The top two teams in District Three Class 4A collided in Harrisburg Friday, November 26 with the District Three Championship on the line. Bishop McDevitt, riding a ten-game winning streak, hosted the No. 2 seed Pioneers, with five shutouts, and pulled out a tightly contested 7-0 final, ending Lampeter's two-year run of 4A titles and its season.

"That was a tough one to swallow," said head coach Victor Ridenour, of Lampeter's first shutout loss since 2008. "We had our chances. We just were not able to finish drives."

It was the sixth meeting between these two teams. After four losses over the course of seven years, L-S topped the Crusaders 30-27 in the 2019 semifinals, coming back from a 20-0 halftime deficit and winning the first of two straight District titles.

On a cold and windy night, the Pioneer defense, as they have all season, rose to the occasion, and held McDevitt's freshman all-star in check. QB Stone Saunders, with 42 touchdown tosses against just two picks, finished with 41 passing yards on 4-of-15 completions.

The Crusaders, who averaged 53 ppg with five shutouts coming in, were poised to score early, moving to the L-S one-yard line on their first drive. LS defender Drexton Frank squashed that attempt with his first pick of the season. But the Pioneers could not get the offense going.

Turnovers proved to be the difference in this one. McDevitt forced four fumbles, twice denying L-S in the redzone. With four minutes left in the half, and L-S knocking on the door at the Crusaders' 12, the visitors fumbled the ball away and faced a scoreless tie at the half.

Both teams traded punts early in the second half before McDevitt broke through. Taking over on the L-S 35, the Crusaders needed just two plays as Marquese Williams (125 yards) scooted 30-yards down the right side for the only score of the game and a 7-0 lead with 1:05 left in the third.

L-S had two opportunities after that. On each of their next two possessions they moved the ball within striking distance, first to the McDevitt 17 and then to the 10. Both drives ended with fumbles.

"That's the most turnovers (4) we have had this season and they came at the most inopportune times," noted Ridenour. "We were also sacked six times; another season-high. But all along I felt like we were one play away from turning the momentum our way. Our defense made some huge momentum plays but the offense could not capitalize."

Berkeley Wagner led the defense with six solo tackles with Weston Weaver, Jackson Heeter, Nick DelGrande, and Beau Heyser adding four each. Luke Hines pitched in with one sack and Frank added that interception. Gia Malatesta racked up 141 rushing yards on 24 carries to lead the Pioneers.

"McDevitt is a sound team on both sides of the ball," he continued. "They are talented and disciplined. Two of our fumbles we just dropped the ball and McDevitt was able to recover.

"I thought we could run the ball against them, and we did. I was concerned with us throwing and with their passing game," the coach added. "The wind was a huge factor and limited pass plays for both teams.

"I am so proud of this team. They hung in there together and played a very unselfish brand of football."

And that style of play led to a ton of success. L-S finished the season with an 11-2 record and a school best 11 game winning streak. They are the Section Three champs and the District 3 4A runner-up, making their fifth trip to the district title game. They had the fourth best scoring defense and the second most points scored in school history. They also scored the most points in a playoff win with their 62-13 win over Big Spring.

Wagner and Malatesta were the top rushers for the Pioneers this season with 821 and 749 yards, respectively. Wagner also completed 84 of 154 passes for 1472 yards and 18 touchdowns. Heyser was his favorite target, hauling in 24 receptions for 504 yards. Malatesta caught 14 passes for 275 yards.

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