Trending
ROARING SPRING -- Central coach Jerry Albright said it wasn't exactly pretty on Friday night, but the bottom line is the end result.
The Dragons held a 29-14 lead after three quarters, but had to hang on in the end for a 29-27 victory over Huntingdon.
"We were on the other side of this last year, and it feels a heck of a lot better on this side," Albright said.
The game swung when Central fumbled at the Bearcat 2-yard line early in the fourth quarter, and Huntingdon's Reese Hughes picked it up and ran it back 98 yards for a touchdown to make it 29-20.
Rather than kick the extra point to make it a one-possession game, Huntingdon elected to go for the two-point conversion, but couldn't handle the pass that would have given the Bearcats a 7-point deficit.
"I thought we had momentum. We had the play, and it was open. We just didn't execute," Huntingdon coach Tim Lucko said of the two-point conversion.
Huntingdon scored again with 1:31 to play to make it 29-27, but could not convert an onsides kick attempt. Still, the Bearcats had the ball back with 17 seconds to play at their own 24-yard line, and made it to the Central 37 when time expired.
Play of the game: Central receiver Bentley Dickson caught a post over the middle from Muthler for a 24-yard touchdown late in the third quarter that gave the Dragons a 29-14 lead.
Player of the game: Central's Semaj Musei was everything a coach would want in a running back, going for 203 rushing yards on 24 carries and a touchdown. He also took a 37-yard screen pass from QB Jesse Muthler for a touchdown. The only downside was he fumbled twice in the second half.
"He was everything we wanted him to be all year," Albright said. "Getting those tough yards up the middle, breakaway speed when he needs it. We just have to make sure we don't fumble the ball, which we'll get it corrected."
Unsung hero(es): The game won't be remembered for a passing clinic, but give a lot of credit to Muthler. He went 8-for-12 and passed for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
Most vital statistic(s): The two teams were nearly identical in total yards. Huntingdon won that battle, 362-360.
Albright: "I watched Huntingdon now for about three weeks, and I told the kids, 'Don't go by their record. They're getting better week in and week out.' They've gotten significantly better. They're a good ball team. They're still going to win a lot of games. I still think they have a chance to make the playoffs."
Lucko: "Our effort was unbelievable all night for coming to a tough environment like this against a 4-1 team. The way we played and battled, I can't be more proud of our kids tonight."
Musei: "We knew if we beat this team we'd have a pretty good chance to make the playoffs. It's a big win for us. (Huntingdon) is a pretty good team, regardless of their record."
Notable: Central's Cole Marks, who serves as the team's kicker, was injured in the fourth quarter after taking a big hit as a receiver. ... Huntingdon's Cole Lane was tough for the Dragons to bring down. Lane finished with 118 rushing yards on 21 carries and a touchdown, and also caught a 31-yard pass off a wheel route for a score.
Records: Huntingdon (2-4); Central (5-1)
Next week: Both teams are at home. Huntingdon hosts Tyrone, while Central plays Penns Valley.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Huntingdon 7 7 0 13 — 27
Central 0 22 7 0 — 29
First Quarter
H–Dodson 33 pass from Hughes, (Mykut kick), 3:06
Second Quarter
C–Musei 37 pass from Muthler, (Marks kick), 11:08
C–Schenk 2 run, (Marks run), 6:37
H–Lane 9 run, (Mykut kick), 3:31
C–Musei 15 run, (Marks kick), 1:50
Third Quarter
C–Dickson 24 pass from Muthler, (Marks kick), 1:04
Fourth Quarter
H–Hughes 98 fumble return, (pass failed), 10:28
H–Lane 31 pass from Hughes, (Mykut kick), 1:31
TEAM STATISTICS H C
First downs 17 17
Total yards 362 360
Rushes-yards 32-155 35-228
Yards passing 207 132
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 10-22-0 8-12-0
Punts-avg. 3-29 3-25.6
Fumbles-lost 1-0 3-2
Penalties-yards 6-42 5-45
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Huntingdon, Lane 21-118, Hughes 8-27, Dodson 2-13, Emel 1-(-3). Central, Musei 24-203, Schenk 4-16, Myers 1-5, Muthler 6-4.
PASSING--Huntingdon, Hughes 10-22-207-2-0. Central, Muthler 8-12-132-2-0.
RECEIVING--Huntingdon, Carthen 3-79, Dodson 4-63, Emel 2-34, Lane 1-31. Central, Dickson 2-52, Musei 1-37, Decker 3-32, Loucks 1-10, Moushlian 1-1.