CARLISLE — Antonio Harrison II scored three touchdowns for Chambersburg — including a 57-yard gallop to break open the game in the fourth quarter — and the Trojans overcame being penalized 13 times for 111 yards to pick up a football win Friday night.

Chambersburg got past its own numerous mistakes and Carlisle, 28-13, in a Mid Penn Commonwealth game at Ken Millen Stadium.

Antonio Harrison II

The winless Thundering Herd (0-7, 0-6 MPC) put up a good fight and trailed only 14-13 after one play in the fourth period after botching an extra point attempt that would have tied the game.

But Harrison’s final score, and then a 42-yard TD run by Imani Watson on the next series, sealed the win for the Trojans (3-4, 2-4 MPC).

“A lot of those penalties were just dumb things,” Trojan coach Mark Luther said. “It’s not easy playing with the lead when you’re not used to it, and we’re still learning how to do that as a team. We gave up a lot of free yards and we have to be more composed in those situations.”

On the first play of the fourth period, facing third-and-8 from the Chambersburg 16, Carlisle QB Curtis Stroud hit a wide-open Josh Smith for a touchdown. However, on the extra point, the snap was a little high and the holder grabbed the ball and was smothered, wasting a chance for the Herd to tie the game. It was 14-13.

After the teams traded punts, the Trojans took over at their own 19 and got two first downs before Harrison broke through. Twice in the first half, Harrison snuck through the line on an iso play and was tackled by the last Carlisle defender.

But this time when he burst through, there was nobody in sight and he burned 57 yards to give his team a 21-13 advantage with 5:24 left.

When the Herd’s next drive fizzled out on their own 45 — Trever Luther broke up a fourth-down pass — Watson took over. On his second carry, he hit the same hole Harrison did, and he also ran untouched, this one from 42 yards out to clinch the win.

Harrison, who gained 113 yards on 14 carries, said, “That blast was the same one we used early in the game. This time, I got a good block from Stanley (Lozius) and got to go on the loose.”

Coach Luther said, “We had the lead and they were playing eight guys in the box, and I probably got a little conservative. One slip or bad throw could have cost us the game.”

Carlisle opened the game with an impressive drive that ate up all but 4:22 of the first quarter, with Chanse Bonner scoring from the 2. But the Trojans matched it with a nice drive, fueled by Harrison’s 47 yards, including the final 7 yards on a sweep right.

A 35-yard punt return to the Herd 20 by Evan Brown set up Chambersburg for its next score. An unbelievable leaping catch by Luther put his team on the Carlisle 2 and Harrison took a sweep right for the final yard, making it 14-7.

Carlisle chased the rest of the way and couldn’t quite pull even.

“We were playing man-to-man in the secondary, but on their last scoring drive they ran some pick routes,” coach Luther said. “So we went to a zone and that helped.”

Brown and Jason Chambers notched interceptions for the Trojans

“I’m proud of my teammates for our second straight win,” Harrison said. “We hope we can get some more in the second half of this season.”

Luther said, “We figure in our last three games, we’ll get the best effort from our opponents, because they’ll see us as a team they can beat. We’ll have to match that focus and keep our composure to win them.”

Chambersburg 28, Carlisle 13
Chambersburg           7     7     0     14     —     28
Carlisle                        7     0     0        6     —     13
First Quarter
Car — Chanse Bonner 2 run (Parker Foreman kick), 4:22
Ch — Antonio Harrison 7 run (Trever Luther kick), 0:00
Second Quarter
Ch — Harrison 1 run (Luther kick), 6:26
Fourth Quarter
Car — Josh Smith 16 pass from Curtis Stroud (run failed)
Ch — Harrison 57 run (Luther kick), 5:24
Ch — Imani Watson 42 run (Luther kick), 1:24
Team Statistics
                                               Chbg                 Car
First downs                            13                     11
Rushes-yards                       25-197             32-141
Passing                                 9-14-0               8-21-2
Passing yards                         93                      73
Total offense                         290                     214
Fumbles-lost                          0-0                      1-0
Punts-average                     3-39.0                 3-30.3
Penalties-yards                  13-111                  3-20
Individual Statistics
Rushing — Chbg, Harrison 14-113, Watson 7-63, Caegan Truett 4-21. Car, Bonner 21-85, Stroud 5-33, Bryson Rudolph 1-12, Xavier Campbell 2-8, Z’ravion Clarke 2-3, Devin Vasquez 1-0.
Passing — Chbg, Truett 9-14-0-93. Car, Stroud 8-21-2-73.
Receiving — Chbg, Luther 5-74, Jason Chambers 1-8, Devonte Scott 1-8, Evan Brown 1-4, Harrison 1-(-1). Car, Smith 2-29, Jaden Shay 2-24, Mickel Hakim 2-12, Bonner 1-5, Campbell 1-3.
Interceptions — Chbg, Chambers, Brown.