Friday night highlights: Waynesboro picks up the program's first district football victory
It was a history making night for Waynesboro.
The Indians won their first ever district playoff game with a 42-20 win over Daniel Boone in the first round of the 5A tournament.
But after the first quarter, it was hard to imagine Waynesboro getting to that.
Daniel Boone jumped out to an early 14-0 lead, imposing their will on both sides of the ball. But Waynesboro wasn't going down without a fight.
"This whole season we worked our tails off," cornerback Rhyan Day said. "It all started during summer camp, getting that chemistry, working together, being a team. And as that shows, you're down 14, you got to come back as a team. And that's what we did and we are able to get that job done."
Waynesboro put up 42 points in the final three quarters, but maybe more importantly, the defense bounced back and only gave up six in that time.
"It was early enough so I told the kids 'we're gonna go to the fourth quarter and we're gonna put it away' because our kids are in shape. We're fast. We're physical," head coach Josh Sprenkle said. "They were obviously bigger than us, but that's pretty much every weekend so it doesn't matter. We got we do what we do. We grind it out, play solid defense and good things happen."
A big run from Aidan Mencia and a run from Jesse Julias near the goal line made it 14-14 going into the halftime, and from that point, it was all Waynesboro.
A four play drive out of the half kept the momentum going, ending with a touchdown for tight end Garrett Blount.
And then some big moments happened that put this game basically out of reach.
Waynesboro converted a fourth and 19 from their own 30, as quarterback Louie Lindsay just threw one up for wide receiver Brody Rhodes. That drive ended in a field goal.
And then, Day secured a pick-six, giving Waynesboro a lead that was too much for Daniel Boone.
"I wasn't even thinking," Day said. "I just I saw the ball in the air. Get to the sideline, get to the end zone. And you know, that's just how it went."
Mencia and Julias each added another touchdown, helping secure the first playoff win in program history.
"They overcame mistakes. They overcame an early deficit," Sprenkle said. "But these kids, they're gritty, man. They have a tremendous amount of grit. They're physical and they don't quit."
In next week's quarterfinals, the Indians will travel to Spring Grove for a rematch with the Rockets. Waynesboro lost the first game of the season to Spring Grove, 25-20.
Waynesboro hasn't forgotten about that loss, one of only two on the season.
"We do want that revenge back," Day said. "We're at their home, so that's against us as well but no excuses at all. We definitely want to get back at them."
Season stats: Shippensburg | Waynesboro | Chambersburg | Greencastle-Antrim | James Buchanan
Shippensburg rolls into quarterfinals
Shippensburg showed its dominance in this one.
The Greyhounds rolled to a 43-16 win over New Oxford in their first round game.
Nathan Beam got the scoring started in the first quarter, and the second quarter was all Shippensburg.
Anthony Smith and Amari Kerr each ran for scores, and quarterback Tucker Chamberlin and wide receiver Erby Weller connected on a 40-yard score to go into the half with a 29-3 lead.
The Greyhounds didn't let up, as Beam added another and Traevon Kater ran one in as well.
Shippensburg goes to 11-0 on the season, and will host No. 6 Cedar Cliff next Friday in the quarterfinals.
This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: District 3 football playoffs: Scores, results from Franklin County
