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Altoona takes thriller from State College to win their first District 6 title since 2002 @AltoonaAthletic @scoachlintal @SCoachLintal @Marcusday15

Tagged under: District 6, Gameday Hub, News

| October 24, 2020

#6 Aaron Carothers had a good night with 2 interceptions

Aaron Carothers second interception of the night couldn’t have come at a better time. Trailing State College 21-14 late in the fourth quarter, the Little Lions had just gotten an interception of there own and were hoping to either run the clock down or get an insurance score. Instead, quarterback Marcus Day ripped off a big run, scored on a three yard run then handed the ball to Kyle Pheasant for the 2 point conversion, giving the Mt. Lions their first District 6 championship in 18 years with a score of 22-21. “This just feels amazing” said Day. “We just showed Altoona is back. We were the underdogs of the Mid Penn and now here and now we’re not. We’re the Champions.”

For State College, they’re hoping to play a few more games, but head coach Matt Lintal is sad but proud of his players. “I’m proud of my kids, I like who they are as people” said Lintal. “These kids have been through so much this year and they never complained.”

“We started talking about it when we got to the ten. I don’t know if it was the right thing to do. We said if we got the look that we wanted we’re going for two. All we did was call it in and they executed it. They did a phenomenal job” said Altoona head coach Vince Nedimyer of the decision to go for the win on the two point play.


Neither team was able to get to the endzone until there was just over a minute left in the first half. State High had a chance early in the second quarter getting to the Altoona 21 but a fake field goal attempt fell short. Then with just over 2 minutes left in the first half, the Little Lions went on a 75 yard drive that was capped with a 16 yard pass from Conrad Moore to Nehemiah Howell.

 

Though they didn’t get into the endzone in the first half, Nedimyers offense did manage to get huge chunks of yards on the ground. Ethan Stroup pounded his way to 112 yards on 20 carries and Day finished his night with 110 yards on 16 carries. “We definitely challenged some people at halftime” said Nedimyer. State opened the second half with short field position and capitalized with a bit of fortune. On second down at the Altoona 8, Moore, on a keeper up the middle, took a hit and the ball squirted to the one where Ed Franklin battled Little Lion Ian Brandt for the ball, but State retained possession. Moore went in from the one to put State up 13-0. The kick failed.

 

“We definitely challenged some people at halftime” said Nedimyer. One of those players was Aaron Carothers. “They actually took me out in the first half cause they didn’t think I was playing as well as I could” said Carothers, who had two interceptions in the second half, the second of which led to the winning score.  We got the that first score and we could just feel the momentum”. His first interception gave Altoona the ball at the 7 yard line with the help of a personal foul by State College. Day went in from 3 yards out behind a huge push from his offensive line. “My line did a great job all night long. They’ve been great all year, dominating in every game.”

 


The Little Lions responded to go up 21-7 with a 13 yard run from Dresyn Green but their defense couldn’t contain the triple option offense. Altoona went on a 7 play, 73 yard drive and capped it with a nice 4 yard run from Day to pull within 7.

State High had one more chance getting to the Altoona 25 but Moores pass to Knipe floated high and was picked off by Jake Adams.

For State College, they hope their season isn’t over yet and will be allowed to play a few extra games. “These kids deserve more. I’m going to do everything I can to advocate for all of them and make sure they play,” Lintal said. “I’m not ready to be done coaching them. I don’t think they are ready to be done wearing a State College jersey. I’m going to count on the leadership of the seniors and the captains to get these guys back up and knowing what they are playing for.”

Altoona will move on and face Williamsport at a time/place tbd.

 

 

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