Published: November 07, 2009 12:33 am      

United earns playoff victory over Bishop Guilfoyle

ARMAGH — United built a first-half lead on a foundation of turnovers, then held off a frantic Bishop Guilfoyle finish for a 22-12 victory in a District 6 Class A first-round playoff game on Friday night.

“Boy I’ll tell you what, it looked like we were gonna put this one away,” United coach Greg Mytrysak said. “But credit Guilfoyle for coming back. They played hard; even when we were up early they played hard.”

The first half was a matter of what could or could not be held by the Marauders. The Bishop Guilfoyle defense did a fine job of holding the United offense, but the Bishop Guilfoyle offense was unable to hold onto the ball. The Marauders managed to retain possession after fumbling the opening kickoff, but it was a sign of things to come.

The Lion’s scored the game’s first points seven plays after a Kody Oliver’s interception of a third-down Bishop Guilfoyle pass at the Marauders 13-yard line.

Shaquille Howard eventually scored for the Lions’ from 2 yards out.

The third Bishop Guilfoyle possession did not end with a turnover, but it was ruined by a second-down fumble that cost the Marauders 2 yards and forced a third-and-long that they could not convert.

A blocked punt late in the half set up the Marauders offense, but an impressive drive stalled deep in United territory after a holding penalty on second down.

The Lions quickly connected on two big pass plays, including a 50-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Fuller to Oliver as time expired in the half.

The first-half tally was three Marauders fumbles – two of which were lost – and the interception.

“You get that kind of production from your defense you expect a lead at half, but really if we don’t get those pass plays this would have been an 8-0 game at the break, and then who knows?” said Mytrysak.

If the late first-half score dimmed Bishop Guilfoyle’s hopes, then United’s first possession of the second half should have turned out the lights. The Lion’s needed just five plays

to cover 53 yards ending with a 27-yard Oliver touchdown run.

Down 22-0 in the third quarter, the Marauders rebounded, scoring touchdowns on back-to-back possessions sandwiched around an interception of their own.

Eugene Ehredt and A.J. Kitt scored for Bishop Guilfoyle.

“We forced another turnover on that first drive of Guilfoyle’s

– the interception – but got called for roughing the passer,” Mytrysak said. “They go down and score, and suddenly it all changed. Our defense turned it back around, though, so this was a hard-earned win.”

The Marauders managed to block two fourth-quarter United punts but never managed to turn those big plays into points and fully climb out of the first-half hole they had dug.

“That is what I mean about our defense. They could have buckled, but instead they came up big after those blocked punts,” Mytrysak said. “I am proud of the effort, but I suppose we will be working on our blocking for punts for next week. You get two blocked in the fourth quarter and manage to keep them from scoring, your defense is doing something right.”

Oliver finished with 96 yards rushing, 50 yards receiving, two touchdowns, an interception and he threw a two-point conversion pass after the Lions’ final touchdown that sealed the win.

Ehredt led the Marauders with 90 yards on 11 carries.