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State blanks Mountain Lions

Photo for the Mirror by Chuck Meyers SC’s Trevor Beck intercepts a pass intended for Dom Clouser.

After a slow start, State College exploded for 27 second-quarter points en route to a 48-0 victory over the Altoona Mountain Lions in a Mid-Penn Conference Commonwealth Division game Friday night at Mansion Park.

The senior night defeat dropped Altoona’s Mid-Penn record to 0-6. The Mountain Lions are 1-8 overall. State, bouncing back from last week’s loss to Central Dauphin, improved to 5-1 in league play and 8-1 overall.

Play of the game: State QB Brady Dorner hit Isaiah Edwards with a 24-yard TD pass in the first quarter to get the Little Lions rolling.

Player of the game: SC’s Dresyn Green scored three touchdowns — runs of 7 and 24 yards and a 48-yard interception return. He rushed for 88 yards on 11 carries.

Unsung hero: Dorner completed 11-of-13 passes for 153 yards, three TDs and no picks.

Key statistics: State had no turnovers and didn’t punt.

State College coach Matt Lintal: “Credit to Altoona the way they came out, started the game, and kept our offense off the field. But, once our kids got going, we controlled things. I was proud of our guys and we’ve got to continue to pick up the intensity.

“We have a few playmakers — Dresyn Green, Isaiah Edwards, (William) Howell, Brady Dorner — and it’s nice when they can get out in space and make some things happen.

“I think coach Nedimyer is doing a good job. It’s tough getting that (veer) offense going in one year and I was pleased to see the character they played with till the last whistle.”

Altoona coach Vince Nedimyer Jr.: “We said as a staff we thought we played better (tonight). They got a couple quick scores and I told the kids it’s the same thing: we’ve got to eliminate those things, especially throughout the off season.

“The scoreboard is what it is, but even down 34-0, we felt (we were playing better). We have to eliminate mistakes and that comes with maturity and we’ve been talking about it all year.

“Give credit to all of our seniors. We love all nine of them. They’ve been here and have been good leaders.”

Altoona kicker Andrew Eisel on his high school football experience: “This season hasn’t gone the way we wanted it to, but playing in Altoona and at Mansion Park is something I’ll cherish the rest of my life. And, the word Mountain Lion on my chest is something to be proud of. I’ve loved every second of playing football here.”

Familiar face: Former Penn State and Northern Bedford High School standout athlete Joe Nastasi is a State College assistant coach. Nastasi’s son, also named Joe, is a 6-foot, 225-pound defensive lineman for the Little Lions. Young Nastasi is an outstanding baseball pitcher for SC, too.

Notable: One of Altoona’s all-time great gridders, Ed Flanagan, who later starred at Purdue before playing 12 pro seasons, including 10 with the Detroit Lions, was the Mountain Lions’ honorary captain. Flanagan recently was named one of the top 100 players in Detroit’s NFL history. … Senior football players, cheerleaders and band personnel were introduced at halftime. There were only nine senior football players.

Records: Altoona (0-6 in Mid-Penn, 1-8 overall). State College (5-1 in the Mid-Penn and 8-1 overall).

Next week: Altoona finishes its season next Saturday afternoon at Harrisburg. State wraps up Mid-Penn play against Cumberland Valley next Saturday at Beaver Stadium — “a super special opportunity for our kids,” Lintal said.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

State College 7 27 7 7 — 48

Altoona 0 0 0 0 — 0

First Quarter

SC–Edwards 24 pass from Dorner (Spitler kick), 5:05.

Second Quarter

SC–Green 7 run (Spitler kick), 11:07.

SC–Howell 10 pass from Dorner (Spitler kick), 8:07.

SC–Edwards 27 pass from Dorner (Spitler kick), 2:56.

SC–Green 48 interception return (kick failed), 0:57.

Third Quarter

SC–Green 24 run (Spitler kick), 2:59.

Fourth Quarter

SC–Moore 36 run (Spitler kick), 9:10.

TEAM STATISTICS SC A

First downs 17 12

Total yards 374 171

Rushes-yards 21-202 41-97

Yards passing 172 74

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 13-17-0 5-8-2

Punts-avg. 0 4-33

Fumbles-lost 0 2-0

Penalties-yards 6-65 6-40

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–State College, Green 11-88, Howell 3-42, Moore 3-37, Edwards 4-35. Altoona, Day 10-40, Stroup 9-21, Murray 6-17, Port 5-13, Dokes 2-10, McCaulley 2-2, Kelly 2-1, Steinbugl 4-(-1), TEAM 1(-6).

PASSING–State College, Dorner 11-13-0-153, Moore 2-4-0-19. Altoona, Day 5-8-2-97.

RECEIVING–State College, Edwards 5-84, Howell 4-54, Lusk 3-32, Anderson 1-2. Altoona, Clouser 2-40, Pheasant 1-22, Robinson 1-6, Hileman 1-6.

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