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Harrisburg Qualifies For District Playoffs With Win Over State College @_officialquise @roderickRogers0

Tagged under: Centre County Report, District 3, District 6, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| October 26, 2020

Photo By: Mark Helbley

Monday night’s game between the Harrisburg Cougars and State College Little Lion was an important one for the Cougars as they needed one more game to be able to play in the playoffs. The Cougars came into this game 3-0 and looking for the fourth win. With an early offensive attack and a very strong defense, the Cougars were able to hold the Little Lions to just six points and forced four turnovers, while the offense racked up 41 points on the night.

The Cougars offense came out attacking in the first half of the game. Led by Senior quarterback John McNeil the Cougars offense drove right down the field and was capped off by a McNeil four-yard keeper. The point-after attempt by McNeil was good, making the score 7-0 Cougars to start the game. State College’s offense came onto the field and the Cougars defense forced the first turnover of the game. Markii Strawbridge intercepted the Lions quarterback and the very next play McNeil hit Marquise Mcmillian from 40 yards out for the quick score. This would be McNeil and McMillian’s first touchdown connection of the night. The point-after attempt by McNeil was good, giving the Cougars a 14-0 lead early in the game. The Little Lions couldn’t find an offensive groove throughout the night and were forced to punt the ball away. The Cougars took advantage of this and McNeil hit Strawbridge for a huge 52 yard gain down to the Little Lions 18 yard line. A few plays later Sophomore Jaylon Johnston took the ball from one yard out for another Cougars touchdown. The point-after attempt was no good making the score 20-0 Cougars.

Photo By: Mark Helbley

To start the second quarter the Little Lions were forced to punt to the Cougars and once again they wasted no time driving down the field and scoring. With 8:21 seconds to go in the half, McNeil found Mcmillian for their second touchdown connection of the night, this time from 12 yards out. The point-after attempt by McNeil was good, making the score 27-0 Cougars. State College couldn’t find any breathing room. After the kickoff by the Cougars, the Little Lions fumbled for the third turnover of the night. Thankfully for the Little Lions, the Cougars offense halted and gave the ball back on a failed fourth-down conversion. However, the Little Lions wouldn’t hold the ball long as on a trick play the quarterback handed it to the running back and he heaved it down the field just for it to be intercepted by Sameir Barton of the Cougars. There wouldn’t be another score in the second quarter bringing the halftime score to 27-0 Cougars.

Photo By: Mark Helbley

To open the second half the Cougars received the ball and just like in the first half they wasted no time driving down the field and scoring. This time it was a 15-yard touchdown by Freshman Ameer Grandberry. The point-after attempt was good pushing the Cougars lead to 34-0. Again, the Little Lions struggled on offense and punted the ball back to the Cougars. The Little Lions defense would hold the Cougars as they managed to get into the red zone but failed to get any points on the board. The Little Lions were excited to stop the Cougars offense from scoring but it was more than just the offense that scored tonight. After a handoff, the Cougars defense swarmed the ball and managed to get a fumble and it was returned for a touchdown by Senior Roderick Rogers of the Cougars touchdown. The Little Lions would manage to find the endzone late in the game when Sophomore quarterback Finn Furmanek scampered in from 21 yards out. The two-point conversion failed to bring the final score to 41-6 Cougars. 

With the win, tonight Harrisburg moved to 4-0 on the season and qualified for the District three, 6-A playoffs. The Cougars will be the number one seed going in. For State College, they drop to 2-3 on the year and have one remaining game on their schedule against Chambersburg on November 6th.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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