SOMERSET —
While history was being celebrated down the road in Johnstown, history was being made on Friday night in Somerset.
For the first time in 23 meetings, Somerset defeated Bishop McCort in football, as the Golden Eagles stunned the Crimson Crushers, 19-13.
Somerset was powered by the offensive attack of quarterback Tanner Stull, who went 5 of 13 passing for 107 yards and added 115 yards rushing on 24 carries.
Stull, a junior, passed for one touchdown and ran for two scores.
“I don’t know how to even start about Tanner Stull,” Somerset coach Bob Landis said.
“Tanner Stull makes things happen on the football field. I think as long as we have him, we are going to have a shot in every game.”
Bishop McCort coach Kevin Sheridan knew coming into the game that Stull was a force to be reckoned with.
“We saw on film that he was their playmaker,” Sheridan said. “He’s a guy that makes the first guy miss almost every time.”
It appeared that the Crushers were going to be difficult to stop as Bishop McCort (2-1) opened the game with an easy 60-yard scoring drive that Zaine Tomkowski capped with a 38-yard pass to Wyatt Jackson.
Jordan Spangler added the extra point kick and the Crushers led 7-0 at 9:38 of the first quarter.
Bishop McCort was poised to score again on its next possession until Tomkowski lost a fumble at the Somerset 25.
The two squads traded punts four times until Somerset (3-0) mounted a nine-play, 57-yard drive midway through the second quarter.
After a tipped pass to Tanner Sarver gave the Golden Eagles a 19-yard gain, Stull connected with Doug Berkebile for a 24-yard score. Samuel Hayward added the kick to tie the game, 7-7.
Somerset struck again before the half, as Stull connected on passes of 28 and 13 yards to Berkebile and Zach Baker before scoring on an 11-yard draw with 53 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Hayward’s kick sailed wide as Somerset took a 13-7 lead.
Somerset’s final score of the game came at the end of the third quarter as Stull culminated a 77-yard drive with a 4-yard run.
The two-point conversion attempt failed and Somerset led, 19-7.
Bishop McCort clawed its way back into the game with a five-play, 89-yard drive that saw Spangler take a Tomkowski pass for 63 yards.
Tomkowski followed that with a 27-yard strike to Luke DiFrancesco, who stepped out at the Somerset 1. Tomkowski scored on the ensuing play and Spangler had his kick blocked to set the score at 19-13 with 4:30 remaining.
The Crushers had a last try to tie the game with 43 seconds remaining, but Tomkowski was intercepted at midfield by Raven Beeman to set the final.
HS Sports Somerset
Related Photos
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john rucosky/the tribune-democrat Bishop McCort running back Wyatt Jackson is stacked behind the line of scrimmage by Somerset defensive end Bryce Mostoller (left), defensive back Marcus Hart (right) and defensive lineman Logan Eller (back) during the first half of Friday night’s game at Somerset. John Rucosky
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john rucosky/the tribune-democrat Somerset quarterback Tanner Stull looks for room to run during the first half of Friday’s game. John Rucosky
Discussion
Somerset makes history against McCort
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Somerset makes history against McCort
While history was being celebrated down the road in Johnstown, history was being made on Friday night in Somerset.
For the first time in 23 meetings, Somerset defeated Bishop McCort in football, as the Golden Eagles stunned the Crimson Crushers, 19-13. -
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