State College Runs Through Central Dauphin East on Senior Night

Tagged under: District 3, District 6, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

Noah Radio | October 11, 2025

It was a busy Friday night in State College, highlighted by the Little Lions’ 39-14 victory over CD East. After State High’s inaugural pregame show wrapped up and fans filed in from the Penn State Homecoming Parade, State High Football and senior running back D’Antae Sheffey took center stage.

Sheffey racked up four rushing touchdowns, starting with a 13-yarder for the first score of the game. CD East’s only offensive bright spot, Anthony Chase, tied it up with a 5-yard quarterback run for a touchdown with 1:36 left in the first quarter. After one, the game was surprisingly competitive, tied 7-7.

State College absolutely exploded in the second quarter. Two interceptions by junior AJ Fry, two more Sheffey touchdowns, and a touchdown connection from sophomore quarterback Connor Kulka to senior Daimear Coad put the Little Lions up 27-7 at halftime. After his big night, Fry credited the defensive coaching staff for getting his side of the ball ready.

“Honestly, it was all our coaches’ scheme, all week we’d been working hard at it. This was one of our best practice weeks, so definitely Coach [Mark] Baney and other Coach [Matt] Baney,” Fry said.

Both offenses looked shaky out of the gate in the second half. On its second possession of the half, CD East wound up punting from its own one-yard line, and senior Hank Lustig made them pay with a return all the way down to the four. One play later, Sheffey scored his fourth touchdown of the night and State College was ahead 33-7.

Similarly to Fry, Sheffey didn’t take much credit for his huge performance. “Definitely the o-line, the o-line unlocked it all, the playcalling and everything too,” Sheffey said.

Kulka picked up another touchdown in the fourth quarter, a six-yard connection with senior Jake Lukac, and CD East added another score as well, but neither had any bearing on the game. The second half was largely focused on State High’s seniors and giving them a proper Memorial Field send off.

Fry, as an underclassman, called the night “emotional,” and Sheffey said his final home game with his brother Anthony, State High’s starting right tackle, was “a night he’ll never forget.”

Head Coach Matt Lintal also gave his take on senior night: “It is special. I’ll never forget walking off Memorial Field as a player for the last time. You know, I hope those guys really take that deep breath, enjoy the blessing that we have of this stadium, the crowd, the band, the cheerleaders, and just the opportunity that we have to be out here and play as a football team, represent our school, represent our town.”

After this emotional victory, the Little Lions shift their focus to Carlisle. The Thundering Herd just fell to 0-8 with a blowout loss to Cedar Cliff, but the theme of the State High postgame conversation was rigorous preparation.

“Wins don’t just happen, they won’t fall into place by rolling balls out and showing up. They happen because you’ve prepared for them, so we’re gonna keep that same mentality,” Lintal said.

While State College travels to Carlisle, CD East will continue a brutal three-game stretch by taking on Bishop McDevitt, before facing Harrisburg on the road to close its season.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews