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By Jarrod Prugar
For the Mirror
Altoona's second-half comeback efforts fell short in a 31-20 loss to Cedar Cliff Friday night at Mansion Park.
The Mountain Lions fell behind 21-0 late in the second quarter on three Blake Secrest touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving, before finding the scoreboard on their own.
It was a trick play that saw quarterback Mark Harrington pitch the ball to up-back Parker White, who then found Harrington for a touchdown and to put Altoona on the board.
The Colts managed a third-quarter field goal while Harrington found the scoreboard again for the Lions on a 1-yard rush.
Cedar Cliff thwarted Altoona's comeback efforts with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Bennett Secrest to Julius Tirado on fourth-and-27 to seal the game for the Colts.
Harrington found the end zone again from 3 yards out to round out the scoring for the Mountain Lions.
Play of the game: On fourth-and-27, Bennett Secrest dropped back and found Julius Tirado in the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown pass to put Altoona away for good in the fourth quarter.
Player of the game: Blake Secrest hauled in seven receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for two more.
Unsung hero: Harrington scored three touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving.
Most vital statistic: Cedar Cliff had eight plays of 15 or more yards.
Cedar Cliff coach Colin Gillen: "We're at a point in the year offensively where we have a lot of stuff in, so whatever teams do to us we have an answer. It's just a matter of if we can execute it. And we were able to execute those things and get some first downs and do the things we needed to do to win a game in the end.''
Altoona coach Vince Nedimyer: "First of all, give them credit. They were physical. They controlled the line of scrimmage for the most part. They made a couple third-and-longs and fourth-and-long there. That was a tough one. But give them credit, they made plays when they needed to."
Notable: Eleven Altoona seniors were honored prior to the game for senior night … Logan Wuckovich and Tykear Davis each recorded sacks … With his receiving touchdown, Harrington has now rushed, thrown and caught a touchdown this season … Altoona finished the season winless at home.
Records: Altoona (1-8); Cedar Cliff (4-5).
Next week: Altoona at Carlisle, 7 p.m.; Cedar Cliff hosts Cumberland Valley.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Cedar Cliff 7 14 3 7 -- 31
Altoona 0 6 7 7 -- 20
First Quarter
CC--Bl. Secrest 4 run (Enders kick), 8:18.
Second Quarter
CC--Bl. Secrest 43 pass from Be. Secrest (Enders kick), 5:16.
CC--Bl. Secrest 5 run (Enders kick), 1:13.
A--Harrington 10 pass from White (kick failed), :11
Third Quarter
CC--Enders 24 FG, 7:02.
A--Harrington 1 run (Chathams kick), 3:55
Fourth Quarter
CC--Tirado 30 pass from Be. Secrest (Enders kick), 9:30.
A--Harrington 3 run (Chathams kick), 5:27.
TEAM STATISTICS A CC
First downs 13 13
Total yards 276 409
Rushes-yards 32-189 33-224
Yards passing 87 185
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 4-12-1 10-15-0
Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 3-23 6-50
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Altoona, Harrington 13-60, Staines 10-40, Hazlewood 3-10, Adams 2-42, Ballos 2-31, Patterson 2-6. Cedar Cliff, Dent 21-163, Bl. Secrest 5-17, Be. Secrest 5-34, Otero 1-4, Howell 2-6.
PASSING--Altoona, Harrington 3-11-77, White 1-1-10. Cedar Cliff, Be. Secrest 10-15-185.
RECEIVING--Altoona, Ballos 1-21, Harrington 1-10, Patterson 1-29, Staines 1-27. Cedar Cliff, Bl. Secrest 7-89, Tirado 2-55, Autry 1-31, Schaffner 1-10.