Shirley-to-Detwiler connection sparks Conestoga past Marple Newtown

NEWTOWN SQUARE — Peter Detwiler has been catching passes from Calvin Shirley for somewhere around a decade. The bond that receiver and quarterback have forged, through myriad practice sessions and in games that might not have gone Conestoga’s way, has blossomed as seniors.

But Friday night at Marple Newtown, it wasn’t just how – or how often, or for how many yards – Detwiler and Shirley hooked up. It was when they made the connection that showed how special their pairing has become.

Shirley found Detwiler for three touchdowns Friday, for 17, 19 and 20 yards, to lead Conestoga to a 34-16 win over Marple Newtown in a cross-class clash of playoff teams. The fact that the win sealed the first playoff berth in seven years for Conestoga (7-2, 6-2 Central League) makes it all the more massive.

“On different calls, me and Cal are on the same page the whole game,” Detwiler said. “Sometimes he doesn’t even have to call the audible; I know he’s going to say it. It’s that kind of relationship that we’ve built. We’ve been playing together our whole life, and it’s awesome.”

All three TDs were spectacular. First was a jump ball to Detwiler in the corner of the end zone with 32 seconds left in the first half to put Conestoga up for good at 14-10.

Then came a sideline route on fourth-and-1 at the 20 early that Detwiler wrestled away from a cornerback that was originally called incomplete, but overruled when the refs conferred. Detwiler appeared to take the ball to the ground, only to have it pop out as he got up to celebrate.

“It’s awesome placement,” Detwiler said. “Two of the best balls I’ve ever caught in my life.”

Then came a fourth-and-six strike, with the game likely out of reach, when Detwiler broke off his route and ran back toward an under-pressure Shirley, caught a jump pass, twirled out of a tackle and dove over the pylon to extinguish all hope of a Marple Newtown comeback with 2:10 left.

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