Summers’ time
Cornell recruit scores 3 TDs as Crusaders power past Celtics
Weeks can’t get much better than the past one for Brother Rice senior Dylan Summers.
The 6-foot, 175-pound wide receiver committed on Sunday to Cornell.
“It was very exciting and a big weight off of my shoulders,” Summers said. “Now I can focus on playing football and focus on getting a state championship.”
His focus was razor sharp in Friday night’s 20-0 Catholic League Blue victory over host Providence.
Summers caught eight passes for 68 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Crusaders (5-0, 2-0). Senior quarterback John Bean completed 23 of 30 passes for 175 yards.
Logan Phillips threw for 99 yards to pace Providence (4-1, 1-1).
Nobody was happier for Summers than Bean.
“He’s my best friendmy entire life,” Bean said. “He’s like a brother to me. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
It’s a comeback season of sorts, not only for the Crusaders as a team, but for Summers himself.
“Dylan is a special player,” Brother Rice coach Brian Badke said. “Cornell got a really good football player.
“Last year he was banged up and that hurt us. We had some key guys injured, and he was one of them. I’m happy for him. He’s playing with a lot of confidence.”
Summers made his first TD reception with 5:02 left in the first quarter. Bean had taken the Crusaders 38 yards in nine plays before spotting Summers in the end zone fromthe 3.
“We practice that play a lot,” Summers said. “(The defender) was man-to-man on the goal line, so I just made a move and beat him with the slant.”
Senior linebacker Richard Seavers set up the second score with the defensive play of the night when he blocked a Providence punt in the end zone. The Crusaders wound up with the ball at the Celtics 7.
“On their first punt, I could tell their up back wasn’t really looking at me,” Seavers said. “So I just took the back cut, dove and I got it.”
Bean capitalized on the next snap, finding Summers in the far-right corner of the end zone.
Third act of the Bean-toSummers show came with time running out in the first half. Bean had already thrown back-to-back passes for big gainers to Anthony Arquilla before delivering an 11yard strike to Summers.
“Credit to the defense and the special teams,” Beansaid, smiling. “They did a great job.”