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Finally!

McDevitt, a senior captain, plays fullback and linebacker for the Raiders. BILL ACHUFF / FOR THE TIMES

By John Knebels

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For the Times

On Archbishop Ryan’s third play from scrimmage while stationed at its own 20-yard line, Samir Bullock enveloped a handoff and cut right. Following his blockers, the senior tailback began galloping down the field in long, quick, methodical strides.

As Bullock approached the other side of midfield, it was apparent that no one from Bonner-Prendergast was going to catch him. The Raiders’ sideline was exploding with glee. Before Bullock had even reached the end zone, senior Bobby McDevitt bolted onto the field like a young boy about to open presents on Christmas morning.

“Oh my God,” McDevitt said to no one in particular. “That kid is so (bleeping) good!”

And mostly because Samir Bullock, this year’s Catholic League Division AAA Most Valuable Player, is indeed so “bleeping good,” Ryan advanced to the Catholic AAA championship after defeating Bonner-Prendergast, 27–14, Saturday night at Upper Darby High School. The Raiders will meet perennial division champion Archbishop Wood at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School. (Wood beat Ryan, 47–14, in the regular season.)

For those like McDevitt, who have been dealing with a year-long emotional ulcer thanks to Ryan’s not having qualified for a playoff game last fall despite finishing 8–3 and toppling two eventual state champions in St. Joseph’s Prep (AAAA) and Wood (AAA), this win was nothing short of electric.

“Knowing that we had such a good team last year and not having a chance to do anything with it was definitely part of our motivation this year and especially tonight,” said McDevitt, caked in dirt and sweat literally from forehead to toe. “This win means a lot to us, and it means a lot to the guys who graduated last year. This is partly for them.”

An All-Catholic inside linebacker who doubles as a no-frills fullback completely at peace with Bullock receiving almost all of the plaudits for Ryan’s torrid running attack (1,805 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns tends to attract significant spotlight), McDevitt is often referred to by adults as a throwback to yesteryear.

Rock solid in his 5-foot-11, 210-pound frame, McDevitt prides himself in never taking a play off. Against Bonner-Prendie, which during the regular season had handed Ryan a bitter 21–20 loss by scoring a touchdown and two-point conversion with no time remaining in regulation, McDevitt helped stifle the Friars’ high-powered offense by constantly disrupting the flow of talented quarterback Colin DiGalbo. He also rushed twice for six yards; on both occasions, he converted a first down.

“Bobby is the kind of kid who gives you everything he has,” said Ryan coach Frank McArdle. “He’s the poster boy for what we want this program to be about. He works really hard. He’s a great student. He’s unselfish and always dependable.”

Although the oldest of four siblings and product of Our Lady of Calvary grade school appreciated McArdle’s sincere compliments, they would not have mattered nearly as much had the Raiders not discovered a way to win their first playoff game since defeating La Salle, 21–7, in the 2004 quarterfinals.

As later indicated when several players from each team donned ripped jerseys while partaking in the post-game handshake, the victory didn’t come easily. But like two prizefighters refusing to be knocked out, the game would come down to a war of attrition. In that regard, the Raiders outlasted their opponent where games are almost always decided — in the trenches.

After B-P amassed 216 yards of offense and two touchdowns by halftime, a re-strategized Ryan defense simply owned the final two quarters. The Raiders surrendered just 38 yards in the third quarter and negative eight yards on seven plays in the fourth.

Meanwhile, the Ryan offense, which used the aforementioned 80-yard TD jaunt by Bullock and an eight-yard touchdown pass from increasingly improving sophomore quarterback Matt Romano (11 for 16 passing, 144 yards, two touchdowns, zero turnovers) to junior Cha-Cha Gary with 19 seconds left in the second quarter to produce a 14–14 deadlock at halftime, firmly imposed its will beginning on the very first play of the second half.

Taking over at the 40-yard line, a visibly confident Romano dropped back and fired a perfect, over-the-shoulder spiral to senior Seneca Williams. Williams caught the pass near the 15 and, despite being tripped, maintained his balance for a 60-yard touchdown.

With the Friars still down one score deep in the fourth quarter, several players and coaches would later say that the thought of the earlier defeat crossed their minds.

“It was kind of weird, but I really wasn’t worried,” said McDevitt, who shares captain duties with Bullock, senior Burkie Peterman, and junior Jason Wagher. “I felt like there was no way we were going to let this get away.”

Taking over at its own 22-yard line, Ryan smartly relied on the legs of Bullock to deliver the final blow. He chugged for 17 yards, and then five more. Now at the 44, Bullock sent Bonner-Prendergast’s fans to the parking lot when he raced 56 yards for his second TD of the game. Bullock finished with 252 yards on 28 carries and now needs 195 yards to reach 2,000 for the second consecutive season.

He will have a minimum of two tries to achieve such a rare feat; against Wood, and then against George Washington on Thanksgiving.

If Bullock reaches the pinnacle, he will undoubtedly give major props to his underclassmen-laden offensive line of junior center Sean Devine (he missed the B-P game with an injury but will return to play against Wood), guards Kevin Schaeffer (senior) and Ryan Kidwell (junior), and sophomore tackles Brendan Ruskowski and Drew Obuchowicz.

Not to mention his humble fullback.

“McDevitt is a beast on offense and a playmaker on defense,” Bullock said. “As a fullback, there’s no one I would say that he can’t block. And on defense, he just has a nose for the ball and can make game-changing plays.” ••

Dynamic duo: Ryan running back Samir Bullock (right) is closing in on his second straight 2,000-yard rushing season, thanks in large part to the blocking of fullback Bobby McDevitt (center). Bullock and McDevitt, who also plays linebacker, led Ryan to a 27–14 playoff win. BILL ACHUFF / FOR THE TIMES

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