PHILADELPHIA - Big play ability can turn the tide in any game.

Flush with playmakers, both Marian and Bishop McDevitt have proven throughout the year that they are capable of taking control of a game with splash plays on offense, defense or special teams.In the postseason, such plays have been even more critical for the District 11 champion Colts and the District 12 winning Royal Lancers.In Friday night's PIAA Class A First Round playoff game, it was Bishop McDevitt that came made the most of its chances when it got them en route to a 35-19 victory over Marian."We talked about that all week and we knew we needed them," Bishop McDevitt head coach Pat Manzi said of his team's several long scoring plays. "This (Marian) is a very consistent football team and they're physical. They run the ball very well and No. 3 (KJ Snerr) is as good a back as there is."We knew that, and we knew that we were going to have to make big plays against them. And that's kind of what we do anyway. We like to throw the ball down the field, we like to spread the defense, and we were fortunate enough to make the plays when we needed them."The catalyst for the Royal Lancers (7-6) was Dontae Mason, who amassed 225 yards on his three scoring plays."I told my coaches this week that No. 10 (Mason) is the difference with this football team," said Marian head coach Stan Dakosty. "He's a threat every time he touches the ball. He's a great player. He's got other good kids around him, but he makes them go. He just made some great plays."Mason opened the scoring with a 55-yard reception from quarterback Max Bryson and followed that with an 85-yard kickoff return for a score to give Bishop McDevitt a 14-0 lead before Bryson hit Jayvonne Campfield for a 15-yard score to give the Royal Lancers what appeared to be a commanding 21-0 lead midway through the third quarter.But the Colts (8-5) responded, as Snerr, who finished with 139 yards rushing on 29 carries, punched it in from a yard out.After getting close several times in the first half, Marian blocked the Royal Lancers punt on their next possession, as Aaron DeAngelo scooped up the ball in the end zone to make it 21-13 late in the third quarter.But just like that, Mason delivered what was arguably his biggest play of the game, returning the ensuing kickoff 85-yards for a score to push the Bishop McDevitt lead to 28-13."Special teams has been our strong suit, but it wasn't tonight," Dakosty said. "We were right back in the game, and we gave up a big return."But give them credit. They executed and we didn't. I give our kids credit for fighting back in the ball game. I thought we were really going to win it. I thought we were in control. But they flipped it, returning that kick."Marian battled to stay in it, as quarterback Ethan Kuczynski capped a seven play drive with a four yard scoring run.The Colts came up short on their final three drives, however, producing three straight turnovers.The Royal Lancers final score came on a 25-yard interception return by Jaron Macon on Marian next-to-last possession.While disappointed, Dakosty was proud of what his team accomplished in 2015."Our kids gave us a great year and they fought hard tonight," he said. "We had a great senior class and now we're going to challenge our underclassmen to emulate them."WHAT AN ENTRANCE … Friday night was Bishop McDevitt's first appearance in the PIAA playoffs.FAMILIAR TERRITORY … Marian, on the other hand, made its sixth appearance in the PIAA playoffs, first since 2007.COMEBACK KIDS … Following a three-game losing streak in the middle of the season, the Colts responded by winning three of their final four games before dispatching Mahanoy Area and Tri-Valley in the district playoffs. "When we lost three in a row, they hung together," said Dakosty. "There was no finger-pointing. And they came into the postseason and they got better."