Central Wins District 6 3A Title
Tagged under: District 6, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs
Brandon Maynard | November 11, 2023
Altoona-
Central beat the Penn Cambria 35-28 to take home their 4th straight District 6 Championship at Mansion Park Friday night. The game was an absolute battle, being tied 3 separate times. “This is 1.” Central’s Head Coach Dave Baker said about the Championship. “This isn’t the other teams, it’s this team accomplishment.”
The Panthers won the toss and decided to defer to the second have. The Scarlet Dragons then went on an 12 play, 78 yard drive lasting 5:09 of the 1st quarter. Eli Muthler found Jacob Benton on a 39 yard pass, which got backed up 15 yards for a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Central. The penalty didn’t stop the momentum, the very next play Muthler found Hunter Smith on a HB screen that went 15 yards. Smith then got the ball 4 of the next 6 plays capping it off with a 1 yard Touchdown. Like all season after scoring, Smith kicked the PAT, Making the score 7-0.
Penn Cambria started their drive on the 26 yard-line, with the first 3 plays getting them 7 yards after being backed up on the first play of the game. On 4th and 6, a bad snap got the punter’s punt blocked and him hit at the same time. With the punt being partially blocked, either team can advance it and Thomas Plunkett picked it up and took it 9 yard gaining the first down for the Panthers. That restarted their drive for them, QB Brady Jones got them over midfield with a 10 yard rush for a first down of his own. They got to the 35 yard-line and decided to go for it on 4th and 1, then Panther running back Gavin Harrold ripped a 12 yard first down run. Harrold got the ball a few more time before he ran it in for a 10 yard touchdown with 41 seconds left in the quarter. Andrew Dillion added the Extra Point to tie the game 7-7.
Central ran the ball into the 2nd quarter with Smith. Muthler found Benton for a big play for 40 yards, getting the Scarlet Dragons to the 11 yard-line. He then took the ball the rest of the way with an 11 yard touchdown run. “Our line was crazy good tonight” said Muthler. “Our receivers made some plays for us” he continued. Smith added at PAT making the score 14-7. Smith’s kickoff found the endzone marking a touchback.
Linebacker Lukas Black had a few big stops next drive, causing the Panthers to punt. It took 8 plays on Central’s next drive including a play that Benton ripped the ball from the defensive back’s hands to haul in a 37 yard pass in, getting the ball to the 2. Smith used 2 one yard runs from the wildcat to score his 2nd touchdown of the game. He also added the Extra Point making the score 21-7 with 5:39 left in the half.
Penn Cambria struck back quick when Harrold threw his first pass of the night finding Carter McDermott for a 63 yard Touchdown strike, Dillions kick was good taking the score to 21-14. The Scarlet Dragon’s next drive was going well, having a good mix of pass and run. Gaining 3 first downs before Marcus Eckenrode intercepted Muthler’s pass in the endzone. Penn Cambria got the ball with 1:10 in the half. Central’s Kasey Imler ended the half with 10 yard sack.
The Panthers received the 2nd half kickoff, Jones found Harrold for a 40 yard pass 3 plays into the drive. They ended up getting 3 first downs including that play. They also got 4th down twice, converting both of them including a 4th down and 12 from the 20 which ended with Jones finding Derek Hite for a touchdown. Dillon added the PAT making the score 21-21. The Scarlet Dragons got the ball back with 4:32 left in the 3rd. They ended up going for it on 4th and 1, stopping Muthler’s run. After Central turned the ball over, they ended up getting back to back sacks on 1st and 2nd down by Smith and Imler(2nd). The quarter ended as the Panthers planed on to punt on 4th and 22.
Penn Cambria started the 4th quarter with a punt that went just 28 yards. The Dragons started on their own 30 yard-line. It took the 4 minuities and 15 seconds and 8 play to drive 70 yards for a touchdown. Jack Dunn caught Muthler’s pass for 32 yard score. Smith added the PAT, Central took the lead28-21. The next kick off, McDermott returned the ball 46 yards setting them up with great field position. Joe Hoenstine had a 17 yard first down run and then immediately after that he rushed for a 19 yard TD. Dillon’s PAT was good. The score was 28-28.
Central got the ball back with 5:50 left in the game, and they drove. They took 5:29 off the clock on their 64 yard drive. Capping it off with a 15 yard TD pass from Muthler to Benton. “Gotta Score, Gotta Win.” Scarlet Dragon’s Benton said what he was thinking on the last drive. Smith added his 5th XP of the night making the score 35-28. A pooch kick gave the Panthers good field position on the 48 yard-line But on 4th and 20 Muthler intercepted Jones’s pass to seal the victory and the 3A District 6 championship.
“Credit to Central, They made plays when the needed too.” Said Penn Cambria’s Head Coach Nick Felus. “We’re so proud of the effort our kids gave tonight.” Key Players: Central- E. Muthler 15/21 261 yards 2 TD 1 INT, 8 car 43 yards 1 TD and 1 defensive INT. H. Smith 22 car 95 yards 2 TD 1 cat 15 yards and 1 Sack. J. Benton 6 cat 135 yards 1 TD. Penn Cambria- B. Jones 6/10 70 yards 1TD 1 INT. G. Harrold 1/5 63 yards 1 TD, 16 car 89 yards 1 TD 3 cat 43 yards. T. Plunkett 13 car 80 yards 1 TD.
Central will play Clearfield next Friday (11/17) in a state playoff game.
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