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CAMP HILL -- The Altoona Mountain Lions took control from the first possession of the game and never looked back in a 44-14 win over the Cedar Cliff Colts Friday night at West Shore Stadium.
The Mountain Lions, led by junior quarterback Mekhi Jackson, methodically drove 68 yards down the field needing only 10 plays to find the end zone for the first time against the Colts. Jackson capped off the drive that lasted just under 6 minutes with a 13-yard run to give Altoona a 7-0 lead.
Just one play later, the Mountain Lions found themselves with the ball in their hands again courtesy of a fumble by Cedar Cliff's Blake Secrist.
Altoona gave the ball to Myzick Clemons, who took it 27 yards for a touchdown on the next play to go up 14-0.
The Mountain Lions scored on each of their five first-half possessions, including a 28-yard field goal by George DelBaggio, two rushing touchdowns from Jackson, another from Clemons and a 34-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Aidyn Lundy to enter the half up 31-7.
The lone Cedar Cliff touchdown in the first half was a 40-yard pass from Christian Gray to Blake Secrest, and the Colts scored another on a 5-yard run by Landon Howell with 1:55 left in the third quarter to cut it to a 31-14 game.
Altoona responded with Clemons' second touchdown, a 2-yard run and a 26-yard run by Brayden Pike to round out the 44-14 score.
Play of the game: Jackson found Noah Stump for a 34-yard reception to set the Mountain Lions up with their fourth touchdown of the first half.
Player of the game: Clemons rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. He also hauled in two passes for 42 yards.
Unsung heroes: The Altoona offensive line
Most vital statistic: Altoona has had a 100-yard rusher in each of its five wins this season.
Altoona center Blaine Lanzendorfer: "We knew coming here that we just had to get Myzick (Clemons) going early, get Mekhi (Jackson) going early. We had to get them outside, get them up the middle. We had to do whatever we had to do to get them yards and get them in the end zone."
Altoona coach Vince Nedimyer Jr.: "After our warm-up, we weren't so sure how focused we were, but to come out and have the drive like we did, 10 plays, and to be able to control the line of scrimmage, which is something we talked about wanting to be able to do this week, and then get fumble on the first play of defense, and then score one play. I mean, you couldn't ask for a better start."
Cedar Cliff coach Jason Rice: "The most impressive thing is seeing the offense they came from to the offense they have now, and they just put guys in space and honestly put us in situations where they had advantages over us, so kudos to them on that."
Notable: It's the first time Altoona reached five Mid-Penn wins since 2007 … The win clinched Altoona's first .500 or better season since 2023.
Records: Cedar Cliff (2-7), Altoona (5-4)
Next week: Cedar Cliff plays at Carlisle, and Altoona plays at Cumberland Valley.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Altoona 14 17 0 13 -- 44
Cedar Cliff 0 7 7 0 -- 14
First Quarter
A--Jackson 13 run (DelBaggio kick), 7:16.
A--Clemons 27 run (DelBaggio kick), 6:59.
Second Quarter
A--DelBaggio 28 field goal, 11:10.
CC--Secrest 40 pass from Gray Loudenslager kick), 4:11.
A--Lundy 34 pass from Jackson (DelBaggio kick), 1:16.
A--Jackson 12 run (DelBaggio kick), :22.5
Third Quarter
CC--Howell 5 run (Loudenslager kick), 1:45.
Fourth Quarter
A--Clemons 2 run (kick failed), 9:16.
A--Pike 26 run (DelBaggio kick), 2:25.
TEAM STATISTICS CC A
First downs 12 13
Total yards 300 407
Rushes-yards 27-96 34-217
Yards passing 204 190
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 21-31-0 9-13-0
Fumbles-lost 3-2 0-0
Penalties-yards 7-40 5-30
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Cedar Cliff, Howell 15-69, Secrest 3-16, White 4-11, Gray 1-(-7), Irizarry 2-0, King 2-7. Altoona, Clemons 16-104, Jackson 11-52, Geishauser 1-8, Sipes 3-16, Pike 1-26, Kincherlow 2-8.
PASSING--Cedar Cliff, Gray 20-30-0-200, Howell 1-1-0-4. Altoona, Jackson 8-12-0-177, Pike 1-1-0-13.
RECEIVING--Cedar Cliff, Secrest 8-71, Kirsch 1-2, Kocher 3-41, Heller 3-25, Stephens 1-13, Howell 2-7, Miller 1-27, Dowell 2-15. Altoona, Chathams 3-70, Clemons 2-42, Stump 1-34, Triplin 1-13, Lundy 1-34.