.
Almost a year later, and the teams faced off once again, with SCH searching for win #7.
From the start, it was made clear that the game wouldn’t play out the same. GA opened up the drive with their passing attack, throwing quickly towards the flats, and quickly moving through the top-ranked Devils’ defense, before GA came down with a 25-yard jump ball to start the game.
DEVILS: 0 – PATRIOTS: 7
The touchdown marked the first time the Devils had trailed in a game all year, and it was clear this game wouldn’t be like last year. GA was far improved from last season and wasn’t going to lie down and lose.
With the ball back in their hands now, SCH took a different approach than GA with their offense, working with almost exclusively runs, most of which were by junior QB Liam Zelman, who kept many drives alive by dropping his shoulder and fighting for extra yards.
Those runs took the Devils all the way down the field before junior WR Aaron Clark took a jet sweep, weaving around defenders before punching it in for a 15-yard score.
DEVILS: 7 – PATRIOTS: 7
Despite a quick answer, the Devils still had reason for worry. GA’s offense was one of the highest-scoring in the Inter-Ac, and that was behind their passing attack.
“They’ve got a great quarterback, solid weapons you know,” said junior DT Sadiek Willis when asked about the opponent they faced. “Guys as talented as he is can be very dangerous with too much time and space, you know?”
With the last drive fresh in their mind, the Devils’ defense stepped up, forcing many errant throws, and stopping GA’s runs when they tried. They couldn’t keep the Patriots fully contained though, as GA converted a fourth down early in the drive, and kept moving down the field.
The Devils kept forcing the Patriots to 3rd down, and the Patriots barely managed to snag a first down and keep possession every time. This cycle drained the rest of the first quarter eventually leading to a GA 37-yard field goal at the start of the second.
DEVILS: 7 – PATRIOTS: 10
With the ball back, Zelman and the Devils chose to make a statement, and he made it quick. It started with a 45-yard run from Zelman, who ran over a GA defender on his way down, which was followed up with another sweep to Clark, who picked up about 8 yards.
Then, facing heavy pressure, Zelman uncorked a deep shot, finding junior WR Joey Markey for a 35-yard grab on a post, which Markey then ran in for a touchdown, the first of his career.
DEVILS: 14 – PATRIOTS: 10
It was a quick response, just three plays to get the lead right back. And right after that, the Devils defense stepped up, forcing a quick 3 and out, and giving SCH a chance to widen their lead.
Zelman once again kept moving the offense downfield, using his arm and his legs to move downfield, but before late in the game, tragedy struck.
On a handoff with 6:17 left in the second, senior RB Finn Whittle was brought down in a mass of bodies and exited the pile limping. He then hit the ground, holding his ankle. Whittle did not return to the game and was seen in crutches.
“You never see him go down and stay down, so once I saw him not jump right back up like he usually does, I’m stepping up, I’m trying to see what’s going on,” said Willis on the injury. “Once I see him getting carried over to the table, I’m standing with him, I’m trying to make sure everything’s good. It was definitely rough to see.”
Whittle plays both ways, and as one of the team’s captains, the loss was a devastating blow for a Blue Devils team who was battling through a close game. SCH was forced to punt, and GA took control of the game, marching downfield slowly and kicking another field goal with 9 seconds in the second to cut the lead down to 1.
DEVILS: 14 – PATRIOTS: 13
SCH had the ball at half, and they needed to re-evaluate their strategy. Whittle often took the brunt of the offensive workload, sometimes racking over 30 carries in a single game. Without him, SCH needed someone to lean on.
That someone was Liam Zelman.
Zelman and the Devils went to a 5-wide offense, taking out any runningback and letting Zelman run designed QB keepers instead, with 6 blockers to alleviate pressure.
And, not only did it work, but it caught the Patriots off guard.
Unlike a traditional QB, Zelman dropped his shoulder on almost every play, running through the GA defense instead of around them, abusing his larger frame as he moved the Devils downfield.
Zelman abused the read-option, and SCH used Clark to keep the defense honest, which allowed for SCH to drive all the way to the 40, where he’d take a QB draw 40-yards to the house for another touchdown, outrunning the GA defense.
And as SCH lined up for an extra point, GA false-started, allowing SCH a chance to easily go for two, which they did, as Zelman punched in a QB keeper (again) to put SCH up by two possessions.
DEVILS: 22 – PATRIOTS: 13
Holding a 9-point lead, SCH’s defense came roaring to life. Without Whittle, the Patriots tried throwing the ball, but SCH’s secondary held firm, as the Devils brought in Aaron Clark to contest GA’s height advantage.
While Clark is a talented receiver, he spent time at safety last season, hauling in 6 INTs before his season was cut short due to injury.
GA kept barely moving the ball, moving the chains, and picking up first downs, but the Devils harassed the QB, with sophomore Colin McFadden making his life a nightmare. McFadden seemed to be everywhere, forcing pressure, making big tackles, or getting sacks.
On second down, however, GA found busted coverage, and threw a pass deep downfield, finding a wide-open receiver who walked right into the endzone. It was a huge break for the Patriots, who needed the momentum.
Or, so they thought.
The play was called back due to holding, setting GA back up with a long way to go. They managed to keep fighting, getting to a 4th and 6 situation, where they opted to look to the air, which had been quite successful.
They opted to test the corners, throwing a quick hitch to the outside, but junior DB Charlie McFadden jumped the route, making a beautiful play on the ball to force an incompletion and a turnover on downs.
The Devils turned right back to Zelman on the next drive, and GA knew what was coming. But, even with that, they couldn’t stop it. Zelman ran up and down the GA defense, mixing in the occasional pass to keep GA honest.
Eventually, GA stacked the box, forcing a punt. On the snap however, the ball sailed over Zelman’s head, who recovered it, and booted it away, but barely made up any yardage. Thankfully, a flag let them try again, and this time they pinned GA deep.
Heading into the 4th, SCH still held a 2-possession lead, though with how GA’s offense was threatening, that lead wasn’t safe. That’s when SCH’s defense came up big, with junior Johnny Nosal forcing a fumble, and Colin McFadden jumping on it to give the Devils the ball in the red zone. GA desperately needed a stop, as another score might start to place this one out of reach.
So, when Zelman ran in ANOTHER touchdown, this one on the very first play of the drive, GA knew they needed to up the pace, or this one was over.
DEVILS: 29 – PATRIOTS: 13
Things got even worse for the Patriots, who got backed up, and had to punt the ball again to SCH, with time waning in the game. Looking to burn the clock down to the last seconds, SCH stayed running, giving Clark a sweep, where he broke multiple tackles on his way for a huge SCH gain.
And then, to put the game out of reach, Zelman ran in a score again, breaking off tackles to get his 5th total touchdown of the day.
DEVILS: 36 – PATRIOTS: 13
As the game wound down, GA would turn it over, but get another late touchdown after a botched snap led to the Patriots having the ball at the 3-yard line, and scoring a touchdown with time running low.
FINAL – DEVILS: 36 – PATRIOTS: 20
Despite the loss of Whittle, the Devils came together to win a huge Inter-Ac contest against the Patriots.
“We all just wanted to win for Finn, y’know.” said the senior and fellow captain, offensive lineman Matt McTamneny. “He’s a main part of the team and a brother, so we were upset to see him go down, but we know he’ll be back.”
The X-Factor of this game was QB Liam Zelman, who accounted for 99% of the Devils’ offensive yardage, with 264 on the ground, and 133 in the air. Zelman also had all 5 of the Devils touchdowns and a 2-pt conversion.
However, the Devils are still uncertain on the status of Whittle, and have their hardest test of the season coming up against Haverford. That game is at Haverford, this coming Saturday at 1PM! Come support the Blue Devils!