Garden Spots scores 10 TDs — and loses wild one to Notre Dame
2024 Berks football coverage
presented by UECU
(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)
By Jason Guarente — LNP/Lancasteronline
EASTON – AJ Hurst stood in front of his teammates, who were worn out and heartbroken, and reminded them it was only Week 1.
Garden Spot has nine more of these to play. None could possibly be as crazy as this one.
The Spartans allowed more than 600 passing yards. They surrendered 10 touchdowns. They trailed almost the entire way. And they almost pulled it out.
The final, Notre Dame Green Pond 71, Garden Spot 64, will cause a few double-takes when fans scroll through the list of football scores from Friday night. Even the players might ask themselves if what they experienced was real.
“That’s one of the most intense games I’ve ever been in,” Hurst said. “We fought our hardest. We answered most of their touchdowns. They were hard to stop.”
At some point in the second half, it became apparent the outcome wasn’t going to be decided by a defensive play. One team was going to run out of time.
Garden Spot took its final possession at its own 29 with 1:29 remaining. If the Spartans had a few more minutes, no one doubts they could have scored again. They needed to hurry. The clock started working against them.
Hurst was forced into a desperation toss that floated into the hands of Notre Dame’s Aaron Gordon for an interception. It was Garden Spot’s last hope.
Notre Dame quarterback Matt Bodnar completed 37-of-49 passes for 608 yards and seven touchdowns. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound junior connected with a different receiver on each of his TDs.
“We’ve never played them before,” senior lineman Cullen Witmer said. “We only had their scrimmage film. We didn’t know what they were gonna run. I’d say we weren’t completely prepared defensively.”
Garden Spot looked like it was chasing an endless deficit over the final 24 minutes. Every time the Spartans inched closer, the Crusaders extended their lead.
With 7:37 left in the fourth quarter, Garden Spot trailed 64-50 and it looked hopeless. The Spartans needed a score and a defensive stand. The first part wasn’t so hard. The second seemed impossible.
Cole Humphreys caught a 24-yard strike to pull Garden Spot back within seven. Then an errant snap when Bodnar wasn’t looking gave the Spartans the ball on Miguel Candelaria’s fumble recovery. They scored again on Jace Conrad’s 36-yard catch with 4:41 left.
It was 64-64.
Notre Dame never flinched as its once-comfortable lead disappeared. The Crusaders marched 78 yards on 13 plays to push home one more touchdown. Christian Rivituso rumbled in from 11 yards to decide it.
“It was a battle,” Witmer said. “You’re on defense constantly because offenses are scoring and scoring.”
Hurst, making his first varsity start at quarterback, was 21-for-33 for 468 yards and six touchdowns. He returned an interception 81 yards for another score as a safety.
Garden Spot faced a long ride back to New Holland as the players pondered the wildest game most of them will ever see.
“We played with some heart,” Witmer said. “It didn’t end up how we wanted. We’re gonna grow from this one.”
