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Central rolls into Semifinals – Lingenfelter ties state record

Tagged under: District 10, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

| November 26, 2022

Grove City  – The Central Scarlet Dragons are heading to the state semifinals for the second consecutive season.

For the second straight season, they dismantled District X Champion Grove City. Last year Central knocked off the Eagles 35-6 at Slippery Rock University.

“That was a good football game, and Grove City is a good team,” said Central head coach Dave Baker. “This game went back and forth until we got to them.”

It was nearly the same song and same verse this season as the Scarlet Dragons, champions of District VI, controlled both sides of the ball and built a 35-0 lead in the fourth quarter before winning 35-7.

Following a scoreless first quarter, Central scored two second-quarter touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead into the locker room.

“Central played a great game tonight, and they deserved to win,” said Grove City head coach Sam Mowrey. “They present many challenges; their quarterback is very talented and can make plays with both his legs and his arm.”

After they held the Eagles on downs at their 5-yard line, Central drove 95 yards in 11 plays as Jeff Hoenstine threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Smith on the first play of the second quarter to open the scoring.

 

“This game would have been much closer if they had scored early,” Baker said. “They’re a good team from their line to their receivers and backs, but I think even if we give up a touchdown there, we would have still won the game. Don’t get me wrong; it would have been a closer game; we were the better team. I mean no disrespect by saying that; I felt we’re the better team.”

Central increased their lead when Kade Rhule scored from four yards out, capping an 8-play 59-yard drive.

Grove City would then drive into the red zone for the second time in the first half. On fourth-and-ten, Hunter Hohman’s scramble gained nine yards as the Dragons turned the Eagles away to close the first half.

Central flexed their muscles in the second half and scored three straight touchdowns to invoke the PIAA’s mercy clock.

“We have some good players, and the guys executed well tonight despite the travel,” said Baker. “Some of our people we’re complaining about the location, but our players and I don’t care about that. We care about playing and winning football games. We played well tonight and were the better team.”

Eli Lingenfelter caught three second-half touchdown passes giving him 27 on the season to tie the state record set by Kevin Gulyas of Allentown Central Catholic in 2011.

Lingenfelter’s 20-yard touchdown reception from Hoenstine gave Central a 21-0 lead entering the fourth quarter. He finished the night with 13 catches for 195 yards and three touchdowns.

Hoenstine and Lingenfelter connected for their second touchdown from 20 yards to begin the fourth quarter. Hoenstine then intercepted Hohman and tossed a 24-yard touchdown pass to Lingenfelter, putting the mercy clock into motion.

 

“Our defense played well tonight,” Baker said. “Our defensive line and linebackers played outstanding. Once we forced them to throw the football, we could use our pass rushers to get after their quarterback.”

Jeff Hoenstine had another big game for the Scarlet Dragons, completing 25-of-32 passes for 316 yards and three scores. Hoenstine now has 3,766 yards and 49 passing touchdowns on the season while rushing for 696 and 12 more scores.

Grove City got a touchdown against Central’s junior varsity defense when Nathan Greer caught a 53-yard pass from Hohman with 1:43 to play.

Hohman led the Eagles, completing 19-of-31 passes for 190 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Greer caught eight passes for 130 yards.

Grove City completes another outstanding season at 9-4.

“This is a special group of kids,” Mowrey concluded. “One of the things we preach is we’re not going to be judged based on the score of a football game. Our goal is to create memories and men of integrity, and we did more than that this season.”

Central will now meet WPIAL Champion Belle Vernon, a 24-7 winner over Avonworth.

“They have an outstanding team and a great player in Quinton Martin,” Baker concluded. “We’re not kicking it to him, that’s one thing for sure, but they’re more than just one player. They’re good, but we’ll do our best against them and give them our best game.”

Game Highlights:

 

Central 35 Grove City 7

Score by Quarters

Central  – 0 14 7 14 – 35
Grove City – 0 0 0 7 – 7

Scoring Summary

Second Quarter

C – Hunter Smith 8 yd pass from Jeff Hoenstine, (Smith pat), 11:57

C – Kade Rhule 4 yd run, (Smith pat), 5:59

Third Quarter

C – Eli Lingenfelter 20 yd pass from Hoenstine, (Smith pat), 7:36

Fourth Quarter

C – Lingenfelter 20 yd pass from Hoenstine, (Smith pat), 7:09

C – Lingenfelter 24 yd pass from Hoenstine, (Smith pat), 3:29

GC – Nathan Greer 53 yd pass from Hunter Hohman, (Jacob Stucchio pat), 1:43

Individual Stats

Rushing: C – Hoenstine 12-49, Rhule 13-40, Smith 5-20, Eli Muthler 1-19, Max Baker 1-, Brayden Beach 1-4, Kaden Fisher 1-1. Totals: 34-141. GC – Anthony Nemec 7-37, Hohman 13-22, Greer 1-6. Totals: 21-65.

Receiving: C – Eli Lingenfelter 13-195, Smith 4-26, Rylan Daugherty 4-42, Dalton Metzger 1-21, Jason Clark 1-5, Rhule 0-1, Shalen Yingling 1-16, Jack Dunn 1-10. GC – Nathan Greer 8-130, Gavin Lutz 7-45 Nemec 4-15.

Passing: C – Hoenstine 25-for-32, 316 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT. GC – Hohman 19-for-31, 190 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT.

Interceptions: C – Muthler, Hoenstine. GC – Nate Boyd.

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