High School Football

Early State College flurry leads to rout of Altoona

H.S. Football Extra

Two touchdowns in less than 1 minute of play paced the State College Little Lions in a 52-0 rout of the Altoona Mountain Lions Friday night at Mansion Park.

The Little Lions methodically marched down the field on their first drive of the game, culminating in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Connor Kulka to AJ Fry to give them a 7-0 lead with 7:35 left in the first quarter.

Just two plays into the first drive of the game for Altoona, State College linebacker Michael Yourey intercepted a Mekhi Jackson pass and returned it 25 yards to the end zone to set the tone for the visitors.

The Little Lions scored another touchdown, a Rowan Walker run from 1-yard out to round out the scoring in the first quarter set up by a fumbled snap on an Altoona punt. They got a 40-yard field goal from Shane Markowski in the second quarter before another touchdown each from Walker and Fry, respectively.

With the mercy rule in play, State College got a touchdown in each of the final quarters, a 67-yard run from Ka'Ven Smith-Kirk in the third and a Zachary Spicer 69-yard run in the fourth.

Play of the game: Yourey picked off a throw from Jackson on Altoona's first possession of the game and ran it back 25 yards for the touchdown.

Player of the game: State College's Keen Furmanek. He was 2-for-3 for 58 yards and a touchdown in relief of starting quarterback Connor Kulka. Furmanek also rushed three times for 18 yards and had one reception for 5 yards.

Unsung heroes: The State College offensive line helped the Little Lions to 264 yards on the ground

Most vital statistic: State College has shut out five opponents this season.

Altoona coach Vince Nedimyer Jr.: "State college is a really good football team, and we knew that coming in, but we're gonna fight. Give them all the credit. They were prepared. They did the things that they needed to do. I think they're gonna be a team to be reckoned with here for a few weeks. We've got to just refocus. We got two games left that we got to prepare for, and we'll be sad for a night, but tomorrow we move on to Cedar Cliff."

State College coach Matt Lintal: "Turnovers are the name of the game, especially early on to get that momentum. That first drive of ours, I think, was really a tone setter to be able to methodically move it down the field and get the ball in the end zone, and then that turnover with a short field and get another score. The tides turned right then."

Notable: Prior to the game, Altoona honored 24 seniors … Former Altoona and Bucknell standout Greg Geishauser was the honorary captain. His son, Luke, is a captain and senior.

Records: State College (8-0), Altoona (4-4).

Next week: State College hosts Carlisle on Friday, while Altoona travels to Cedar Cliff.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

State College 21 17 7 7--52

Altoona 0 0 0 0--0

First Quarter

SC--Fry 18 pass from Con. Kulka (Markowski kick), 7:35.

SC--Yourey 25 interception return (Markowski kick), 6:43.

SC--Walker 1 run (Markowski kick), 2:04.

Second Quarter

SC--Markowski 40 field goal, 8:15.

SC--Walker 13 run (Markowski kick), 2:07.

SC--Fry 24 pass from Furmanek (Markowski kick), :56.

Third Quarter

SC--Smith-Kirk 67 run (Steffey kick), 5:48. .

Fourth Quarter

SC--Spicer 69 run (Steffey kick), 4:57.

TEAM STATISTICS SC A

First downs 14 4

Total yards 418 116

Rushes-yards 26-264 25-97

Yards passing 154 19

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 10-13-0 4-17-2

Fumbles-lost 3-0 1-1

Penalties-yards 6-40 3-30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--State College, Walker 18-92, Con. Kulka 2-7, Fry 1-19, Furmanek 3-18 Smith-Kirk 4-69, Spicer 1-67. Altoona, Clemons 5-0, Jackson 8-32, Chathams 1-(-3), Triplin 2-2, Nedimyer 1-2, Pike 3-20, Savage 4-32, O'Neal 1-42.

PASSING--State College, Con. Kulka 6-7-0-70, Furmanek 2-3-0-58, Cole Kulka 2-3-0-26. Altoona, Jackson 4-13-2-15, Pike 1-5-0-8, Pyo 1-2-0-5.

RECEIVING--State College, Fry 4-87, Furmanek 1-5, Vendemia 3-36, Ingold 3-68, Setcavage. Altoona, Chathams 1-2, Clemons 1-(-1), Moyer 1-5, Triplin 1-8, Lundy 1-5.