Delone Catholic football stymies Littlestown to stay perfect on the season

When Delone Catholic's Logan Brown ripped off a 62-yard touchdown run on his team's first drive, it looked like an offensive shootout in the making against rival Littlestown.

That was reinforced when Bolts quarterback Jakob Lane connected on six of his first eight passes.

However, what emerged was a hard-hitting, defensive dogfight that the Squires got the better of for a 27-7 road victory that keeps them unbeaten on the season. They improve to 5-0, while the Bolts drop down to 3-2.

Tyler Monto and Evan Brady, prominent members of the Squires' offensive backfield, intercepted three passes on Friday night with Monto returning one for a touchdown when Littlestown was down one score. Brady completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Monto to extend Delone's lead.

The win avenges a 28-27 home loss Delone suffered at the hands of Littlestown last season. 

READ:Delone Catholic boasts highest scoring offense in state behind trio of rushers

MORE:Bermudian Springs picks up victory vs. Fairfield. Here's how the Eagles won.

Delone head coach Corey Zortman said the game against Littlestown was one players had circled on the schedule.

"Our kids looked at that one-point loss last year, and, when the offseason started, it was one of the things we used for a motivating factor," he said.

Story continues after the gallery.

The victory legitimizes Delone's perfect start to the season in which they have been at or near the top of scoring totals in the PIAA.

But defense reigned supreme for the Squires with defensive backs playing tight coverage and allowing the defensive line to get pressure on Lane. The result was a grinding down of the typically potent Bolts passing attack. 

"All week we prepared, and we just came out and executed tonight and we played hard," Brady said. "They got short stuff on us, but we didn't allow the big play, and that's what we wanted to do."

Brady briefly left the game after a sack by Malachi Fodor knocked the wind out of him, but was back in the game for the Squires' next drive.

He finished the game with two touchdowns, an interception and 102 passing yards. The first touchdown was a 21-yard completion to A.J. Knobloch in the first quarter.

Littlestown's lone score came in the 2nd quarter when receiver Dustyn Barker came down with a tough catch in the end zone.

The atmosphere was electric throughout the evening with a packed stadium and student sections unleashing dueling chants.

MORE:Photos: York High rolls past Spring Grove, 55-14

MORE: Photos: Red Lion runs over South Western, 37-7

"It's hard to not be excited for the guys knowing that they worked and wanted this game really bad," Zortman said.

However, Zortman felt the team still has things to work on if they want to accomplish what they set out to do. The Squires were hurt by 10 penalties and other miscues on offense.

"That's what rivalry games do," Zortman said. "That's why you always throw the records out the windows."