Trending
By Ron Musselman
For The Mirror
ROARING SPRING --Central senior Lukas Black isn't your prototypical middle linebacker.
He is just 5-foot-9, 170 pounds.
"He's amazing," Central coach Jerry Albright said. "He's undersized. He's not the fastest guy, but he's the guy that probably watches the most film out of anybody on our team.
"He does all the little things that he has to do to be successful."
On Friday night, Black was at his best at Roaring Spring Athletic Field.
He intercepted two passes in the second quarter and returned both for touchdowns as the Scarlet Dragons cruised to a 40-6 victory over winless Penns Valley in a Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference game.
Black's first return came on the first play of the second quarter when he picked off an errant pass from Penns Valley's Colby Miller and returned it 8 yards for the score.
On the Rams' next possession, Black stepped in front of another Miller pass and returned it 83 yards for a touchdown to give Central a 26-6 lead.
Black stiff-armed a Penns Valley defender near the 10-yard line, drawing some nice applause from the big crowd on homecoming night.
"I was thinking I better not get caught (from behind) or I would hear it from my dad," Black said, smiling. "I said, 'I got to get moving,' and that's when I put the stiff-arm out there."
Play of the game: Black's two interception returns helped seal Central's second consecutive win.
Player of the game: Black. He started at outside linebacker last year and moved to the middle this year after Hunter Smith, The Mirror's player of the year, graduated.
Black, who is averaging 12 tackles a game this season, said Smith had a big influence on him.
"I learned a lot from Hunter last year," Black said. "He was a great role model, a great guy to learn from."
Unsung hero: Senior wide receiver Jay Hoenstine had eight catches for 102 yards, including touchdown catches of 21 and 39 yards from Eli Muthler. Hoenstine also caught a 23-yard pass from Muthler's younger brother, freshman Jesse, in the fourth quarter.
Most vital statistic: In addition to Black's two picks, Eli Muthler also intercepted a pass on the first series of the game. A short time later, he tossed a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Detterline on a fourth-down play.
Notable: Central's Colten Harbaugh scored the Dragon's final touchdown on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter. ... Penns Valley's lone score came on on a 35-yard pass from Miller --subbing for injured starter Carter Ironside -- to Spencer Althouse. ... Bronson Myers had a sack for the Dragons ... Dessa Boyles was crowned the homecoming queen and Nate Fogle the king in a pregame ceremony.
Records: Penns Valley (0-7); Central (5-2).
Next week: Penns Valley hosts Somerset; Central hosts Bedford.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Penns Valley 6 0 0 0 - 6
Central 12 21 0 7 - 40
First Quarter
C-Detterline 5 pass from E. Muthler (Kick failed), 9:11.
C-Hoenstine 21 pass from E. Muthler (Run failed), 6:27.
PV-Althouse 35 pass from Miller (Kick failed), 2:29.00
Second Quarter
C-Black 8 interception return (Hummel kick), 11:50.
C-Black 83 interception return (Steele kick), 2:05.
C-Hoenstine 39 pass from E. Muthler (Hummel kick), :23.
Fourth Quarter
C-Harbaugh 1 run (Steele kick), 3:51.
TEAM STATISTICS PV C
First downs 13 11
Total yards 220 230
Rushes-yards 32-86 13-23
Yards passing 134 207
Pass (comp.-att.-int.) 13-26-3 14-26-0
Punts/avg. 4-28.0 3-32.7
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-yards 8-75 7-75
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Penns Valley, Shelley 18-67, Shawver 7-14, Stover 5-12, Garson 1-0, Miller 1(-7), Central, Beach 4-19, Mickel 3-13, Knisely 2-1. Muthler 2-(-7), J. Muthler 2(-3).
PASSING-Penns Valley, Miller 13-26-3-134. Central, E. Muthler 13-25-0-184, J. Muthler 1-1-0-23.
RECEIVING-Penns Valley, F. Ironside 5-70, Althouse 6-60, Wasson 2-4. Central, Hoenstine 8-102, Beach 2-65, Baird 2-25, Mickel 1-10, Detterline 1-5.