Phil Anastasia: Munger and Dash join to power Holy Cross

Sometimes in the state tournament, it's a sophomore's moment.

But it's always a senior's time.

Sophomore Dai'Shon Munger ran for 111 yards and three touchdowns last night as Holy Cross beat Bishop Eustace, 25-7, in the semifinals of the Non-Public 2 football tournament.

It was a breakout game for Munger, a speedy, 5-foot-9, 160-pound athlete from Westampton. He scored Holy Cross' first three touchdowns on runs of 16, 10 and 1 yards as the Crusaders rallied from an early 7-0 deficit.

But the best news for Holy Cross - other than confirmation of a date in the state-championship game the weekend of Dec. 5-7 against the winner of tonight's St. Joseph-Hudson Catholic clash - was the return of Dan Dash.

Dash, a senior running back from Willingboro, carried 14 times for 90 yards, threw some key blocks for Munger, and brought a veteran's urgency and determination to every play.

More than that, Dash reminded his teammates and coaches what they've been missing for most of the season.

"That was great to see," Holy Cross coach Tim McAneney said. "Dan is an unbelievable leader and an unbelievable kid. He'll do anything to help us win.

"For him to be able to get out there like he did tonight and carry the ball, make those blocks, it was great for him and great for us, too."

The 5-9, 180-pound Dash has been one of Holy Cross' top athletes for three years. He had his own breakout game as a sophomore - running wild in the last regular-season game in Florence's famous "Pit" - and played a key role for last year's state champions.

This year, Dash has mostly stood on the sideline and watched, battling a severe ankle injury that limited his ability to run, cut and contribute on the field.

"It's been tough," said Dash, who lives in Willingboro. "It's been hard to watch other kids play. This is my senior year. I wanted to be out there.

"I tried to stay positive. I tried to do what I could. But it was hard."

Munger said Dash was an inspiration, even without taking the field.

"He was a role model for all of us," Munger said. "He's a guy who started as a sophomore. When he was out, he was cheering for us, giving us advice. It was like we were winning not just for ourselves but also for him."

In his first year at Holy Cross, McAneney has a program that has been renowned for its passing game for years operating a run-first, -second and -third attack. It was late in the third quarter when the Crusaders finally attempted a pass last night, on their 38th play.

But they have the personnel to unleash a powerful ground attack, with a solid offensive line, a tough fullback in Aaron Fant, and speedy backs such as Munger and Dash.

"I had [Mike] DiMaggio in '06, and Dan is a similar-type back," McAneney said. "If he was healthy in this offense, he would have run for 1,800 yards this year."

As it was, Dash barely broke 100 yards, for the season, before last night. McAneney said Dash missed all or most of five or six games and had around 25 carries, all season.

But thanks to an extra week off due to a bye in the schedule, Dash looked a bit like his old self at times against Bishop Eustace. He went for 8 and 11 yards on his first two carries, then helped clear the way for Munger to race 16 for the Crusaders' first touchdown.

Dash also had a 19-yard run in the second quarter. In the second half, with the Crusaders protecting the lead, Dash carried nine times for 39 yards, picking up three first downs.

Like the best seniors, Dash seemed to sense the significance of every carry, and every possession. He fought for yardage but protected the football.

"This is something we've been waiting for as seniors," Dash said of playing in the state-title game. "This school has been here for 50 years, and we've never won back-to-back championships.

"We've got a chance to do that. That's what it's all about."