The State College High football team got things going much quicker this time around.
A week after a slow start led to a 14-0 deficit and eventual loss to Martinsburg, the Little Lions came out of the gates much quicker against Carlisle, turning a 23-0 halftime lead into an eventual 37-8 victory.
“[Getting off to a fast start] was huge,” State College head coach Matt Lintal said afterwards. “It set the tone for the game and got the energy and the juices going.”
Starting their first drive at their own 49-yard line after forcing a Carlisle three-and-out, the Little Lions took immediate advantage of the great field position.
An 11-yard reception by running back Jordan Misher and a 14-yard scramble from quarterback John Weakland moved the ball into Carlisle territory.
The Lions had a brief scare when Weakland needed to be helped off the field after sustaining a minor knee injury, but the quarterback returned after one play and Misher took a draw 6 yards into the end zone to put State College on the board 7-0.
Soon after, the Little Lions defense joined in on the scoring party, as Stan Martin and Lonnie Koudela dropped Thundering Herd running back Tyler Greene behind the goal line for a safety.
Looking to expand their lead even more, the Little Lions nearly faltered on their next drive, as they faced a third-and-17 in their own end.
At that point, Weakland would take over, hitting tight end Brett Graham with a 20-yard pass that seemed to break Carlisle’s back. A few plays later, the senior quarterback worked his magic again, rushing 23-yards for a touchdown and a 16-0 lead.
“That play [to Graham] was a huge play,” Lintal said. “We knew everybody had their eyes on Jordan thinking it would be a screen pass and Brett made a nice play and made a nice run after the catch.
The Little Lions would strike once more before halftime, as wide receiver Kellin Valentine broke off a long punt return and then immediately caught a 13-yard reception that led to a short touchdown pass from Weakland to Graham.
Despite the nearly flawless first half, State College looked surprisingly flat after halftime. The Lions were unable to generate offense for most of the third quarter and allowed Carlisle to get on the board with a touchdown pass and two-point conversion that made it 23-8 five minutes into the third quarter.
Both teams missed numerous opportunities, and the score remained the same heading into the fourth.
Two minutes into the final quarter, Misher put to rest any doubt about which team would win, breaking off a thrilling 26-yard run in which he narrowly escaped being tackled in the backfield to make the score 30-8. Charles Riley would later add a 5-yard score on the ground to ice the win.
“There’s such a trust level with Jordan running the football,” Lintal said. “Even when I don’t make the best play call he makes me look like a great coach.”
While Misher was impressive once again, it was the State College defense that truly left their mark, hammering Thundering Herd quarterback Billy Burger all night and never allowing him to get into a rhythm.
“Really proud of the play of our defense pitching a shutout there in the first half,” Lintal said. “Controlling those skill players is not an easy task and our guys did a nice job playing team defense.”
The Little Lions are back on the road next week, when they take on Chambersburg at 7 p.m.
POPULAR STORIES:
Penn State Football: Gameday Media Coverage For Penn State UMass
AccuWeather Predicts Warm, Sunny Afternoon for Penn State Game
Penn State Seeks State Funding for Major Construction Projects
Penn State Working Out Issues with New Scoreboards, Fans Can Expect Changes Saturday
Report: Rutgers Athletic Director Reportedly Made Sandusky Joke In Staff Meeting
