Elias Coke
HARRISBURG — Harrisburg football is likely one of the top-tier groups in the state and whereas Altoona gave a scrappy and decided effort, it in the end fell, 45-7, on Saturday afternoon.
The mighty Cougar offense roared for 474 yards of offense in the rout, whereas their protection, led by a pair Penn State commits — Messiah Mickens and Kevin Brown — stymied the Mountain Lion assault many of the contest and restricted their manufacturing to a paltry 132 yards.
Play of the sport: The Cougars seized management in the second quarter when Yizreal Mitchell scooped up a fumble and darted 25 yards to paydirt. The defensive rating got here moments after a Cody Chathams interception and swung momentum again in Harrisburg’s favor for good.
Player of the sport: Rutgers-bound Elias Coke hauled in 9 passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns. Cougar quarterback Mikal Shank was efficient, finishing 21 of 26 passes for 4 scores and 275 yards.
Unsung heroes: Some Mountain Lions who didn’t again down regardless of the overwhelming impediment offered included Michael Colyer and Luke Geishauser, who every recorded a pair of tackles-for-loss. Julian Hazlewood returned the opening kickoff 71 yards, and Cody Chathams hauled in a 59-yard move to arrange Altoona’s solely rating.
Most important statistics: The Cougars averaged greater than 9 yards per snap whereas changing 5 of 9 third downs. Altoona didn’t convert its first six third down makes an attempt.
Harrisburg coach Calvin Everett: “Our kids did a good job responding to adversity. So I am proud of them,” (referring to an early cease his protection made after Hazlewood’s massive kickoff return gave the Mountain Lions an early purple zone alternative). “We just had to get our feet wet and play some cooler football.”
Altoona coach Vince Nedimyer Jr.: “We knew the opponents we were coming to. I couldn’t be prouder of our effort, especially on the defensive side of the ball. (a unit which intercepted two passes and recorded five negative plays).”
Cougar receiver Coke on his three TD catches: “The first one was a slant, ran it, caught it — easy. Then they went back to me a ‘go-ball’, they were in a cover-2 look so I just ran right past (the defender) and the other I was just open in the corner so (Shank) just threw it to me.”
Mountain Lion senior again Hazlewood on his opening kickoff return: “We wanted to come out strong. I saw the gap and just took it, it felt good to get a good start and some early momentum.”
Notable: Harrisburg prolonged its common season profitable streak to 9 video games relationship again to final season and has received these video games by a median margin of 29 factors.
Records: Harrisburg improved to 7-0 and is sitting on the highest spot in the District 3 6A energy rankings. Altoona dropped to 2-5.
Next week: Harrisburg travels to Cumberland Valley (3-4) this Friday whereas Altoona hosts Chambersburg (3-4).
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Altoona 0 0 7 0 — 7
Harrisburg 8 16 14 7 — 45
First Quarter
H–Lewis 6 move from Shank (Lewis run), 4:06.
Second Quarter
H–Mitchell 25 fumble return (Russell fumble restoration in finish zone), 9:45.
H–Coke 37 move from Shank (Lewis run), 6:42.
Third Quarter
H–Coke 39 move from Shank (Everett kick), 9:42.
A–Hazlewood 2 run (Chathams kick), 7:48.
H–Coke 21 move from Shank (Everett kick), 0:54.
Fourth Quarter
H–Johnson 67 run (Everett kick), 6:07.
TEAM STATISTICS A H
First downs 8 19
Rush-yards 26-23 26-199
Passing yards 109 275
Comp-att-int. 7-13-0 21-26-2
Total yards 132 474
Punts-avg. 5-25.6 1-29
Fumbles-lost 5-2 1-1
Penalties-yards 2-20 10-100
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING–Altoona, Clemons 6-28, Wolfe 6-18, Hazlewood 4-7, Beegle 1-2, Baer 1-2, Piccoitti 1-1, Jackson 4-(-1), Chathams 1-(-5), TEAM 2-(-19). Harrisburg, Dent 9-108, Johnson 4-78, Brown 1-5, Shank 1-5, Coke 2-4, Sinkler 1-(-1).
PASSING–Altoona, Jackson 7-13-0-109. Harrisburg, Shank 21-26-2-275.
RECEIVING–Altoona, Chathams 2-66, Clemons 2-26, Chisolm 1-17, Baer 1-4, Hazlewood 1-(-4); Harrisburg, Coke 9-150, Sinkler 3-43, Russell 3-27, Lewis 3-18, Walker 2-31, Dent 1-(-4).