Barrett helps Lansdale Catholic snap four-game skid

If there's one thing Devon Barrett knows right now, it's that he'll be playing football in late December.

Hey, he's not beyond cocky. He's not guaranteeing Lansdale Catholic High will advance to the PIAA Class AA state final. He merely knows he's a Chosen One.

The 6-1, 230-pound Barrett, who's impressive at fullback and linebacker, has been selected to play in the first Chesapeake Bowl. The contest, set for Dec. 30 at Towson University, will match seniors from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware against same from Maryland, the Virginias and Washington, D.C.

Off a strong junior campaign, Barrett was invited to a summertime evaluation camp.

"I went out for linebacker and did the best I could. I guess I impressed them," Barrett said. "We didn't wear helmets, so they based everything on how we did in drills. There was a lot of one-on-one stuff where we ran and they watched how we made cuts.

"It took a while to hear back on whether I made it, but that [uncertainty] wasn't bothering me. I was focused on my own team here."

And things are much better now, thank you.

Saturday night in Levittown, the Crusaders halted a four-game skid by trimming Conwell-Egan, 22-16, in Catholic AA. Barrett contributed six carries for 71 yards - the highlight was a 42-yard burst on the decisive, mid-fourth quarter drive - and a dozen-plus tackles, including three on a goalline stand.

Barrett's big carry placed the ball at C-E's 27. Four plays later, Andrew Mandato scurried into the end zone on a 14-yard keeper.

"My long run was just a simple dive up the middle," Barrett said. "It was going to be to the right, but [Mandato] saw they were flowing outside and changed the play at the line. I got through the line, saw an opening to the left and took it that way.

"When I saw how big that opening was, I knew it was going to be a big gain. We got so pumped up going down the field on that drive. We didn't want to stop. Just kept pushing."

Though Barrett lives in North Wales, he played his CYO ball for a regional team based at St. Genevieve in Flourtown.

"I've been playing fullback for 3 years, but linebacker goes back to grade school," he said. "I like both positions pretty equally.

"At fullback, well, there's nothing like it. Trying to run as hard as you can into someone and make them not tackle you. Linebacker's kind of different. You have to do more reading. Watch the play develop and realize where it's going, then get there and make the play."

Barrett is in regular contact with Stony Brook and Monmouth and has received at least a nibble from Syracuse. While developing his body these past few years, he has developed a keen interest in making fitness/weight training his life's work.

Alex Hetzel (90-yard kickoff return) and Mike Bradley (6-yard run) also scored for LC. Dan McLaughlin accounted for all of C-E's points with two rushing TDs, a PAT and a 27-yard field goal; he also recovered a key fumble. While also receiving major help from quarterback John Clark, just back from injury, and rusher/receiver Rich Brown, the Eagles crunched LC in yardage, 355-199.