Fenwick stretches its win streak to 21

READING – Bishop Fenwick stared down adversity, adjusted on the fly, and extended the state?s longest winning streak to 21 games with its 20-9 win against Austin Prep Saturday afternoon at Father Seymour Field.The Crusaders (5-0) climbed out of a 9-0 hole to do so.?This is exactly what we expected – it?s like this every time we play them. We knew coming in that we were going to be in a battle right from the start,” Bishop Fenwick coach David Woods said.The historically run-first Cougars (2-3) came out in a Spread and started slinging the ball all over the lot, catching Fenwick a bit flat-footed.?We had to change up the defense on the fly. We had a couple of starters out and other kids playing out of position, but Coach (Dave) Dugan did a great job with the defense, shifting from a 4-3 to a 3-Stack,” Woods pointed out. “I won?t say that we started slow. I?d say they started fast because they came out flying.”?Our kids played their hearts out – I can?t ask anything more than that,” said AP coach Bill Maradei.Austin Prep got it going on the game?s opening possession. The payoff came on 4th-and-19 when quarterback Connor Duffy (12-of-17, 186 yards, TD) connected with Luke Wyman (6 catches, 115 yards) on a deep corner route for a 24-yard score and 6-0 lead with 7:26 left in the first quarter.Then, after forcing a three-and-out on Fenwick?s first possession, Prep probed to the Crusaders? eight-yard line before settling for Nathaniel Taylor?s 35-yard field goal and 9-0 lead with 17 seconds left in the quarter. According to PA announcer and AP sports historian emeritus Dave Gramling, it was the program?s first field goal in 12 years.Fenwick quarterback Matt Renzulli (6-of-7, 131 yards, TD) jump-started a dormant offense with a 46-yard dash to the Prep 19 midway through the second quarter. Four plays later, on 4th-and-4 from the 13, Rufus Rushins sold a run fake, allowing Renzulli to roll right and fire a TD strike to tight end Aidan Moulton, cutting AP?s lead to 9-6 with 4:27 left in the half.Shortly thereafter Fenwick?s Dan Hannon returned Wyman?s halfback option pass 25 yards for the go-ahead score, sending Fenwick off with a 12-9 lead at the break.?The interception was a huge momentum swing – to return it and take the lead was even better,” said Woods.Following a third quarter spent jockeying for position, Fenwick put it away with a signature 82-yard drive that ate nearly six minutes off the fourth-quarter clock. Cody Mullen?s catch and highlight reel hurdle of a would-be tackler resulted in 22 yards and a first down at the Austin 42. Brian Fitzpatrick got the score on a 20-yard counter, his only carry, with 4:19 to play and Rushins tacked on the conversion to account for the final.Rushins (23 carries, 122 yards), held in check for most of the game, hammered the Cougars in the fourth quarter with 67 yards on 10 carries, including a 24-yard gallop to the AP 11 in the final two minutes that allowed the Crusaders to run out the clock.?That?s his style. Their defensive line really took it to us today but in the fourth quarter we were able to wear them down,” Woods said.David Hurley recorded Fenwick?s lone sack of Duffy and Mike Campatelli pounced on a fumble on a botched hook-and-ladder attempt with 2:56 to play.Having already defeated second-place Arlington Catholic and with remaining Catholic Central Large games against St. Mary?s and Cardinal Spellman, the Crusaders are in prime position for tournament qualification.