Dunmore’s Garrett Murray leads the Bucks over Notre Dame

Written by: David Mika on Saturday, November 28th, 2015. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

SLATINGTON – Coming into the game it was no secret that Dunmore (12-1) wanted to be physical, running the ball, and they did just that Friday night. Garrett Murray rushed for 183 yards and five touchdowns including four in the first half in a 51-29 win over Notre Dame-Green Pond (11-2) Friday night in a Class AA first round playoff game at Northern Lehigh.

Notre Dame gave up over 381 yards rushing and the Bucks scored on every drive in the first half.

“Our coaches prepared our team extremely well,” said Dunmore Head Football Coach Jake Henzes. “Our kids did a tremendous job running the ball tonight. We broke a lot of tackles tonight.”

Dunmore set the tone on defense on the first drive of the night. Garrett Murray intercepted a Tre Jordan pass and took it to the 33. The Bucks finished off the drive with a Garrett Murray one-yard touchdown run on fourth down. Pat Orr’s kick was no good and the Bucks led 6-0.

Garrett’s interception set the tone for us on defense,” said Henzes. “We were able to take turnovers and turn them into points.”

Notre Dame-Green Pond responded and Jordan hit Destyn Woody for a 64-yard touchdown pass. Bret Nesfeder’s kick put the Crusaders up 7-6.

Are you seeing a pattern in the first half?

After the kickoff, the Bucks started on their 21. One play later, Dominic Mesko called his own play and went right up the middle for a 60 yard gain to Notre Dame’s 19. Three plays later Murray finished off the drive with a five-yard touchdown run with 3:19 left in the first quarter. The Bucks went back up 13-7.

There would be two more scores before the first quarter ended. Jordan hit Moran for a 13-yard score and Murray’s third touchdown of the night, a 18-yard run on the final play of the first quarter, put Dunmore up 20-14.

The Crusaders drove 60 yards. Jordan added a six yard touchdown run that put them back up by one, 21-20 with 10:28 left in the first half.

Dunmore had an answer and again the drive was finished off by Murray. He scored his fourth touchdown of the night from five yards out and the Bucks led 27-21.

The Bucks defense got the first stop of the night and the punt was key right before halftime. Dunmore drove down to Notre Dame’s 15. Pat Orr’s kick was right down the middle for a 32-yard field goal with 6.3 seconds left in the first half.

“Pat’s field goal was huge for us right before halftime,” said Henzes. “That put us up by two scores going into halftime.”

Dunmore went into halftime with a nine point lead, 30-21. The Bucks had the momentum and received the second half kickoff.

Dunmore had over 200 yards rushing and Notre Dame’s Jordan had 158 yards passing at halftime.

Notre Dame was down nine and needed to stop the Bucks offense, which they hadn’t done all night. With a much needed stop the Crusaders’ defense got their first stop of the night on Dunmore’s opening drive in the second half.

Before they could celebrate the defensive stop, they gave the ball right back. Jordan threw his second interception of the night as Dunmore’s Noah O’Malley picked off the pass and returned it to Notre Dame’s 42.

Just like the start of the game, the Bucks cashed in on the turnover. Dominic Mesko went in from one-yard out with 4:19 left in the third quarter. The Bucks extend their lead to 37-21.

Mesko finished the night passing for 41 yards on three of five passing and rushed for 60.

“Our quarterback did a great job tonight throwing the football and did a great job controlling the game,” said Henzes.

On Notre Dame’s next possession they turned it over on downs and the Bucks are on the move again. Murray had runs of 26 and 7 and finished off the drive with his fifth touchdown of the night, a 24-yard run. With the third quarter winding down, Dunmore led 44-21.

“Murray was relentless tonight running the ball,” said Henzes. “He plays defense and special teams for us. He is all over the field and seems to never get tired.”

Dunmore’s Pat Reese would add a 24-yard touchdown run and Jordan’s seven-yard touchdown run was the final score of the game 24.5 seconds remaining in the game.

Jordan finished the game completing 19 of 33 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed for 74 yards on 15 carries and two scores.

“He’s a great quarterback and throws the ball extremely well,” said Henzes. “We had to make sure we kept him in the pocket tonight and he got outside a few times and made some big runs on us.”