Central Beats Greater Johnstown on Diving Effort by QB Jesse Muthler
Tagged under: District 6, Gameday Hub, News, pfn
Hunter Myers | August 29, 2025
ROARING SPRING — Central Quarterback Jesse Muthler rushed for a 6 yard touchdown with 12 seconds left to beat the Greater Johnstown Trojans 14 – 6. A defensive matchup reminiscent of old school smashmouth football led way to an exciting 4th quarter.
Johnstown and Central began the game by trading drives that stalled out, with the Trojans gaining 37 yards before a turnover on downs and Central driving for 49 yards before an interception by Trojans DB Walter Anderson. This interception put Johnstown on their own 32, where their drive was stifled out by penalties. Penalties were the story of the first half, as both teams had multiple false starts and personal fouls which were costly for the offenses.
Following another drive by Central which ended on the opposing Johnstown 19 after two incomplete passes on 3rd and 4th down, the Trojans turned the ball over on downs for a second time. At halftime, the game remained 0-0 with both teams having minimal success.
The third quarter would be more of the same. It began with Central QB Jesse Muthler would find WR JJ Moushlian for a 10 yard gain, however ended with Muthler’s second interception of the night, this time by DB Anthony Marisa. Johnstown could not capitalize on the turnovers, as this drive would be stopped by a false start and two incomplete passes by QB Ranson Goggans.
After one more faulty drive by each team, Central entered the 4th quarter threatening and RB Coltin Harbaugh quickly scored the games opening points on a 5 yard run, making it 6-0 in favor of the Dragons.
Central RB Colton Harbaugh makes it 6 – 0 Central with 11:55 in the 4th quarter. @PaFootballNews @CentralDragonFB pic.twitter.com/qXn67yRY6K
— Hunter Myers (@HunterMyerspfn) August 30, 2025
Central, looking to end the game tried an onside kick which gave Johnstown the ball on the 49 yard line. Johnstown QB Ranson Goggans found Ronnison Edwards for a 30 yard bomb, putting the Trojans on the 1 yard line.
Huge pass from Goggans to Edward’s to put Johnstown on the 1 yard line. Central leads 6 – 0 with 8:51 left in the game. @GJSDAthletics @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/JzlGBzhyJI
— Hunter Myers (@HunterMyerspfn) August 30, 2025
Following this pass, Goggans ran in his QB sneak from 1 yard out, to tie the score at 6 with 8:39 remaining.
Goggans 1 yard QB scramble to tie the game at 6. 8:39 left in the 4th quarter. @PaFootballNews @GJSDAthletics pic.twitter.com/uNeiApFHDL
— Hunter Myers (@HunterMyerspfn) August 30, 2025
To end the game, Central went on a 8:20 long drive which spanned 17 plays and travelled 67 yards capped by an insane diving play by QB Jesse Muthler. This was followed by an easy throw by Muthler to Dickson for the two point conversion, all but ending the game, putting Central up 14 – 6 with 19 seconds remaining.
🚨GAME WINNER🚨 JESSE MUTHLER DIVING SCORE FOR THE GAME. Central leads 14 to 6 with 12 seconds remaining. @CentralDragonFB @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/IOlcAMIkYa
— Hunter Myers (@HunterMyerspfn) August 30, 2025
Johnstown fumbled the next snap ending the game, Central 14, Johnstown 6.
Muthler would post 104 yards passing while rushing for 23 yards and a very important touchdown. When asked about his game winning dive, he said “I honestly didn’t think I was in”, but in he was, as the Dragons will improve to 1-1 on the season. Meanwhile, Johnstown falls to 0-2 in 2025.
Semaj Musei rushed for 119 yards for the Dragons, the best game of his career. WR JJ Moushlian added 5 receptions for 37 yards in a slow night for the Dragons offense.
For the Trojans, Ranson Goggans passed for 126 yards while rushing for 42 yards and a the Trojans only touchdown. Ronnison Edwards added 2 receptions for 61 yards.
The Greater Johnstown Trojans (0-2) will travel to play Somerset (0-2) next week in a battle of teams looking for their first win of 2025. Meanwhile the Central Scarlett Dragons (1-1) will stay at home for a rivalry game against Tyrone (1-1).
Scoring Summary:
Greater Johnstown -0-0-0-6 — 6
Central -0-0-0-14 — 14
1st Quarter:
None
2nd Quarter:
None
3rd Quarter:
None
4th Quarter:
# 12 C. Harbaugh 5 yard run. Central 6 – 0 11:55
#1 R. Goggans 1 yard run. Greater Johnstown 6 – 6 8:39
#4 J. Muthler 6 yard run. J Muthler 2 yd pass to #9 B Dickson for 2 pt conversion. Central 14 – 6 0:19
Box Score:
| Greater Johnstown | ||||||
| Passing | ||||||
| # | Name | Completions | Attempts | Yards | TD’s | INT’s |
| 1 | Ranson Goggans | 11 | 22 | 126 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 11 | 22 | 126 | 0 | 0 | |
| Rushing | ||||||
| # | Name | Attempts | Yards | TD’s | ||
| 1 | Ranson Goggans | 13 | 42 | 1 | ||
| 2 | Cordell Porter | 10 | 59 | 0 | ||
| 6 | Walter Anderson | 1 | -4 | 0 | ||
| 14 | Stephon Hill-Goodman | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 25 | 97 | 1 | |||
| Receiving | ||||||
| 2 | Cordell Porter | 4 | 40 | 0 | ||
| 11 | Ronnison Edwards | 2 | 61 | 0 | ||
| 12 | Hunter Bowser | 1 | -2 | 0 | ||
| 14 | Stephon Hill-Goodman | 4 | 27 | 0 | ||
| Total | 11 | 126 | 0 | |||
| Central | ||||||
| Passing | ||||||
| # | Name | Completions | Attempts | Yards | TD’s | INT’s |
| 2 | Carter Schenk | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Jesse Muthler | 9 | 22 | 104 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 10 | 23 | 109 | 0 | 2 | |
| Rushing | ||||||
| # | Name | Attempts | Yards | TD’s | ||
| 1 | Semaj Musei | 17 | 119 | 0 | ||
| 2 | Carter Schenk | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 4 | Jesse Muthler | 3 | 23 | 1 | ||
| 12 | Coltin Harbaugh | 8 | 37 | 1 | ||
| Total | 33 | 179 | 2 | |||
| Receiving | ||||||
| # | Name | Receptions | Yards | TD’s | ||
| 4 | Jesse Muthler | 1 | 9 | 0 | ||
| 9 | Bentley Dickson | 1 | 7 | 0 | ||
| 10 | JJ Moushlian | 5 | 37 | 0 | ||
| 12 | Coltin Harbaugh | 2 | 30 | 0 | ||
| 20 | Brooks Decker | 1 | 14 | 0 | ||
| 25 | Cole Marks | 1 | 12 | 0 | ||
| Total | 11 | 109 | 0 | |||
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