Harrisburg (Pa.) bests Bishop McDevitt (Pa.) at Battle of the Burg

HARRISBURG, Pa.- Last year’s edition of the ‘Battle of the Burg’ was always going to be a difficult act to follow up for Harrisburg and Bishop McDevitt.

The 2024 meeting between the Cougars and the Crusaders ended in a thrilling 35-33 win in overtime for Harrisburg and attracted thousands from the city to come out. Saturday afternoon’s version certainly made the 38th clash between the two city rivals another for the history books.

Harrisburg received a strong rushing effort from Penn State commit Messiah Mickens and was able to narrowly edge Bishop McDevitt, 29-21, at Severance Field.

Harrisburg’s Messiah Mickens and Princeton Dent formed a duo on the ground

There’s not many programs that can boast the kind of backfield that Harrisburg entered the season with. Having senior three-star running back Messiah Mickens paired with junior bruiser Princeton Dent (two touchdowns) certainly made things difficult for the Crusaders’ defense.

Early on, Harrisburg leaned on a heavy dosage of Mickens on the ground to soften up the Bishop McDevitt’s front seven and it freed up quarterback Mikal Shanks Jr. to make the necessary throws downfield to move the offense.

The first game of the season against Imhotep Charter Institute, a 40-26 victory, Mickens and Debt combined to rush for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Much of that can be attributed to Mickens, who went for 168 and three scores, but Dent is proving himself to be a formidable partner in crime next to the future Nittany Lion.

Bishop McDevitt’s ground game wasn’t too shabby itself

Not to be completely outdone by the Cougars’ rushing attack was that of the Crusaders, which was fairly good itself between the running of Eastern Michigan commit Nazir Jones-Davis and Maurice Barnes Jr.

Both tailbacks had solid afternoons for Bishop McDevitt, as they focused on running in between the tackles against Harrisburg’s front seven for a good chunk of the contest. What Jones-Davis is to the Crusaders as Mickens is to the Cougars, with the senior back totaling nearly 100 yards on the dais.

Taking the pressure off of quarterback Sebastian Williams helped, giving the junior field general opportunities through play-action passes and opening up running lanes. Though Bishop McDevitt fell just short, can’t overlook the play of the Crusaders’ backfield.

City of Harrisburg showed out for the 38th edition of the Battle of the Burg

High school football is typically for Thursday and Friday nights. Saturday’s from here on out are reserved for college football, which starts its first major week this weekend.

Don’t tell that to the locals of the City of Harrisburg as thousands turned out for the 38th edition of the Battle of the Burg rivalry between the Cougars and Crusaders. Up against some top college matchups like the highly anticipated Texas-Ohio State tilt, folks in Harrisburg decided to support their local high school football teams instead and it showed when it came to the attendance on hand.

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