Bishop Guilfoyle’s 59-game winning streak snapped in Class A title game

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, November 25, 2017 | 8:48 AM

ALTOONA — The Homer-Center football team didn't rely on a superstar to make history on Friday night at Mansion Park.

The second-seeded Wildcats had a cast of playmakers on offense, defense and especially along the line in a stunning 20-14 victory over three-time defending state champion Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic.

Homer-Center (12-1) halted Bishop Guilfoyle's 59-game winning streak, which was the second-longest in the country, and in the process claimed the District 6 Class A championship. Coach Greg Page's team will face District 3 champion Steelton Highspire (11-2) in the PIAA Class A semifinal round.

Prior to Friday, Homer-Center had been the most recent team to defeat Bishop Guilfoyle. That win also came in a District 6-A title game, in 2013.

“We didn't have a hero,” Page said amid a mass of players, coaches, family members and fans on the artificial turf after the game. “We just had everybody that made plays tonight.”

The Wildcats had a pair of 100-yard rushers against the traditionally stout Bishop Guilfoyle (12-1) defense. The Marauders entered the game with a 462-73 scoring advantage over 12 opponents.

Homer-Center senior running backs Jesse Lee (27 carries, 130 yards, one touchdown) and Mike McCracken (20-113, one TD) fronted a rushing attack that posted a 257-71 advantage over the Marauders.

“It was all our offensive line,” said Wildcats freshman quarterback Ben Schmidt, who ran for a touchdown and completed 4 of 7 passes for 28 yards.

“They had something to prove this week and they showed it out there.”

Homer-Center advanced to the Marauders' 22-yard line on the game's first possession, but Bishop Guilfoyle took over on downs at the 17.

“When they stopped us, I thought, ‘Here we go again,' “ Page said, recalling a loss to Guilfoyle in last year's 6-A final.

“Then, they went down and scored. I said, ‘We'll see what we're made of.' “

Mike Berish's 8-yard touchdown capped The Marauders' 16-play, 83-yard march with 1:29 left in the opening quarter. Kolton McGhee booted the extra point.

Homer-Center used 15 plays to move 80 yards as Lee rambled into the end zone from 6 yards out with 6:20 left in the half. Schmidt's extra-point tied the game.

“It was really big to answer,” McCracken said. “We picked ourselves up and came out and played a football game.”

Homer-Center's Matt Miles intercepted a Mark Conrad pass at his own 21 to halt a Marauders' possession, and Lee recovered a Berish fumble following a 14-yard gain to the Wildcats' 40-yard line. The game remained tied at halftime.

“To go into the half tied against 59 straight wins, it's just incredible,” Page said. “That really allowed our kids to believe. They weren't fazed at halftime.”

The teams traded punts in the third quarter until Homer-Center put a drive together that was extended by a roughing the punter personal foul that gave the Wildcats the ball at the 36-yard line.

Facing a fourth-and-less-than-1, Homer-Center converted via Lee's 6-yard run. Schmidt's 4-yard touchdown run and his extra-point kick gave the Wildcats a 14-7 advantage with 10:51 left in the game.

“The line is the whole reason this process works,” Lee said. “They're not that big, but they get the job done.”

The Marauders answered with Josh Yasulitis' 3-yard touchdown run and a McGhee game-tying extra point. Conrad's passing was key during the march. The senior completed 14 of 22 passes for 188 yards in the game.

Homer-Center took possession with 8:03 left and moved 64 yards. Lee converted a pivotal fourth-and-1 from the Wildcat 45.

“We were hungry. This is what we wanted to feel around our neck,” Lee said, holding his medal. “We wanted that ring. We went out and got it.”

McCracken capped the 12-play drive with a 7-yard touchdown run.

“The mindset of a running back for Homer-Center is don't go down, don't fumble,” McCracken said. “We were able to keep our legs moving. With the initial surge of the line we were able to get that window, put our heads down and plow through.”

Page went for the two-point conversion and the Marauders stopped the run.

Bishop Guilfoyle had one last chance, but Wildcats senior cornerback Nick Schmidt batted a Conrad pass on fourth-down from the Wildcats 30-yard line with 1:01 left.

“When the ball went up in the air, it was a great pass and a great route run by them,” Page said. “Rolling one way, throwing back. Nick Schmidt has really good closing speed. He's one of our quickest kids, which allowed him to get back there.

“He probably made the biggest play in recent history.”

Bishop Guilfoyle coach Justin Wheeler went to the Homer-Center locker room and congratulated the Wildcats. He said his own players eventually will reflect on the amazing streak and three state titles.

“They're sad, but they were 59-1 in high school. It's the 1 that hurts right now but they're going to have memories that will last them their whole lives,” Wheeler said.

“At some point, when the pain goes away, they're going to be able to look back on these years and what they did and historically be one of the best football teams in Pennsylvania, which is pretty cool.”