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PIAA Distrct II Championship: Harrisburg Rallies to Classic Overtime Win Over Manheim Twp.

Tagged under: District 3, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

| November 25, 2023

Harrisburg rallies from a 28-7 deficit, in dramatic fashion, to capture 3rd straight District III 6A Champonship.

 

MANHEIM TWP-  Trailing 28-7 early in the third quarter Friday night, Harrisburg rallied to capture their their third straight District II 6A title in an improbable 34-28 win over Manheim Township 34-28 in overtime at Gene Kruis Field on a cold evening in front of a full house at Memorial Stadium.

Behind quarterback Shawn Lee Jr’s 121 yards on 15 touches rushing after the Blue Streaks held him to just 17 yards in the first half, the Cougars regrouped after half to secure the game. Lee ripped off a 80 yard run early in the third quarter to set his team up at the two, where he powered his way in to start the rally with 9:25 left in the third quarter.


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The Blue Streaks seemed to have the game under control in the first half as quarterback Hayden Johnson scored from a yard out to start the scoring barrage at the 8:14 mark of the first quarter. On a 4th-and-seven from the Cougar 16 yard line Johnson found Asher Wolfe is the back of the end zone to extend the lead to 14-0 with 11:46 left before halftime.

Harrisburg cut the lead in half at the 3:45 mark as a Neamiah Ewell run from inside the Manheim 5 resulted in a fumble, but sophomore lineman Kevin Brown recovered the ball in the end zone to make it 14-7. Then with just three seconds left before intermission Johnson connected with Nick Palumbo for a Blue Streak score and a 21-7 lead as the teams headed for the locker room.

The Blue Streaks took possession to start the second half and promptly advanced to ball to the Harrisburg ten yard line, where Johnson capped of the drive for what looked like an insurmountable 28-7 lead with 10:36 left in the third quarter. The drive was setup by a 68 yard Declan Clancy run down the sidelines to set the home team up deep inside Cougar territory.

Harrisburg’s defense stepped up its pressure in Johnson in the second half, after going 14-of-16 in the first half and throwing for 140 yards and two scores, he was held  to just 2-for-7 and 15 yards in the second half. Back-to-back sacks by Ryan Epps for 21 yards on the streaks second possession in the second half.

A 54 yard Manheim punt, put the Cougar offense backed up on their own one, but a 12-play 99 yard drive ensued, aided by a facemask call on Manheim and a pass interference call. Lee would call his own number from a yard out to make it 28-13 as the conversion was no good at the 9:25 mark of the third quarter.

Neamiah Ewell would make it a one-score game with a determined 15 yard run at the 9:59 mark of the final stanza at 28-20 and made for the dramatic finish to conclude a contest that would see its fair share yellow flags down the stretch.

With Manhiem leading 28-20 nearing the six minute mark, A nifty punt return by Jaylon Lewis, of Harrisburg, placed the ball at the Township 25. Ewell, converted a fourth-and-two at the seven yard line, as he pushed the pile to the four. Then with just twenty-three seconds left Lee completed a four yard pass to Elias Coke in the corner if the end zone to bring the Cougars to within two points. On the conversion they ran the same play-with the same results Lee-to-Coke and tied the score at 28 as the game would enter the overtime format.

Harrisburg won the toss to start the extra session and decided to go on offense first. Ewell picked up eight yards to start the drive from the ten, Ewell would then go off the right side on the next play for a 34-28 lead, but a high snap on the point-after and the kick went awry.

On the  Blue Streak’s possession. Declan Clancy was shut down on first down for no gain. On second down a Johnson had Palumbo open, but a great play by Lee forced an incomplete pass . Johnson only managed a yard on third down.

Facing a fourth-and-goal from the nine, after a tipped ball, WR Landon Kennel came down with what looked like a touchdown, but it was ruled as incomplete, though an official explanation was not given as a  penalty on the play gave the Blue Streak’s another shot. A Harrisburg pass interference call at the goal line would give Manheim another chance. Johnson decided to fire a pass to Palumbo in the corner of the end zone, but Quincy Brannon would knock the ball away giving Harrisburg the win.

Harrisburg (12-1) will face North Allegheny (12-1) next week at a site and time TBA in the state 6A semi-final, with a trip to Cumberland Valley on the line for a state championship bid on the line. North Allegheny dominated McDowell 41-7 Friday.


Harrisburg coach Calvin Everett had this to say about his team’s win last night;


 

 

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