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Archives:State College Takes the Trophy

 

It was a Pee Wee championship game for the ages.

State College recently placed its name on the Juniata Football League trophy in dramatic fashion, dropping a tough and feisty Kish Indian team with two ticks on the clock for the 13-7 victory at Mitchell field.

“I honestly have never seen two teams fight as hard as in this. And I have been here a long time now. Kish played their hearts out and I am so proud of our kids for having that one more play in them in the end,” said State College head coach Rob Johnson.

Going into the fourth quarter, the Indians were holding onto a 7-6 lead. As the time ticked down to the five minute mark, Kish was forced to kick the ball on a fourth down.

The punt was caught by Drew Moerschbacher at the Indians’ 44 and he ran it to the 36.

However, like it did for most of the contest, the Kish defense refused to give up the lead and managed to hold the Little Lions on a fourth down on their own 24. The defensive stand was led by a sack by Reagan Ettinger. Kish forced a total of four sacks on the day.

Kish started their last offensive possession at their own nine with 1:48 left in the game. But with three time outs left, the State College offense held and forced Kish to give up the ball, punting it to Moerschbacher with 1:28 left. Moerbacher, who finished with 67 yards rushing, took the punt at the 30 and ran it all the back to the Indians’ 10.

Digging in once more, it looked like Kish would shut the Lions down, forcing them backwards to the 11.

On fourth down and goal from the 11, State College had its last chance. The Little Lions went to their air attack when quarterback Brady Bendik found an open Nick Kowalski for the go ahead touchdown. After a successful extra point, the Little Lions took home the trophy.

“It was tremendous game. I couldn’t any more prouder of my kids,” Kish head coach Jerry Schnell said. “We had a missed assignment here and a missed tackle there and gave up those last points. We had a tremendous season and a great group of kids. They really worked hard.”

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