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Little Lions defense steps up, shuts down North Allegheny opportunities for the 28-7 win

Tagged under: Centre County Report, District 6, District 7, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

| November 25, 2022

Matt Lintal addresses hig team after the win

They say defense wins games. That’s what they say. Tonight, the State College Little Lions gave that saying credibility and held the North Allegheny offense out of the endzone several times when the Tigers were deep in Little Lion territory. For their efforts, the Little Lions will advance to the PIAA Class 6A semifinal with a solid 28-7 win. “This is super exciting for our kids, our defensive staff put together an excellent game plan and the kids executed it extremely well” said Head Coach Matt Lintal. “We kept them out on a couple short fields and we made plays. Got some key turnovers.”

The State College defense got started early when Cooper Brushwood picked off a pass by Logan Kushner and returned it to the 45 but a penalty put the ball at the State 25. They didn’t score but the next defensive series set up the first score. After a punt that pinned the Tigers on their own two, they forced a three and out and the punt only made it to the 25. On the very first play, Owen Yerka found Michael Gaul for the td pass. The kick was true and the Little Lions led 7-0.

North Allegheny fought back and got a huge play when Kushner found Khiryn Boyd on a play that got the Tigers to the 33 of State College but the Little Lion defense stepped up and forced a field goal attempt that was way short. State then went on an 80 yard drive. D’Antae Sheffey ran for 11 yards, then Finn Furmanek hit Donte Nastasi for a 21 yard gain. Several plays later Furmanek went right up the middle for the 32 yard score to put State up 14-0 with 9:11 remaining in the second. “Once we got those two scores we had to hold on. Last week I didn’t run great, but on that one I just knew when I hit the hole. I just avoided the tackles and went right to the endzone.” said Furmanek.


It didn’t take long for the Little Lions to score again. The defense didn’t stay on the field long after the ensuing kick, forcing another three and out. D’Antae Sheffey ripped off a 49 yard run to the NA 30, then carried three more times for 19 yards to set up a 10 yard td run by Furmanek to put State High up 21-0 with 6:20 left in the half.

The Tigers offense then showed some signs of life and drove 65 yards using a short passing game that gained big chunks of yardage. Kushner finished the drive with a 4 yard run to close the gap to 21-7 at the break.

State College had a chance to get on the board again before the half ended but Boyd made a beautiful interception on the sideline to end the Little Lions drive at the 16. The second half was a bend but don’t break half for State High. After punting the ball away, the Tigers had another scoring opportunity literally slip through their hands. Kushner launched a pass that went through the hands of the receiver near the endzone on third down and couldn’t convert the fourth down. “You can’t leave scoring opportunities on the field against a good team like that” said North Allegheny head coach Art Walker.

On their next drive, the Tigers had good field position but Will Stone got the second of three interceptions for State High, and yet another scoring opportunity appeared and faded when the Tigers blocked a Little Lion punt setting them up at the State 34. Brushwood snagged his second interception of the night with a great tip drill catch to end yet another Tiger scoring opportunity.


The fourth State high interception came on the Tigers next drive. Ty Salazer snagged a long pass by Kushner at the Little Lions 31. Furmanek got State high to the NA 30, then Yerka entered the game at quarterback again and drove the Little Lions the endzone to cap the scoring.

 @MichaelGaul20

State High will face the winner of tomorrow’s game between Harrisburg and Manheim Township.

 

 

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