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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Hollidaysburg hasn't shown any signs of slowing down in what has been a special season so far.
The Golden Tigers rushed for 280 yards and scored seven touchdowns on the ground Friday night en route to a 57-14 demolition of Selinsgrove at Tiger Stadium.
Hollidaysburg's 7-1 start is the best for the program in 25 years, matching the 1999 team, which finished 9-1.
"These guys have paid their dues," coach Homer DeLattre said. "A lot of guys are three-year starters. A lot of these guys last year battled six state quarterfinal teams out of 10 games.
"They're battled tested. All of their hard work is paying off and that's what is so awesome about it. I am blessed to be their coach."
The Tigers can match the 1999 team's victory total with wins in their final two regular season games.
"We're all excited about our start," senior running back Mitchell Baronner said. "I think we have a chance to finish strong and make it into the state playoffs, and go farther than everyone here has made it in some time."
Baronner rushed for 95 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns against the Seals.
Quarterback Maddox Bainey also rushed for two touchdowns, and backup Cole DeLattre added another. Backup running backs Carter Muth and Will Kordish added touchdowns on the ground, and Muth had another called back because of a penalty.
"We were able to run the ball successfully, with just a couple adjustments with our running backs and a few things up front, and that really helped," Homer DeLattre said. "We used our tight-end sets to run the ball for the first time this year. I was really proud of the offensive line and our backs."
Play of the game: With the score tied at 7 in the first quarter, Selinsgrove snapped the ball over punter Noah Walter's head and out of the end zone for a safety. Hollidaysburg took a 9-7 lead and never trailed again.
Player of the game: Bainey. He rushed for 50 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns, and also completed 15 of 20 passes for 173 yards and another score -- a 25-yard pass to wide receiver Brady Steiner in the third quarter.
Unsung hero: Sophomore lineman Spencer Davis. He was honored in a pregame ceremony along with many others who helped revive him after he went into sudden cardiac arrest during a practice Sept. 18 and was rushed by ambulance to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh. His father Dave, who serves as the stadium's public address announcer, said his son experienced a medical emergency similar to what happened to Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills. "I would like to thank coach DeLattre and (assistant coaches) Joe Montrella, Rodney Chism and Adam Walstrom and (trainer) Amy Smearman for all their quick actions in helping save Spencer," he said. "We couldn't be more thankful." His wife, Jennifer, said her son will undergo more testing in the next month.
Most vital statistic: Hollidaysburg held Selinsgrove to just 101 yards offense and four first downs and beat the Seals for the first time in four tries.
Notable: Gavin Bell picked off his seventh pass of the year for Hollidaysburg, setting up a touchdown. He also had a team-high six catches for 64 yards. ... Cristian White, Joseph Richardson and Joseph Keefer had sacks for the Tigers. ... Hollidaysburg has won five consecutive home games dating to last season, outscoring its opponents, 214-62. ... Selinsgrove scored a touchdown on its first possession as a Baronner fumble set up a 14-yard run by Jarrod Bullington. ... Gavin Bastian returned a punt 91 yards late in the first half to cut the Tigers' lead to 22-14 at halftime, but Hollidaysburg outscored the Seals 35-0 in the second half while triggering a running clock.
Records: Selinsgrove (4-4); Hollidaysburg (7-1).
Next week: Butler hosts Berwick; Hollidaysburg hosts Williamsport.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Selinsgrove 7 7 0 0 -- 14
Hollidaysburg 9 13 14 21 -- 57
First Quarter
S--Bullington 14 run (Walter kick), 6:53.
H--Baronner 7 run (Wedel kick), 2:58.
H--Safety, ball snapped out of end zone, :31.
Second Quarter
H--Muth 2 run (Wedel kick), 10:59.
H--Bainey 3 run (Pass failed), 4:33.
S--Bastian 91 punt return (Walter kick), :47.
Third Quarter
H--Baronner 1 run (Wedel kick), 7:41.
H--Steiner 25 pass from Bainey (Wedel kick), 4:02.
Fourth Quarter
H--Bainey 4 run (Wedel kick), 10:42.
H--DeLattre 67 run (Wedel kick), 7:34.
H--Kordish 14 run (Peters kick), 2:14.
TEAM STATISTICS S H
First downs 4 26
Total yards 101 453
Rushes-yards 30-61 50-280
Yards passing 40 173
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 6-10-1 15-20-0
Punts-avg. 4-35.8 1-48.0
Fumbles-lost 3-2 5-1
Penalties-yards 5-40 4-45
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Selinsgrove, Miller 13-36, Bastian 3-35, Bullington 2-15, Gesummaria 5-11, Martinez 1-2, Amato 3-(-21), Kendziorski 1-(-3). Mitchell 1-(-2), Team 1-(-12). Hollidaysburg, Baronner 20-95, Bainey 15-50, DeLattre 4-58, Muth 7-43, Kordish 3-29, Morningstar 1-5.
PASSING--Selinsgrove, Amato 6-10-1 40 yards. Hollidaysburg, Bainey 15-20-0-173.
RECEIVING--Selinsgrove, Bastian 5-55, Miller 1-5. Hollidaysburg, Bell 6-64, DeLattre 4-48, Steiner 2-33, Albarano 2-32, Baronner 1-(-4).