GREENCASTLE — Greencastle-Antrim, trying to halt an eight-year losing streak to its rival, Waynesboro, found itself in a 21-21 tie in the third quarter Friday night.

Tavon Cooper

Then running back Tavon Cooper took over and worked some magic, helping the Blue Devils prevail 35-21 in their Mid Penn Colonial opener at Kaley Field.

Cooper scored on a 19-yard run before the third period ended, then clinched the win with a 29-yard scamper with just under three minutes remaining in the game.

Overall, Cooper carried the ball 29 times and racked up 229 yards and three touchdowns.

“Tavon really had a big game, and the offensive line was outstanding,” Greencastle coach Devin McCauley said. “We were able to be balanced on offense and that really helped.”

The Blue Devils (4-0, 1-0 MPC) rolled up 422 yards, including 287 on the ground.

Quarterback Logan Alvey ran for one score, and connected on 6 of 14 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.

Greencastle popped in front 14-0 on a 58-yard pass from Alvey to Darren Kline and a 7-yard Cooper burst.

But the Indians (1-3, 0-1 MPC) came right back, as QB Jaylon Bean passed for one touchdown and Mikel Holden ran 17 yards for another after Waynesboro had recovered a G-A fumble.

“Holden just ran like an animal for them,” McCauley said. “They gave us a different look with an I formation and ran downhill with it. Hats off to their kids and staff. They gave us their best shot”

Alvey’s TD run before halftime gave the Blue Devils a 7-point cushion before halftime, but Bean scrambled for 31 yards  for the tying touchdown in the third quarter before Cooper took over.

“Our last TD was  third-and-one play and they were anticipating a quarterback sneak,” McCauley said. “Instead, we pitched it out to Cooper and he made one nice cutback and was gone.”

Seth Stouffer and Jackson Eby (5-for-5 on point-after kicks) each had an interception for G-A.

The Blue Devils travel to East Pennsboro on Thursday for a 7 p.m. battle.

Greencastle-Antrim 35, Waynesboro 21
Waynesboro                 0     14     7     0     —     21
Greencastle                 14      7     7     7     —     35
First Quarter
GA — Darren Kline 58 pass from Logan Alvey (Jackson Eby kick)
GA — Tavon Cooper 7 run (Eby kick)
Second Quarter
W — Jaylon Bean 4 pass to N/A (kick good)
W — Mikel Holden 17 run (kick good)
GA — Alvey 3 run (Eby kick)
Third Quarter
W — Bean 31 run (kick good)
GA — Cooper 19 run (Eby kick)
Fourth Quarter
GA — Cooper 29 run (Eby kick)
Greencastle Individual Statistics
Rushing — Cooper 29-229, Austin Wyand 7-24, Kline 8-20, Alvey 6-4.
Passing — Alvey 6-14-1-135.
Receiving — Kline 1-58, Wyand 1-32, Seth Stouffer 2-27, Eby 1-3, Cooper 1-3.