Elijah Faulkner leads high-paced Central Catholic offense to rout of State College

Tagged under: District 6, District 7, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

Billy Splain | November 23, 2024

File Photo: Elijah Faulkner 

ALTOONA — Central Catholic began its football season with a pair of losses to some talented teams in St. Frances Academy (Md.) and Pine-Richland. The Vikings were outscored a combined 66-33 in the losses. Since those losses, Central Catholic has won 10 straight games.

The Vikings made it 11 in a row by topping State College, 41-19, in the PIAA Class 6A quarterfinals inside Mansion Park. Central Catholic coach Ryan Lehmeier had several ways to describe his team’s current run. “Resiliency, grit, toughness, consistency, non complacency, showing up every day, going to work,” he said, “punching our time card and making sure that we put in the type of preparation to perform at this level.”

Running back Elijah Faulkner put in a lot of work for the Vikings’ high-paced offense against the Little Lions. He carried the ball 38 times for 238 yards and four rushing scores.
To put that into perspective, State College had five total rushing yards for the entire game. “He brings so much to our offense, that’s able to see, but it’s who he is in the locker room, as a person and in practice,” Lehmeier said. “He’s probably one of the best practice players I’ve ever had. The chip he has on his shoulder every day to come to work, I love that kid.”

Central Catholic jumped on the Little Lions early by recording two scores midway through the first quarter. Quarterback Jy’aire Walls hit receiver Bradley Gompers for a 40-yard score just two minutes into the game. Four minutes later, Faulkner tallied his first rushing score to make it 14-0 with 6:32 left in the first quarter.

“We knew that they came out and played fast. You try to replicate it in practice, and you can’t until it’s there. We really made that a point of emphasis in practice,” Little Lions coach Matt Lintal said. “Our kids are too nice sometimes, they’re chasing footballs that go over their heads, then the ball is spotted, and (Central Catholic is) throwing the next play.”
Faulkner then put the Vikings ahead by three scores with his second rushing score.

Trailing 21-0, State College quarterback Eddie Corkery led the offense 80 yards for a score. He threw a nice pass that Cooper Brushwood ran under for a 45-yard score. “I thought the quarterback was outstanding. He was making a lot of throws, off platform and on his feet, some across his body, and they were hitting,” Lehmeier said. “Anytime you got a signal caller like that, he can keep you in the game, that kid is a tough out.”

The Little Lions’ defense forced a punt on Central Catholic’s ensuing possession. Corkery started airing it out again to drive his team down the field. He threw a pass on a rope to Hank Lustig for a 28-yard score to get State College within 21-13 with 6:53 left in the first half. Faulkner put the Vikings ahead by three scores again early in the third quarter after he tallied a pair of rushing scores.

Kicker Billy Lech tacked on a pair of field goals — 30 and 35 yards — to set up the final score of the game.

Central Catholic now faces the winner of Harrisburg and Wilson next week in the semifinals at a site, date and time to be determined.
“I think it’s awesome. Obviously, to be able to make it this far in the tournament, you’re doing something right. I’m really proud of these guys’ effort tonight,” Lehmeier said. “It wasn’t easy. There were some crucial fourth downs and some third downs where we had to be on the screws, some went our way and some didn’t. It’s kind of a testament to this team. I just thought the way they responded in those tough moments, I’m really proud of the kids.”

CENTRAL CATHOLIC 41, STATE COLLEGE 19

Friday at Altoona

SCORE BY QUARTERS

State College 0 13 6 0 — 19

Central Catholic 14 14 10 3 — 41

First Quarter

CC–Bradley Gompers 40 pass from Jy’aire Walls (Billy Lech kick), 10:15

CC–Elijah Faulkner 1 run (Lech kick), 6:32

Second Quarter

CC–Faulkner 1 run (Lech kick), 10:46

SC–Cooper Brushwood 45 pass from Eddie Corkery (kick blocked), 8:27

SC–Hank Lustig 28 pass from Corkery (Shane Markowski kick), 4:14

CC–Faulkner 1 run (Lech kick), 2:17

Third Quarter

CC–Faulkner 33 run (Lech kick), 10:17

CC–Lech 30 FG, 5:56

SC–Ty Salazer 7 pass from Corkery (pass failed), :02

Fourth Quarter

CC–Lech 35 FG, 1:37

TEAM STATISTICS SC CC

First downs 15 16

Total yards 278 400

Rushes-yards 19-5 57-287

Yards passing 273 113

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 18-42-4 9-14-0

Punts-avg. 4-15 2-30.5

Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-0

Penalties-yards 7-71 13-125

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–State College, Lamar Wilson 15-34, Corkery 4-(-29). Central Catholic, Faulkner 38-238, Amari Shields 4-34, Roman Thompson 5-25, Chrys Black Jr 1-2, Walls 9-(-12).

PASSING–State College, Corkery 18-42-4-273. Central Catholic, Walls 9-13-0-113.

RECEIVING–State College, Salazar 7-77, Brushwood 3-72, Lustig 2-54, Daimear Coad 1-43, Jake Lukac 2-25, Micael Gaul 1-8, Wilson 2-(-6). Central Catholic, Gombers 2-42, Xxavier Thomas 5-39, Maceo Watkins Jr. 2-32.

INTERCEPTIONS–Central Catholic, Thomas 2, Seamus Mahon, Colsen Gatten.

Records: State College 11-2, Central Catholic 11-2

Next game: State College season complete, Central Catholic vs. Harrisburg/Wilson winner, PIAA Class 6A semifinals, TBD

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