HARRISBURG — It would be difficult to find a coach who was happier with his team in a defeat than Chambersburg coach Gary Carter was Saturday afternoon.

But that 28-12 defeat came at the hands of unbeaten Harrisburg — the No. 2-ranked team in the state in Class 6A, on the Cougars’ field for Homecoming.

And if not for some bad breaks and some untimely penalties, the Trojans could have made it even closer.

Colton Horst

“We are a completely different football team than we were early in the season,” Carter said. “The kids played hard and played for each other. Harrisburg has dudes all over the field, but I’m proud for this program today. This is one of the best games I’ve seen us play in a while.”

Princeton Dent was a big reason why the Cougars (8-0, 7-0 MPC) prevailed. He ran 27 times for 177 yards, including a 56-yard TD jaunt on his team’s first play from scrimmage. He scored other touchdowns on 3- and 15-yard runs.

Chambersburg (2-6, 2-5 MPC) got both touchdowns on passes from Cam Green to receiver Keiandre Cross, of 42 and 64 yards. He ended up with 3 catches for 114 yards.

The killer play, however, may have been a 78-yard kickoff return for a score by the Cougars’ Nuh’me Collier, following Chambersburg’s first touchdown. Collier’s gem restored a 2-touchdown lead (21-6) for Harrisburg.

“We had a plan to go the other way that the kick, and we just got out of position and were maybe a little too aggressive,” Carter said.

The Trojans hung with the Cougars for the entire game. Both teams had 12 first downs, and Harrisburg led in total offense by only 54 yards (286-232).

One difference was that Chambersbug turned the ball over four times — three interceptions (2 by Collier) and a fumble recovery. The Trojans recovered a fumble and an onsides kick, and had a pick six nullified by penalty.

Penalties, in fact, played a huge role in a game that stretched to close to three hours. Harrisburg was flagged 14 times for 111 yards, while Chambersburg was hit 8 times for 75 yards.

The costliest penalty for the Trojans, trailing 7-0, came in the second quarter. Cougar QB Kayden Stephens was flushed to his right and he tried to unload a pass into the flat. But Mason Mowen stepped in front to pick it off and took it to the house.

Unfortunately, Chambersburg was called not only for roughing the passer, but also for an illegal block, to wipe out the score.

Carter said, “There were two more interceptions we could have had, and we believe we recovered two more fumbles.

“I can’t express how proud I am of these guys — they’ve really bought into the team. We have a lot more good leaders now than we did at the beginning. I’ll take this team’s effort 1,000 times over.”

NOTES: Green, under constant pressure, completed 15 of 27 for 230 yards … Alex Lozius had a QB hit on a sack that caused a fumble and Colton Horst recovered … Anthony Hughes recovered the onsides kick … Chambersburg hosts CD East on Friday.

Harrisburg 28, Chambersburg 12
Chambersburg      0     0     0     12     —     12
Harrisburg            7     0     7      14     —     28
First Quarter
H — Princeton Dent 56 run (Isaac Garay-Oropeza kick), 8:41
Third Quarter
H — Dent 3 run (Garay-Oropeza kick), 2:58
Fourth Quarter
C — Keiandre Cross 42 pass from Cam Green (kick failed), 11:42
H — Nuh’me Collier 78 kickoff return (Garay-Oropeza kick), 11:30
H — Dent 15 run (Garay-Oropeza kick), 6:47
C — Cross 64 pass from Green (pass failed), 5:47
Team Statistics
                                              Chbg                      Harr
First downs                            12                          12
Rushes-yards                       26-20                    32-188
Passing                                15-27-3                   10-16-0
Passing yards                        230                          98
Total offense                          250                        286
Fumbles-lost                           2-1                         2-1
Punts-average                      5-28.6                    3-38.1
Penalties-yards                      8-75                     14-111
Individual Statistics
Rushing — Chbg, Malachi Tasker 17-33, Nathan Chambers 1-2, Green 8-(-15). Harr, Dent 27-177, Ja’Auan Johnson 2-10, Kayden Stephens 2-5, D’Marion Terry 1-(-4).
Passing — Chbg, Green 15-27-0-230. Harr, Stephens 10-16-0-98.
Receiving — Chbg, Cross 3-113, Chambers 3-69, Colton Horst 2-20, Jashaun Palmer 3-13, Seth Gilliam 3-18, Cam McNew 1-(-3). Harr, Keijuan Sinkler 3-36, Johnson 4-24, Amir Everett 1-25, Trays Walker 1-10, Dent 1-3.
Intercveptions — Harr, Collier 2, Kayson Judge.