The Funding Zone
 
SAFR: Safer Through Science
 
 
SAFR: Safer Through Science
CoachComm Cobalt Plus
Turf Tank
 

99-Yard Drive Keeps Streak Alive, Southern Columbia wins title in thriller

Tagged under: District 4, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

| December 8, 2023

Southern Columbia wins title in dramatic fashion

Southern Columbia knew what it had to do. Move the ball 299 feet and get into the end zone. With the game on the line, pretty easy right?

After the Tigers jumped out to a 14-0 lead, the offense had to do something it hadn’t done since the 11:05 mark of the first quarter.

When it comes down to it, never underestimate the heart of a champion.

With 6:19 to play in the PIAA Class 2A State Championship, the Tigers trailed Westinghouse 20-14 after the Bulldogs punter kicked the ball to the one-foot line.

Jim Roth’s offense put together a drive that kept the streak alive as Carter Madden scored on a 12-yard reverse and Isaac Carter added the game-winning extra point with 42 seconds remaining.

 

“We just knew we had it in us. Nobody else expected us to go 99 yards and win it like we did, but nobody else is Southern Columbia,” said Madden.

He’s right, nobody else is Southern Columbia. The Tigers have now won a record seven consecutive state titles, a streak alone that would tie them with St Joseph’s Prep as the most by any program in the state’s history, and the Tigers upped their overall PIAA Championship mark to 14 on the gridiron.

“The first 13 state titles were all obviously memorable. This one though, for the way it played out, it has to be the most exciting one for sure. This group made their mark on our program’s history with all the great teams that have come before them,” said Roth who just concluded his 40th season as the leader of the most accomplished program in the Keystone State.

The Tigers jumped out to a 7-0 lead just 55 seconds into the game at Chapman Field in Mechanicsburg. On the second offensive play of the game, Louden Murphy went 83 yards for the longest touchdown run of his career.

 

Then, Isaac Carter intercepted a screen pass and the defensive tackle returned it 66 yards and added the PAT to move Southern’s lead to 14-0 with 8:58 still remaining in the opening quarter.

“At that point, it looked like we were going to roll over them. We thought it was going to be a blowout like last week against Dunmore, but they were a lot tougher than we originally anticipated,” Murphy said.

Westinghouse answered, going 68 yards on the next drive. Lloyd Penn made a diving third down grab and gained 43 yards, and four plays later Khalil Green found Taymir O’Neal for a 9-yard TD. The two-point conversion failed, making the score 14-6 with 5:42 to play in the first.

On the following drive, the Bulldogs stuffed the Tigers on fourth down. Westinghouse then tied the game with an 88-yard drive. Green scored from five yards out and then tied it with a two-point toss to O’Neal.

That touchdown, which came with 6:46 to go in the half, was the only rushing touchdown that Southern’s starting defense at full strength gave up all season.

As the scoreboard reached zero, the Tigers and Bulldogs went into the locker room tied at 14-14.

“We knew we couldn’t let that rattle us,” said SCA linebacker Jack Biermaas. “We were in games like this before against Troy and Bald Eagle. Having that experience was what we needed and it helped us win.”

With 3:38 left in the third, K’shawn Hawkins got behind Madden for a 49-yard touchdown catch. On the ensuing two-point conversion, Madden tackled Tyjuane Abrams before he crossed the goal line. That stop, in the end, proved to be pivotal.

With the score 20-14, up until the Tigers got the ball, with 6:19 remaining, it appeared as if the Bulldogs were going to end the streak.

“We knew it was going to be a challenge, but we kept making the plays when we needed to,” said Tiger senior quarterback Blake Wise. “It was just a special moment that we won’t ever forget.”

On the first play of the 99-yard drive, Garrett Garcia ran 28 yards for a first down. Then, with just over 2 minutes remaining, the Tigers were faced with a fourth down.

“We put it all on the line. We knew if we were going to keep our streak alive, we had to do it on that drive. Credit goes to the offensive line. They were tired and had to block a tough front, but they gave us enough room to make it down the field,” said Garcia who also was all over the field making tackles on defense.

Wise, who became Pennsylvania’s first starting QB to ever win three consecutive state titles, completed a pass for a first down to Kyle Christman.

With under a minute left, Madden found the endzone and Carter finished it off with the winning kick.

“I took a couple of deep breaths and just trusted myself. It was a good snap, a good hold, and I was able to make the kick,” Carter said. “The game wasn’t over then though, we had to finish the job on defense.”

The Tigers did just that, and on the final play Jake Hoy intercepted the football and Southern Columbia officially pulled off a game that will forever be remembered.

“Our offensive line struggled at times in this game going up against their tough defense. It was fitting though that our offense went 99 yards and then the defense who has been dominant all year, closed out the win,” said Roth.

Game Highlights:

 

 

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
QwikCut
 
GoRout
 
Rainbow Lettering
 
x