Since the advent of social media, people say whatever comes into their minds. Often, they don’t know what they’re talking about, but opine anyway.
In the case of Bonner-Prendergast High School football, lots of naysayers had given the Friars limited credence to win a football state championship in the days leading up to their PIAA Class 4A showdown against Lancaster County’s Lampeter-Strasburg.
They might want to head over to Drexel Hill and check B-P’s trophy case.
With senior Mick Johnson scoring four touchdowns and the defense notching three interceptions and five sacks, Bonner-Prendergast corralled its first football state title by overwhelming Lampeter-Strasburg, 40-14, on a cold evening Dec. 5 at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg.
“Sometimes I like to tune into the stuff and what people are saying,” said Bonner-Prendergast senior two-way stalwart Jeremiah Coleman, whose six receptions for 67 yards, interception, and fumble recovery particularly impacted the celebratory result. “I use that as motivation and boost to go into the game and dominate.
“Going into the game, I knew and heard what they were saying on the news, etc., and I disregarded it. But I kept it in the back of my mind to remember that this is how people feel about us as a team, and people think they’re gonna beat us because of the wind or weather. So I just remembered that and knew to dominate and show people we are the best.”
The Friars started quickly, nabbing a 14-0 first-quarter lead on a one-yard plunge by Johnson and, less than four minutes later, a recovery of a Johnson fumble at the two and subsequent recovery and touchdown dive by junior Saleem Frink.
Not surprisingly given their perfect 14-0 record entering the final, Lampeter-Strasburg did not retreat. Instead, the Pioneers scored two second-quarter touchdowns to tie the game at 14-14.
Just when it appeared as though the two squads would enter halftime in a deadlock, Coleman thieved an interception at midfield with 2:32 remaining. Three plays later, sophomore quarterback Noel Campbell (13-for-21, 162 yards) found senior Jalil Hall (four receptions, 65 yards) for a 40-yard reception. Johnson’s second touchdown from the four-yard line regained B-P the lead.
Perplexingly, Lampeter-Strasburg attempted an unnecessary pass on the last play of the quarter, and senior Brett Johnson took full advantage of the gaffe by returning an interception 60 yards for a back-breaking touchdown and a 27-14 halftime lead.
“When I was in the end zone, it was unreal seeing all the lights flashing and hearing all the fans scream,” said Johnson, who had also contributed a diving interception earlier that led to the Friars’ second TD. “It felt like a college game.”
Aforementioned Mick Johnson added two more scores – a three-yard haul in the third and five-yard scamper in the fourth – and finished with 118 yards on 25 carries. He finished the season with 30 touchdowns.
Visibly emotional as he embraced dozens of players, coaches, family members, friends, and community loyalists who have watched the Bonner-Prendergast program meticulously push itself to state prominence, longtime coach Jack Muldoon smiled broadly.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am, how proud I am of this team, and our program, and of the school,” said Muldoon. “It was important for us not just to get to this game, but to win it. We kept talking about finishing.”
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Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on ‘X’ @johnknebels.
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