Comeback win creates special moment for Derry football team

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, November 11, 2018 | 6:57 PM

The scene Friday at Hempfield’s Spartan Stadium after Derry’s improbable comeback against North Catholic in the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals was surreal.

The ‘Blue Wave’ that overwhelmed North Catholic during the final 17 minutes, engulfed the field as players, cheerleaders, band members and fans celebrated Derry’s crazy 36-29 win that advanced them to the WPIAL championship game against traditional power Aliquippa.

It didn’t matter heavy rain drenched the massive throng. Nothing could dampen the celebration after Derry earned a spot in the WPIAL championship game for the first time.

“This is an unbelievable feeling,” senior defensive end Dom DeLuca said. “We can’t thank all these people enough out on the field celebrating with us. I feel good for Derry.”

This is what the Trojans and coach Tim Sweeney have been working toward since he took over a floundering program after a disastrous 2013 season when Derry went 0-10 and allowed more than 50 points per game. Three years later, Derry was celebrating the first of three-consecutive conference titles.

The Trojans will be at Heinz Field, 2 p.m. Saturday, and not to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers.

North Catholic coach Pat O’Shea watched a team that refused to lose. North Catholic built what seemed an insurmountable 29-8 lead with 5 minutes, 36 seconds left in the third quarter.

“In these days, when things are stacked against you, a lot of people, adults included, they just give up,” O’Shea said. “Those kids didn’t give up, and that’s a credit to them and their program. There was no quit in Derry. Those young kids got it. They believe.”

Derry, which was making uncharacteristic mistakes (penalties and miscues), needed a spark. Senior Justin Flack provided it.

After North Catholic took its 29-8 lead, Flack returned the ensuing kickoff 76 yards to the North Catholic 12.

“They believed,” Sweeney said. “I thought we were a little tight and flat, and that’s not a good combination.”

After a penalty pushed Derry back to the 21, sophomore quarterback Paul Koontz connected with Jason Geary for a touchdown on fourth down. Derry had life.

“At halftime, we knew we weren’t done,” DeLuca said. “We had to get grinding, and you have to give up for Justin Flack and the offensive line. This is awesome.”

The defense responded, and the next time Derry got the ball, senior Onreey Stewart ripped off a 60-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 29-22 with 10:46 left.

“We’re excited to get to Heinz Field,” Stewart said. “We have to continue to work hard and get better. This is an unreal feeling. It’s crazy.”

With momentum on its side, Derry got the ball back with 7:20 left and drove 83 yards in 12 plays to trim the lead to 29-28 on Flack’s 1-yard run with 2:37 left.

But North Catholic’s defense stopped Derry’s two-point conversion, putting the defense in a position to make a stop.

Flack gave them more than a stop when he intercepted North Catholic quarterback Zack Rocco at the North Catholic 30.

Similar to Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu’s interception return against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game in January 2009, Flack weaved through the North Catholic offense into the end zone. After Colton Nemcheck’s two-point conversion, Derry had a 36-29 lead.

“The best thing I can say about Justin Flack is, I don’t know what college recruiters need to see in Justin Flack that they don’t get here and offer him a scholarship,” Sweeney said.

Still, the defense needed to make another stand.

Flack delivered again when he picked off Rocco’s tipped pass at the Derry 8 and returned it 68 yards to seal the win.

“They are winners,” O’Shea said. “They had confidence. They came up with plays when they had to have them. That’s a tribute on how tough that team is and how much they believe in each other.”

Now they get a chance to make more history at Heinz Field.

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paul at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.