Central Holds Off Penns Valley

Tagged under: District 6, Game Photos, Gameday Hub, News

Kerry Shawley | October 7, 2023

The Central Dragons raced to a 28-0 halftime lead tonight and then held off a second half Penns Valley rally to win 28-14 at Spring Mills. With the win, Central raised its record to 7-0. Penns Valley falls to 4-3 with the defeat.

Both teams started slowly. Central held Penns Valley to a three and out to start the game. Following the Ram punt, Central quarterback, Eli Muthler was intercepted by Ty Watson. The Central defense rose up and once again forced the Rams to punt and with 7:27 remaining in the opening quarter, Central had the ball on their own 47.

After a couple of completions moved the ball to the Ram 19, Muthler hooked up with Jacob Benton for the opening score. Following the 2-point conversion, Central led 8-0 with 5:50 remaining in the opening quarter.

The teams would trade punts and the score would remain unchanged when the first quarter came to an end.

After forcing another Penns Valley punt, Central took over on their own 38 with 11:43 remaining in the second quarter. Less than a minute later, on third down, Muthler threw a screen pass to Braydon Beach who raced 58-yards for the touchdown. The extra point increased the Central lead to 15-0 with 10:47 remaining in the opening half.

Following another Ram punt, the Penns Valley defense was able to force a fumble and took possession on their own 40-yard line with 7:17 remaining in the half. Penns Valley was finally able to mount a drive behind the running of Watson. Two carries covered a total of 47-yards, and the Rams now had the ball on the Central 13-yard line. A Jackson Romig keeper moved the ball to the five. The drive would stall there. The next two plays would lose 7-yards and Watson would miss a 29-yard field goal attempt with 4:13 remaining in the second quarter.

Following a first down, Muthler would hook up with Benton again for 58-yards to set the Dragons up at the Ram 15-yard line. It only took two Hunter Smith runs to cover those 15-yards to increase the Central lead to 21-0; Watson blocked the extra point.

Following another Penns Valley punt, Central took over on their own 25-yard line with just over a minute remaining in the half. Muthler then hooked up with Baron Dionis for 44-yards to move the ball to the Ram 23. It looked like the Rams were going to hold, but Muthler hit Jack Dunn with a 22-yard touchdown pass as time expired. The extra point gave Central a 28-0 halftime lead.

Central completely dominated the first half and it would have been easy for Penns Valley to fold, but the Rams regrouped at halftime and probably played their best football since the first half of the Bald Eagle game.

After the two teams traded empty possessions to start the second half, Penns Valley forced another Central fumble and took over on the Central 42-yard line. Romig got things started with two runs totaling 19-yards. It looked like Central was going to turn away the Rams once again, but a roughing the passer penalty on 4th down gave the Rams new life. Two Watson runs, including a 4-yard touchdown run would finally get the Rams on the board. The Watson extra point made the score 28-7 with 3:42 remaining in the third quarter.

Watson would then recover his own onside kick and the Rams had the ball on their own 47-yard line. A face mask penalty was tacked on to a Romig to John Meyer pass and the Rams now had the ball on the Central 29-yard line. The drive would stall with Penns Valley turning the ball over on downs, and the third quarter would end with Central leading 28-7.

Central would then run several minutes off the clock with a drive that included a big 4th down conversion that moved the ball to the Ram 35-yard line. That is when Ethan Fetterolf picked off a Muthler pass and returned it 52-yards to the Central 13. Romig and Meyer connected on a big 4th down pass to set the Rams up on the one. Watson would cover that final yard and following his extra point, the Rams trimmed the Central lead to 28-14 with 7:28 remaining.

The Rams once again successfully recovered an onside kick and took possession on the Central 45-yard line. A fumble would short circuit the Rams attempt to cut further into the lead, and Central now had possession of the ball with just 6:43 remaining.

Penns Valley forced another Central fumble with 3:02 remaining, but Central sealed the game with an interception and were able to run out the clock.

Central will look to remain unbeaten next week at Bedford. Penns Valley will travel to Somerset.