Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Central's Austin Keith (53) celebrates after booting a late fourth-quarter field goal to win the District 6 Class 3A championship over Tyrone on Saturday, Oct. 31. To the left is Devon Boyles and to the right is holder Hunter Klotz.
Central's Tanner Ebersole (20) and Jason Clark celebrate after their District 6 Class 3A championship win over Tyrone on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Mansion Park, Altoona.
Central's Ethan Eicher (42) sacks Tyrone quarterback Brandon Lucas in second-quarter action in the District 6 Class 3A tittle game.
After having watched its starting quarterback go down with a leg injury and Tyrone rally from a 14-point deficit to tie the game, Central placed its faith in the leg of senior kicker Austin Keith to deliver its first District 6 Class 3A title since 2016.
Keith's 25-yard field goal with 25 seconds left and an interception by Eli Lingenfelter to end the game helped lift the Scarlet Dragons to a 17-14 victory Oct. 31 at Altoona's Mansion Park.
The Dragons moved to 8-0, while the Golden Eagles slipped to 6-1.
Central took a 14-0 lead behind a 2-yard touchdown by junior Parker Gregg in the first quarter and a 1-yard scoring run by sophomore quarterback Jeff Hoenstine in the second frame. Keith added both PATs. Gregg had runs of 41 and 62 yards that set up both Dragon touchdowns.
Tyrone cut into its deficit with 17 seconds before half, as senior Damon Gripp hauled in a 22-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Brandon Lucas. The kick failed.
Hoenstine suffered a broken tibia and fibula in his left leg on the second play of the fourth quarter. Hoenstine's left leg was planted and a Tyrone defender jumped on his back to tackle him. Hoenstine underwent surgery Sunday, Nov. 1, and faces months of rehabilitation.
Lucas scored on a 2-yard run with 5:36 remaining in the fourth quarter. He then teamed with senior Tommy Hicks that tied the game at 14-14.
Central senior Demetrious Harbaugh took the ensuing kickoff and gained 33 yards to the CHS 44-yard line. Nine plays later, the Dragons were at the Tyrone 6-yard line. The big play of the drive came on fourth-and-7 at the Tyrone 41, as sophomore quarterback Rylan Daugherty tossed a 15-yard completion to junior tight end Ethan Eicher. That led to Keith's game-winning field goal.
Lingenfelter sealed the win with an interception to end the game.
Gregg led the Dragons' ground attack with 160 yards rushing on 18 carries. Hoenstine had 14 carries for 53 rushing yards before his injury. Hoenstine also completed 7-of-11 pass attempts for 38 yards. Gregg caught four passes for 22 yards.
Lucas threw for 189 yards and one interception on 16-for-26 passing. Gripp had nine receptions for 112 yards.
In a matchup of unbeatens, District 6 Class 3A champion Central will lock horns with District 5-9 Class 3A champions Bedford Bisons (8-0) at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, in a Class 3A battle at Hollidaysburg's Tiger Stadium.
Reader Comments(0)