Wood Runs past Central Catholic

http://www.d11football.com/news/12/07/wood-runs-past-central-catholic/ It was the rubber match between the two schools on Friday night. Allentown Central Catholic won the first meeting (49-27) and Archbishop Wood (13-2) won last season (70-14) en route to Hershey. Wood started off strong and never looked back on earning their chance to win a second straight PIAA Class 3A State Title, beating Allentown Central Catholic, 36-6 at Banko Field in Bethlehem. The game never was close. Wood received the opening kickoff and on the second play of the game, running back Josh Messina dashed 59 yards for the opening score of the game. It was 7-0 Wood. After a Central Catholic drive stalled, Wood got the ball back at their own 30. Messina and Andrew Guckin did the leg work with Guckin finishing off the drive, on a 10 yard scamper, to put Wood ahead 14-0, with 6:46 left in the first quarter. In fact, Wood would score on their next 3 possessions, to put this game out of reach. This game went into Mercy Rule just before halftime. Guckin intercepted an Anthony Beck pass and returned the ball to the Central Catholic 9-yard line. Wood rushed to get their special teams on the field and Nick Visco kicked a 26 yard field goal for a decisive 36-0 lead at halftime. With the game in the Mercy Rule, Wood never earned a first down in the second half. Archbishop Wood had a total of 380 yards offense, 363 in the first half. The closest Central Catholic got was the Wood 16 yard line on the first drive of the second half, but a couple of sacks backed ACC up to their own 39 and they had to punt. Two plays later, Central Catholic scored their first and only touchdown of the game, at the end of the third quarter, on a Wood fumble deep in their down territory. After a Wood offside penalty, McDermott scampered 3 yards for the touchdown. The running back ran over 169 yards, giving him over 3,100 rushing yards for the season. Central Catholic finished the season 9-6. Archbishop Wood will face Erie Cathedral Prep on Friday, Dec. 14 at 7:00PM at Hershey Park Stadium, for the PIAA Class 3A Football Championship. SCORING: 1st Q AW – Josh Messina 59 yard run. Visco kick. AW – Andrew Guckin 10 yard run. Visco kick. 2nd Q AW – Jarrett McClenton 45 yard run. Kick failed. AW – Tom Garlick 53 yard pass to Chris Rahill. Visco kick. AW – Garlick 7 yard pass to Messina. 2 pt. conv. Failed AW – Visco 26 yard field goal. ACC – Colin McDermott 3 yard run. Kick failed.