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Penn Manor Defeats Hempfield for the First Time Since 2014

Tagged under: District 3, Gameday Hub, News

| September 30, 2023

Last week, the Penn Manor Comets got their first win of the season defeating Reading 28 to 27 in overtime. This week they hosted the Hempfield Black Knights who fell to 2-3 after losing 48 to 7 against Manheim Township. Hempfield had the lead for most of tonight’s game, but with only 3:27 remaining, the Comets broke off an 80-yard touchdown, giving them their first lead of the night. Penn Manor held on and defeated Hempfield 23 to 19.

Penn Manor received the opening kickoff, and after a good return, their first drive of the night started at their own 43 yard line. The Comets worked their way down the field with solid runs coming from running back, Willard Smith, and quarterback, Kyle Furnier. After a nine play drive, the Comets were forced to attempt a 38 yard field goal which fell short.

Hempfield started their first drive of the night from their own 21 yard line. They also strung together a solid nine play drive, but they cashed in when Jackson Landis found Cam Margeson for a 50 yard touchdown. Hempfield failed the extra point, keeping their lead to only 6.

Penn Manor answered right back on the kickoff when Adrian Smith returned the kick 92 yards for a touchdown. The Comets also failed their extra point attempt, leaving the score tied.

Hempfield put together another long drive fueled by strong runs from running back, Eli Walls. A 23 yard touchdown catch from wide receiver Micah Gates capped off this ten play drive, covering 78 yards. After converting the extra point, Hempfield led 13 to 6. 

The Comets then drove all the way down the field before finding themselves facing a 4th and 13 on the Hempfield 22 yard line. They passed on the opportunity to attempt a 39 yard field goal and instead elected to try to pick up the yardage. They fell a few yards short and gave the ball back to Hempfield.

The Black Knights picked up one first down but were then forced to punt.

On the first play after the Hempfield punt, Kyle Furnier unloaded a deep ball to Josiah Torres for a 64 yard touchdown. Penn Manor tacked on the extra point tying the game at 13. 

Hempfield then went three and out.  After the punt, it was halftime.

The Black Knights came out of the half firing. On the first play, Landis would find Phillip Krauser for 42 yards. Four plays later, Hempfield faced a 4th and 5 from the Penn Manor 24 yard line. Landis threw his third touchdown pass of the night, this time to sophomore PJ Poole. Hempfield missed the extra point, leaving the score at 19 to 13.

Penn Manor’s next drive ended when Hempfield’s Derek Katch snagged an interception. However, the Black Knights went three and out and failed to capitalize on the turnover. 

The Comets began their next drive on their own 21 yard line. On the first play, Adrian Smith broke loose down the sideline for 54 yards, setting Penn Manor up at the Hempfield 25 yard line. However, their drive stalled there, forcing the Comets to settle for three. Penn Manor’s kicker Zach Jeffers nailed the 42 yarder to bring the Comets within three.

Hempfield’s next drive ate up much of the fourth quarter, but after 12 plays, the Black Knights turned the ball over on downs.

The Comets quickly faced a 3rd and 16 on their next drive after USC commit Deyvid Palepale got two tackles for a loss. With time running out, Furnier decided to throw up a desperation ball to Kyle Rothan who somehow came down with the ball for 24 yards and the first down. However, on the next play, disaster struck for Penn Manor. They fumbled the snap and out from under the pile came Hempfield with the ball.

Now the Comets needed a quick stop from their defense. Something they had struggled to do all night. Hempfield ran the ball on first down for one yard. On second down, rather than keeping it on the ground to chew more clock, they opted for a pass which resulted in an incompletion and a stoppage of time. On third down, they went back to the air, and yet again after an incompletion the clock stopped. Hempfield was forced to punt the ball away with still 3:53 remaining in the game.

Penn Manor now had three minutes and 40 seconds to go down the field and score. However, it only took them about 10 seconds. On the first play, Adrian Smith got the edge and burst up the sideline for an 80-yard touchdown run.

After the game, Smith said, “I just saw the hole and saw green grass, and I just took off.”

After the extra point, Penn Manor led 23-19. 

Now it was Hempfield’s turn with 3:27 remaining. Jackson Landis led his team down the field. He had a big 30 yard run and a solid eight yard completion that set Hempfield up at the Penn Manor 21 yard line. With 1:17 on the clock, Hempfield handed the ball to Dehvyn Lauano who was stopped for no gain. Now facing a 4th and 2, Hempfield called a timeout with 57 seconds remaining. After the timeout, they went back to Lauano who this time got stopped before getting back to the line of scrimmage. Senior defensive end Ty Washington was in the backfield to make the play for Penn Manor.

The Comets took a few knees and then celebrated their victory.

Head Coach John Brubaker said, “we kept battling, we kept fighting if we were down, we kept coming back … these kids deserve that win tonight.”

Penn Manor had not defeated Hempfield since 2014. Penn Manor received the Battle of 462 trophy and grabbed their second win in a row while Hempfield fell to 2-4 after back-to-back losses. 

Smith said, “I have never beat Hempfield, it means a lot to us.”

 

Thanks for reading

Follow me on Twitter @jpletch33

 

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