Skulski passes Eagles to Ches-Mont win

DOWNINGTOWN >> With an excited Homecoming crowd looking on, the Bishop Shanahan football team was eager to put an exclamation point on its first regular season under the lights and get a home playoff game.

The Eagles did not diasppoint as Nick Skulski threw two touchdown passes to John Koczinski, and Joe Gueriera ran for two scores to roll to a 41-7 vitory over Avon Grove in a Ches-Mont League National Division contest at Jack Mancini Stadium on Friday.

Shanahan clinched a home game next week in the District 1 5A playoffs. The fact that it will most likely be their first at night has the players excited.

“It’s a great feeling, said Skulski. “It’s something that we were striving for. It was in our minds

all offseason. It’s going to be a great atmosphere.”

“It’s going to be fun,” added head coach Paul Meyers. “But we have to stay focused and take care of buisness.”

Avon Grove (0-6 Ches-Mont National, 3-7 overall) tried to get the jump on the Eagles (3-3, 7-3) as quarterback Shane Wolford hit Nate Jones out of the backfield for a 45-yard gain to the Shanahan 25. But the Eagles stiffened, thanks to a third-down sack by Alec Walter. They took over after an incomplete pass on fourth down.

Shanahan took over and embarked on an 8-play, 71yard drive that they cashed in as Skulski found Koczinski open on a post route for a 31-yard score.

“We’ve been going over that play all week,” Skulski said. “I knew that if I looked one way, John would be open, and I hit him in the end zone.”

The Red Devils fumbled on their next possession, with the Eagles recovering on the AG 35. The drive stalled, and John George booted home a 32-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead after one quarter.

Avon Grove answered back with a 72-yard march that was capped off as Jones went off-tackle, shook off a defender, and scooted 20 yards for a score and cut the deficit to 10-7. Jones ended his final game with 39 yards on 15 carries.

“It’s been great, these four years,” said Jones. “I’ve played my whole life around Avon Grove. These guys are my brothers.”

Shanahan started to gain some distance as Skulski from the one, and late in the half, hooked up witch Koczsinski for the second time, from 25-yards out, with eight seconds left before halftime to go into the locker room with a 24-7.

The Eagles came out in the second half and turned into a ball control team, Throwning the ball just six times in the second half, while attempting 20 passes in the first. Gueriera dove over from the three to make it 31-7.

“Give their kids credit, they are a lot better than their record,” said Meyers. “Our kids played well and beat a good team.”

George added to his sterling kicking night with a 34yard field goal to up the advantage to 34-7. George set a school record for the most points in a game by a kicker with 12.

“He’s been doing it all year,”said Meyers. “He’s been great on kickoffs too.”

Avon Grove was bottled up in the second half, being held to 35 yards.