McDowell Rushes Past State College

Tagged under: District 10, District 6, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

Todd Ross | November 18, 2023

The McDowell Trojans had a dominant performance against State College thanks to some very strong rushing play and a solid defensive effort. A Dominic Berarducci hat trick, and a few scores from teammates would help the Trojans win 47-20.

The first score of the game started with a bobbled snap on a State College punt setting up the McDowell offense with great field position. However, the State College defense held strong, forcing them to settle for a 33-yard Alex Sontheimer field goal to put the Trojans up 3-0 midway through the first quarter.

McDowell scored again before the end of the quarter when Stephon Porter took a handoff through a pile of players making it 9-0 after a failed extra point attempt.

State College responded quickly with a touchdown of their own when Eddie Corkery found Ty Salazer near the back of the endzone, who hauled it in for the Little Lion score making it 6-9 with the missed extra point. 

Blayze Myers and the McDowell offense scored again on the following possession with a 5 yard keeper making it 16-6 still early in the second quarter.

The Trojans didn’t stop on their next possession with another rushing touchdown, this one from Dominic Berarducci who scored on a two yard run increasing their lead to 23-6.

State College scored again in the second quarter with Eddie Corkery this time finding Cooper Brushwood for the score making it 13-23 late in the second. 

The State College defense got their first stop of the game right before half when Michael Gaul intercepted a pass heading for the endzone which allowed State College to kneel out the half only down 10.

That interception didn’t stop the McDowell offense’s flow as they scored quickly thanks to a second Dominic Berarducci rushing touchdown. This was set up by a 58 yard run a few plays prior by him.

A fifth McDowell rushing touchdown and a second for Quarterback Blayze Myers came early in the third quarter, this time a 15 yard scramble putting the score to 37-13.

The hat trick for Dominic Berarducci would come with 2:50 left in the third when the running back made his way through the pile which made the score to 44-13.

State College answered with their last score of the game when Eddie Corkery found Cooper Brushwood for a second time on the night, this one from 44 yards right before the end of the third.

The McDowell Offense used just about every minute of the fourth quarter until finally taking a 26 yard field goal for the final score of the game making it 47-20.

The Trojan defense sealed it with an interception allowing them to kneel the ball out to end the game with a final score of 47-20.

After the game I caught up with Bo Orlando, head coach of the McDowell Trojans. I got to ask him first his thoughts on his team’s play, “It’s gotta be our best game of the year, these guys are really good and well coached. I thought running the ball against them would be tougher. I thought we’d have to throw it around and we ran the ball early and just kind of stuck with that, didn’t put the ball in the air much the game plan kind of shifted to us trying to pound the football.” Next I asked him about how he thought his Running Back Dominic Berarducci played, “You wouldn’t think it by looking at him, he’s kind of undersized, but put some time in the weight room and he is just a physical, physical back. He breaks carries he’s down hill can’t say enough about how well he ran the football, he and Stephon Porter as well.” 

McDowell will be back in action next week as they travel to play the winner of the district seven 6A championship game which is being played tomorrow. To find out where that game will be played and against who look here for that and all your other PIAA football playoff needs.

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