CHAMBERSBURG — Just eyeballing it, the difference in size between Central Dauphin and Chambersburg on both lines was stark.

And it was not an illusion, either.

Dominic Barbagallo

The Rams bullied their way to a 35-7 victory over the Trojans at Trojan Stadium on Friday night in both teams’ first Mid Penn Commonwealth game of the football season.

The mismatch up front was obvious to see, and the statistics backed it up. While CD (3-1) rolled up 296 yards on 44 carries on the ground, Chambersburg (2-2) netted minus-11 yards (including sacks).

“There’s nothing you can do about their size advantage,” Trojan coach Mark Luther said. “They were the bigger and stronger team and the team that plays more physical and plays fast will usually win and they did tonight.”

Miles Copper ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns for Central Dauphin and Mateo Crummel was a thorn in Chambersburg’s side all night, catching 9 passes for 105 yards and two scores and also running 15 yards for a touchdown.

CD took only five plays to score on its first drive, and added TDs on their third, fourth and fifth drives of the first half. And on their second possession, Crummel reached the end zone on a 61-yard pass play, only to have it called back for a holding penalty.

Chambersburg’s lone score came early in the second quarter to bring the score to 14-7. Quarterback Riley Harmon hit Jermere Jones down the left sideline and Jones shook his defender for a 45-yard catch-and-run.

Luther said, “We caught them bringing pressure and changed the play at the line of scrimmage. We took a shot deep and Riley gave Jermere a chance with a good throw.”

To make matters worst, the Trojans had five starters go down in the first half with injuries, including two separated shoulders, a strained achilles, a possible concussion and a knee issue.

The Rams did not score on three third-quarter possessions, the last of which ended when QB Key’Ron Plummer dropped the ball on the snap and Dominic Barbagallo recovered at the CD 27.

The Trojans could not score, however, as Harmon was harassed into two incompletions and a sack, which eventually forced a punt.

Harmon was sacked six times, fumbled three times (only one lost), and generally had no more than 1-2 seconds to set and throw. CD simply put relentless pressure on him.

Luther said, “Our defense played a little better in the second half. But I was disappointed in the offense. It was tough to get anything going.”

NOTES: Harmon was 15-for-25 for 146 yards and Jones caught 5 balls for 89 yards … Trever Luther punted 8 times for a 35.8 average … The Trojans play their first away game of the season next Friday, at Carlisle.

Central Dauphin 35, Chambersburg 7
Central Dauphin                14     14     0     7     —     35
Chambersburg                    0        7     0     0     —       7
First Quarter
CD — Mateo Crummel 33 pass from Key’Ron Plummer (Finn Garner kick), 0:04
CD — Miles Copper 10 run (Garner kick), 0:03
Second Quarter
Ch — Jermere Jones 45 pass from Riley Harmon (Trever Luther kick), 8:27
CD — Crummel 27 pass from Plummer (Garner kick), 7:25
CD — Crummel 15 run (Garner kick), 1:27
Fourth Quarter
CD — Copper 11 run (Garner kick), 8:03
Team Statistics
                                          CD             Chbg
First downs                     22                10
Rushes-yards               44-296       22-(-11)
Passing                         12-18-0        16-27-1
Passing yards                 137               154
Total offense                  433               143
Fumbles-lost                   1-1                3-1
Punts-average               4-41.2         8-35.3
Penalties-yards              7-75             3-25
Individual Statistics
Rushing — CD, Copper 19-111, Kyle McCullough 6-65, Anthony Neuhard 3-21, Crummel 2-20, Mark Lebo 2-19, John Harris III 6-17, Xander Toland 4-16, Kah’mani Garcia 1-16, Plummer 1-11. Chbg, Antonio Harrison 4-9, Dayre Senft 6-0, Imari Watson 1-(-1), Ceagan Truett 1-(-12), Harmon 10-(-17).
Passing — CD, Plummer 11-17-0-131, Gavin Kirkpatrick 1-1-0-6. Chbg, Harmon 15-25-1-146, Truett 1-2-0-8.
Receiving — CD, Crummel 9-105, Copper 2-26, Brandon Cooper 1-6. Chbg, Jones 5-89, Rhaigeon Parker 5-41, Jake Folmar 3-8, Luther 2-8, Bradley Diehl 1-8.