107 points, 3 OTs: State College eliminates McDowell in marathon PIAA 6A football thriller

STATE COLLEGE — The wind chill for Friday's PIAA Class 6A first-round football playoff between McDowell and State College made it feel like the temperature was in single digits.

The same couldn't be said for the point totals of the Trojans and Little Lions. They were higher.

Much higher.

Epically higher.

It wasn't until linebacker Michael Gaul recovered Christian Santiago's fumble during McDowell's possession in the third overtime round that State College finally won 57-50 in old-school weather conditions at Memorial Field.

That basketball-type final score was fitting for a game that saw the teams swap the lead throughout their four frigid quarters of regulation play, and then continue that trend throughout the overtime rounds.

One for the ages: 50-point effort ranks fourth in McDowell playoff history

McDowell coach Brad Orlando told the Trojans during their emotional postgame huddle that he considered Friday's game, even in defeat, as the state's de facto 6A final.

"At the end of the year, you always tell your guys that you're proud of them," Orlando said. "I've been (coaching) for 23 years, and I can tell you I've never been prouder of a group. We had six starters who were injured and didn't play (Friday), and these guys still battled.

"These two teams? Wow, what a hell of a game."

Matt Lintal's comments mimicked Orlando's.

"What a battle," State College's coach said. "It's one of those games where you want everybody to walk off the field knowing they gave everything. I think everybody feels that way.

"I'm proud of our kids for how resilient they were. They kind of stayed the course, and it paid off in the end."

McDowell, the District 10 champion, concluded its 2022 season at 10-3. State College, now 12-0, advanced to next weekend's PIAA 6A quarterfinals.

Extra football meant extra excitement

McDowell was the reason fans from each team who braved Friday's weather also were willing to watch the free football that followed regulation.

The Trojans' Artis Simmons, on a bouncing, 7-yard run up the middle, scored with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Alex Sontheimer's ensuing extra-point kick made it 36-all.

It was the second of two fourth-quarter touchdowns for Simmons, who finished with 158 yards in total offense.

Overtime was required when Lintal had State College quarterback Finn Furmanek take a knee and run out the closing seconds.

McDowell won the overtime coin toss and elected to run its four-snap possession from the 10-yard line after State College's turn with the ball.

Donte Nastasi rushed for the touchdowns that ended the Little Lions' first two possessions. Ray Jackson's 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Moore and a 1-yard run by Santiago were the Trojans' scoring plays for those same rounds.

Gaul, along with his game-ending fumble recovery, also scored what became State College's decisive touchdown. He caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Furmanek to end the Little Lions' third OT possession.

Kajetan Kaszubowski's PAT turned out to be the game's 107th and final point scored. Gaul made that a fact minutes later when, on McDowell's first-down snap from its 10, recovered Santiago's fumble at the Trojans' 3-yard line.

Santiago received ample hugs from teammates and fans after the game. The senior, in his final appearance as a Trojan, rushed for 82 yards and caught five passes for 84 yards.

Santiago also took several snaps as McDowell's quarterback, although he didn't attempt a pass.

Two be or not two be

High school football's overtime rules, unlike those for college, don't require a team to attempt a two-point conversion if the score remains tied after the first round

Neither Orlando or Lintal had their teams attempt one Friday.

Orlando said he didn't want to call one because he wanted the players to determine the outcome.

"Believe it or not, since the beginning of the year we have practiced overtime plays," Orlando said. "You practice them early in the year, because at some point you might have to use them like (Friday). We actually used three of them (during regulation)."

Lintal admitted he seriously contemplated a do-or-die, two-point try after the Little Lions' second OT touchdown.

"We had gone for two (in OT) and beat Downingtown East earlier this year," he said. "We certainly had that conversation whether to call a timeout and (attempt one Friday). Now, I'm glad I didn't."

District 10 Class 3A final

Grove City 42, Slippery Rock 23

SLIPPERY ROCK — After falling behind by 10 points in the second quarter, Grove City scored five straight touchdowns to beat Slippery Rock and claim its fifth district championship Friday night at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

Grove City (9-3) moves on to the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals and will host Central High School out of Martinsburg next week, while Slippery Rock ends the season 7-5.

Slippery Rock took a 17-7 lead early in the second quarter on a 33-yard touchdown run by Maddox Allen. He led the Rockets with 92 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.

Grove City quarterback Hunter Hohman, who left last week's game with an injury, scored from one yard out before Gavin Lutz brought back a punt 61 yards for a touchdown to give the Eagles a 21-17 lead at the half.

Hohman scored on runs of 12 and 31 yards in the second half and Anthony Nemec returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown to secure the Grove City win. Hohman ran for 58 yards and four touchdowns on 14 carries. Nemec led the Eagles with 88 yards on 20 carries and Hohman went 10-for-13 for 150 yards.

Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNcopper.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: State College beats McDowell in 3OT PIAA Class 6A football thriller