Cahill catches three touchdowns in Green Terror's second shutout of year
WESTMINSTER, Md. – Matt Emerson (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown 1:52 into the game to set the tone for McDaniel in a 35-0 Centennial Conference (CC) football victory over Susquehanna on Saturday.
Matt Cahill (Broomall, Pa./Haverford Twp.) had three of his four receptions go for touchdowns to give the Green Terror (4-1, 3-1 CC) its first receiver with at least three touchdowns in a game since Teron Powell caught four scores against the Crusaders (1-5, 1-5 CC) on Sept. 8, 2001.
Tom Massucci (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) matched his career high with four touchdown passes but threw just 16 passes, completing nine for 73 yards. As a team, McDaniel threw for just 94 yards while running for 160, including a career-high 67 from freshman Joseph Rollins (Temple Hills, Md./Surrattsville).
Greg Tellish led the Susquehanna offense with 81 yards rushing on 21 carries.
The Crusaders received the opening kickoff, starting at its own eight-yard line. After three plays netted seven yards, Susquehanna lined up for its first of eight punts.
Nick Bender (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp.) blocked his second punt of the season – the program record-tying fourth blocked kick of his career.
Emerson recovered the ball in the end zone to stake the hosts to a 7-0 lead.
After a Kevin White (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Haverford Twp.) interception and 26-yard return to the Crusader 27, two Ray O'Hara (Yardley, Pa./Conwell-Egan Catholic) rushes moved the ball to the Susquehanna 4.
Massucci then found Woody Butler (Smithsburg, Md./Middletown), who was seeing his first action of the season, in the back of the end zone for a 14-0 lead with 1:30 to play in the first period.
Cahill capped a 7-play, 55-yard drive with a 15-yard catch-and-run to stretch the lead to 21-0 with 12:49 to play in the first half.
After another Susquehanna three-and-out deep in its own territory, Sean Copko (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) came free off the left side for the Green Terror's second blocked kick of the day – the first time the team had accomplished that in five years.
Taking over at the four-yard line, McDaniel needed just two plays before Massucci connected with Cahill for a six-yard score and 28-0 lead at the half.
Taking over at its own 34 with 2:03 to play in the third quarter, the Green Terror was able to net just three yards. However, Chris Kolb (Keymar, Md./Francis Scott Key) was able to execute the team's second fake punt of the game for a first down.
After taking off for a 30-yard gain in the first quarter, Kolb – after eluding defenders – was able to find Joseph Timpanaro (Stewart Manor, N.Y./Sewanhaka), who corralled a ball that was tipped by multiple defenders, for a 16-yard gain and first down.
Three Rollins runs for 41 yards moved the ball to the Crusader 12.
After a second holding call that wiped a Rollins touchdown off the board, Massucci found Cahill from 10 yards out for a 35-0 lead with 12:09 to play.
The Green Terror returns to action at home against Muhlenberg on Saturday. Game time is 2 p.m.
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