CHAMBERSBURG — For a half, Chambersburg at least gave State College something to think about.

The undefeated Little Lions (10-0, 7-0 MPC) had to earn everything they got in a 36-7 Mid Penn Commonwealth victory at Trojan Stadium on Friday night, a win that sealed a perfect regular season and wrapped up the division crown.

Andy Jean-Baptiste

State College led only 16-7 at halftime, but a quick score to open the third quarter made it 23-7 and took the wind out of the Trojans, who finished 3-7 (1-6 MPC).

“Our kids played hard and had them frustrated in the first half,” Chambersburg coach Mark Luther said. “In the second half, their size wore us down.”

SC freshman running back D’Antae Steffey lived up to his hype, with 22 carries for 156 yards and a touchdown. He had four carries for 30 yards on the drive to begin the third quarter and scored from one yard out.

The Trojans fell behind 6-0 on a 17-yard pass from Finn Furmanek to Donte Nastasi on third and 10, but Chambersburg took it downfield quickly, helped by a 48-yard completion from Riley Harmon to J.J. Kelly.

On second down from the 12, Brice Flenory gained four yards and the Little Lions were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. It moved the ball to the 4, but it was not an automatic first down. Two running plays lost 3 yards and the threat was snuffed out.

A 52-yard run by Sheffey helped set up the next SC score, a 1-yard run by tight end Stephen Scourtis.

In the second period, Chambersburg scored its TD on a quick drive of three plays. Andy Jean took a short pass from Harmon and zipped 66 yards. A pass to Rhaigeon Parker for 12 and a run of 6 yards by Harmon put the ball in the end zone to make it 13-7.

That was about the only time the Trojan offense clicked, however. The Little Lions took away the running game (16 yards net) and Harmon rarely had time to set up.

Brax Makosy

Luther said, “They were very physical on the defensive front. We couldn’t get any seams to run the ball and we didn’t have much time to throw it.”

A series of penalties stymied State College, other than getting a field goal as the half ended, but the Little Lions were able to score three times in the second half.

“We just don’t have the size to play against them,” Luther said. “I feel like we’re a little Toyota Corolla playing against Mack trucks.

“I respect our kids for putting up a fight tonight. I’m proud of them for stepping up and playing hard.”

NOTES: Jean caught 4 passes for 89 yards and had another for 12 yards wiped out by penalty, while Kelly caught 3 for 69 yards … Speaking of penalties, State College had 10 for 84 yards and the Trojans had 9 for 53 … Harmon ended up with 174 passing yards, but was intercepted 3 times … Brax Makosy had a fumble recovery and a sack … LB Shea Makosy led Chambersburg with 11 tackles.

State College 36, Chambersburg 7
State College            13     3     14     6     —     36
Chambersburg         0      7       0     0     —       7
First Quarter
SC — Donte Nastasi 17 pass from Finn Furmanek (kick failed), 9:18
SC — Stephen Scourtis 1 run (Kajetan Kaszubowski kick), 2:14
Second Quarter
Ch — Riley Harmon 6 run (Teegan Humelsine kick), 10:39
SC — Kaszubowski 30 field goal, 0:00
Third Quarter
SC — D’Antae Sheffey 1 run (Kaszubowski kick), 10:27
SC — Owen Yerka 3 run (Kaszubowski kick), 4:39
Fourth Quarter
SC — Matt Wall 1 run (kick failed), 1:20
Team Statistics
                                             SC          Chbg
First downs                        17             7
Rushes-yards                 40-214      24-16
Passing                          10-18-0     10-19-3
Passing yards                   108           174
Total offense                    322           190
Fumbles-lost                     1-1            2-1
Punts-average                3-46.0       4-29.8
Penalties-yards              10-84         9-53
Individual Statistics
Rushing — SC, Sheffey 22-156, Wall 6-26, Furmanek 6-15, Scourtis 2-11, Yerka 4-6. Chbg, Brice Flenory 7-9, Imari Watson 1-5, Antonio Harrison 2-2, Dayre Senft 5-1, Harmon 8-0, Keagan Truett 1-(-1).
Passing — SC, Furmenek 9-15-0-98, Yerka 1-3-0-10. Chbg, Harmon 10-18-3-174, Truett 0-1-0-0.
Receiving — SC, Ty Salazer 2-39, Nastasi 5-38, Scourtis 2-9, Michael Gaul 1-10. Chbg, Andy Jean 4-89, J.J. Kelly 3-69, Rhaigeon Parker 1-12, Carter Mader 1-6.
Interceptions — SC, Salazer, Will Stone, Cooper Brushwood.