Shawn Battle piled up more than 200 rushing yards Friday night.
But, it was a short run for a touchdown by the Boston College commit in the final minute that sent Neumann-Goretti to the state quarterfinals with a 20-14 victory over Scranton Prep in a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 3A football playoff game at Scranton Memorial Stadium.
The District 2 champion Cavaliers had rallied to force a 14-14 tie midway through the fourth quarter on a 6-yard touchdown run by quarterback Louis Paris.
Battle tried to put the Saints right back in front by returning the ensuing kickoff to the end zone, but the potential touchdown was wiped out by penalty. Instead, Neumann-Goretti turned to a series of Battle runs to help move the ball up the field in the five-minute scoring drive.
Scranton Prep lost key linemen and defenders to injury along the way, but battled with the District 12 champions.
The Saints went for fourth down in their own territory early in the game and the Cavaliers made them pay by moving in for the first score, a 3-yard touchdown pass from Paris to Aidan Colleran.
After taking a 7-0 lead just 5:12 into the game, Scranton Prep did not score again until just under six minutes remained in the game.
Neumann-Goretti came right back to take an 8-7 lead with 3:40 left in the quarter on the first of two Battle touchdown runs.
The Saints stopped the Cavaliers on downs inside the 5 in the second quarter, then increased the lead to 14-7 at halftime on a pass from Mekhi Wharton to TyJuan Beverly.
Scranton Prep held with a fourth-down sack to set up its drive to the tying touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Cavaliers finished 9-4.
