A year later, the results for Hempfield have not changed much.

The Black Knights opened both campaigns with close wins against Conestoga Valley. And this year, like last, they suffered a setback in week two as the hands of Bishop McDevitt.

The Crusaders blanked the Black Knights 40-0 Saturday morning.

"[Bishop McDevitt] is one of the better football teams in the state and I don't know if we rose to the challenge," Hempfield head coach Bob Forgrave said. "They are a fine club. [Jeff] Weachter is a great coach and I have a lot of respect for those guys."

The Crusaders (2-0), the favorite to capture the title in the Mid-Penn's Commonwealth division, dictated the pace from the outset. McDevitt pieced together a 14-play, 65-yard drive to open the game, methodically moving the ball against a Black Knight defense that appeared overmatched.

"We made a lot of mistakes," Forgrave said. "Defensively we should've shut them down early and taken advantage of the opportunities as they made mistakes."

After driving down to the Hempfield 35, McDevitt committed a pair of penalties that could have stopped the drive. But Crusaders senior running back Mike Jones broke off a 15-yard run to move the ball back to the Hempfield 40. On the next play, McDevitt's junior quarterback, Kyle Koncar, rolled out to his right before hitting all-state senior wide receiver Mike Comasco for a 30-yard strike to set up a first-and-goal. Three plays later, Koncar punched it in from a yard out on the quarterback sneak, giving McDevitt a 6-0 lead.

On the Black Knights' first play from scrimmage, junior running back Erik Macik sprinted to the outside and had plenty of room down the left sideline before Comasco made what might have been a touchdown-saving tackle at the Hempfield 48. Macik picked up 22 yards on the play but unfortunately for the Black Knights, Macik only managed nine yards on four carries the rest of the way as the McDevitt defense essentially shut down the run.

"We just aren't good enough on the offensive line," Forgrave said. "We just have to get a lot tougher. Football is a blocking and tackling game and I don't know that we did either very well."

As Hempfield missed tackles, the Crusaders took advantage of the opportunities and continued to move the ball well. Between Koncar's arm and Jones' legs, the Crusaders kept Hempfield's defense on edge. The two connected for a 17-yard touchdown midway to through the third quarter to make it 40-0. Koncar hit Jones on a screen pass to the right side and Jones escaped the initial tackle before spinning his way into the end zone.

Jones, who had 14 carries for 89 yards, also had a 12-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Koncar concluded the game with 206 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-25 passing. Koncar also rushed for a pair of scores.

"We gave up too many big plays," Forgrave said. "But there is a little to be said of the way our kids played [in the second half]. It was 6-0 in the second."

Forgrave and the Black Knights will look to build on that, going into their matchup against Downingtown East at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Landisville.

"We have some young kids who are going to be good football players," Forgrave said. "But we have to get a little better."