Slim win for LC & Quigley

Oct 13, 2014 BY BRENT BAUM For the Daily News A WEEK after junior Ryan Quigley rushed for more than 226 yards and scored four touchdowns in a 36-25 victory over Bishop McDevitt High, Quigley led Lansdale Catholic with 164 all-purpose yards and one touchdown in a 7-6, grind-out victory over Conwell-Egan yesterday afternoon at Truman High. The 5-11, 185-pound running back, who leads the Crusaders with 651 yards on 80 carries this season, credits winning to his offensive line and the camaraderie he has with his teammates. "It was a great team effort and we all play with heart and until the clock hits zero," Quigley said. "There were huge holes from the offensive line and I couldn't be more proud of our team. " "Every single game we can rely on him [Quigley] on any single play," LC senior quarterback Joe Pinzka said. "We know he can go all the way and get in that end zone, and he never quits on us. " Lansdale jumped ahead 7-0 on a fourth-down gamble, as Quigley found the end zone on an 11-yard run followed by a point-after kick by Ryan Carbone, which proved to be the game-winner, with 1:01 left in the first quarter. On Conwell Egan's next possession, junior running Joe Ruggiero led the Eagles with powerful, in-between-the-tackles runs to the Crusaders' 16-yard line before Quigley leaped to intercept a pass in the back of the end zone. On the ensuing possession, Quigley hauled in a 48-yard strike from Pinzka; however, the Crusaders were forced to punt. Conwell-Egan was unable to convert on the next possession as it went into halftime down 7-0. In the second half, Conwell-Egan forced two turnovers, led by sophomore Danny Bentley (one interception) and recovered a fumble that led to senior Jordan Burney scoring on 5-yard touchdown run with 11:04 left in the fourth quarter. Burney finished with nine carries and 48 yards; however, the Eagles had to settle for six points when they missed the tying extra point. Along with Burney, Conwell-Egan was led by a strong rushing attack of Ruggiero, who finished with 90 yards on 19 carries, and junior quarterback Jarrett Patman, who added 43 yards on 13 carries. Late into the fourth quarter, the Eagles had an opportunity to make a big stop with Lansdale Catholic on its own 32-yard line, needing 24 yards to convert a first down. However, Pinzka connected with Quigley on 16-yard strike followed by a 7-yard run by Quigley for a first down to seal the victory for the Crusaders. Quigley carried the Crusaders on his back for the final drive of the game with smash-mouth runs as he finished with 87 yards on 14 carries and one rushing touchdown to go with four catches for 77 yards. "I know coach is counting on me to hit the hole strong," Quigley said. "We are a family and whatever we do is together and I love them. They are my brothers. " Quigley, who has aspirations to play football at the next level, is a three-sport athlete; you can catch him on the basketball court and the baseball diamond. With the Catholic League playoffs approaching, Pinzka, who went down earlier in the third quarter after a crushing blow, showed senior leadership and toughness as he finished the game, completing seven of 11 passes for 96 yards; he also intercepted a pass on defense. "I knew this was going to be a dogfight all the way through, for we both [Conwell-Egan] are playing for positions to set us up for the Catholic League playoffs," Pinkza said. "I know everyone blocking for me is sacrificing their body, I can take a couple shots because I know they would do the same for me. " Pinzka wants to major in either business or accounting because he enjoys the entrepreneurship of those fields. Lansdale Catholic improved to 4-3 and Conwell-Egan dropped to 2-5.