Erie Cathedral Prep Takes The Gold in Class AAA Football

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, December 14, 2012 | 10:07 PM

Damion Terry threw for a record setting 317 yards and two scores to lead the District 10 champion Erie Cathedral Prep Ramblers to their second PIAA championship with a 24-14 victory over the Archbishop Wood Vikings in the Clas

s AAA title game Friday night at Hersheypark Stadium. With the win, the Ramblers handed the defending champions their first loss to a Class AAA team in over two seasons. The teams combined for 762 yards of offense. The Vikings ran for 305 yards on the night and held the ball for 32 minutes but could not tame the Ramblers’ high powered offense.

The Vikings scored on their opening possession, going 80 yards in seven plays. Josh Messina broke a 32 yard run for a touchdown, Archbishop Wood picked up five first downs on those seven plays. Prep answered quickly, in just five plays. Damion Terry hit Troy Woodcard for a 59 yard touchdown to knot the game at seven. Wood drove to the Prep 25, but three consecutive penalties set the Vikings back, Nick Visco tried a 41 yard field goal that came up short in the final minute of the quarter.

Archbishop Wood ranked up 150 yards rushing in the first quarter, but the Ramblers dominated the second. John Chereson hit a 33 yard field goal from the left hash 33 seconds into the quarter. After a three and out and a shanked punt, Terry hooked up with Delton Williams for a 33 yard connection, Terry scored on a six yard run to go up 17-7. Prep forced another punt, it took the Ramblers just two plays to score, Terry hit Felix Manus-Schell with a pass down the sideline, he made a cut back at the 15 yard line to complete the 60 yard touchdown and a 24-7 lead at the break. On the play, Terry said he was in shock that Schell was uncovered, as he is one of the fastest kids on the team. 

The Ramblers opened the second half with a drive to the 26 yard line, Chereson missed a 43 yard field goal on a bad snap. The Vikings took advantage of that miss, going 80 yards in 6:16, Andrew Guckin scoring on a 5 yard run. Archbishop Wood took over late in the third and drove from their own 27 to the Prep 24 but Messina was stopped for no gain on fourth and one, giving the ball to the Ramblers with 6:43 remaining.

But Erie Prep did not take advantage, Williams fumbled the football at his own 33, giving the ball back to Archibishop Wood. The Vikings were able to pick up a first down but Tom Garlic was intercepted in the end zone on a tip and pick by Manus-Schell with 4:13 left in regulation. The Ramblers were able to run out the clock to complete the undefeated season.

Terry added 55 yards on the ground and a score, seven receivers caught at least one pass, Charles Fessler had 4 catches for 67 yards. The Ramblers won the Quad-A title in 2000, ending the streak of Central Bucks West.

Guckin led the way for the Vikings with 178 yards on 30 carries, Messing added 124 yards on 17 totes. The District 12 champions finish the season at 12-3.

Scoring Summary:
Archbishop Wood Vikings   7 – 0 – 7 – 0 = 14
Erie Cathedral Prep Ramblers   7 – 17  0 –  0 = 24

First Quarter: 
AW:  Josh Messina 32 run(Nick Visco kick)   8:43
EP:  Troy Woodard 59 pass from Damion Terry(John Chereson kick)  6:58

Second Quarter: 
EP:  Chereson 33 FG  11:28
EP:  Terry 6 run(Chereson kick)  7:59
EP:  Felix Manus-Shell 60 pass from Terry(Chereson kick)  3:52

Third Quarter: 
AW:  Andrew Guckin 5 run(Visco kick)  2:58

Fourth Quarter:
No Scoring

Tags: Archbishop Wood, Erie Cathedral Prep