Walter Johnson has been considered a sure win on every team’s schedule in seasons past. Having won just one game in the last four seasons, CHS viewed them as inferior and saw this game as an opporunity for the backups to get playing time. In this year’s matchup, no backups played as the Bulldogs narrowly escaped with a 38-33 victory at home Sept. 17.
“In all honesty, we highly underestimated WJ’s abilities,” senior captain Brett Schweitzer said. “We thought we were going to go in there and take care of business and instead we got a reality check.”
On their first possession, the Bulldogs had to settle for a 36-yard field goal by senior Bryan Crutchfield.
Walter Johnson responded with a two-yard touchdown run after a big play their star running back. CHS was in a hole, but gained momentum after Schweitzer blocked a WJ punt in the end zone that was recovered by sophomore Bret Sickels for a touchdown.
With the Bulldogs holding a 17-14 lead just before half, WJ connected on a 57-yard touchdown pass with seconds remaining.
“WJ was able to break big plays because of the lack of focus on our part,” Schweitzer said. “On each of their big plays we had 10 guys doing the right thing and one guy doing the wrong thing.”
CHS came out firing in the second half with a 32-yard pass from senior captain Alex Kantor to junior Kyle Shilling to regain the lead 24-21. Kantor continued wreaking havoc on the WJ defense, first with a 16-yard run for his second rushing touchdown of the game and then a 38-yard touchdown pass to senior Brandon Swepson to give CHS a 38-21 lead.
WJ refused to go away. They went on to score two unasnwered touchdowns, but failed to complete the two-point conversion both times.
All CHS had to do now was hold on to the football, but a fumble gave WJ one last chance. The defense stepped up when senior Bobby Hirsch stuffed a fourth- down rushing attempt just short of the marker.
This slight letdown came after the Bulldogs stunned perennial county power Seneca Valley Sept. 11, ending a losing streak to the Eagles dating back to 2004. Seneca Valley was considered one of the best teams in the area coming into the season.
The Bulldog defense struggled at first and gave up an early rushing touchdown to Seneca Valley. That was the wake-up call the Bulldogs needed. They answered quickly with a 30-yard touchdown run by senior captain Ryan Quinn.
The defense later came alive, recording two interceptions, one of which was brought back 46 yards for a touchdown by senior Matt Cole to give CHS a 14-7 lead.
Later, senior captain Alex Kantor connected with senior tight end Matt Risk on a six-yard touchdown pass to seal a 21-7 victory.
“Beating Seneca Valley boosted our confidence in our abilities, but we knew that was only one win and we had to continue to take it one game at a time,” Schweitzer said.
Quinn, who led the county in rushing touchdowns last year, certainly has not lost a step rushing for over 100 yards in two games this season.
“Ryan [Quinn] has worked exceptionally hard the entire offseason and it shows in his play,” coach Joe Allen said. “He’s a very disciplined runner and he’s going to have a big year.”
CHS will host Northwest Oct. 2 as the Bulldogs hope to continue their winning ways.
“We could go undefeated,” Quinn said. “If all goes well I don’t see how we should lose.”