State College turned aside a fourth-quarter Delaware Valley rally, then drove for the clinching score that wrapped up a 28-19 victory Friday night in a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 6A state football playoff game at Hazleton Area’s Harman-Geist Stadium.
The District 4-6 Subregional champion Little Lions stopped a potential tying two-point attempt with 5:24 remaining, then drove for a touchdown.
Sophomore quarterback Owen Yerka ran 23 yards for a touchdown with 1:10 left to put the game away.
Lackawanna Football Conference Division 1 and District 2 Class 6A champion Delaware Valley had an eight-game winning streak ended and finished 8-4.
Brady Bendik carried 31 times for 164 yards and the game’s first touchdown to lead State College.
Delaware Valley tied the game less than two minutes later when C.J. Ross threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Harlem Cook with 38 seconds left in the first quarter.
Cook finished with 6 catches for 140 yards. Ross was 12-for-26 for 190 yards.
Yerka’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Jashaun Green midway through the second quarter put State College ahead to stay.
Delaware Valley’s Everett Bell kicked a 24-yard field goal with 9.5 seconds left in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 14-10 at halftime.
Bell’s 29-yard field goal in the third quarter made it a one-point game, but State College scored in the first minute of the fourth quarter for a 21-13 lead.
Paulie Weinrich’s 4-yard touchdown set up the two-point try that came up short.
Yerka was 8-for-11 for 92 yards passing and added 34 yards rushing.
State College outrushed Delaware Valley, 212-111. Joe Sciascia led the Warriors ground game with 86 yards on 26 carries.
Ryder Machado had four tackles, nine assists and a broken-up pass to lead the Delaware Valley defense.
Justin Kalitsnik, who had a sack and a fumble recovery, and Weinrich each made two tackles and assisted on nine others.
MORE FRIDAY FOOTBALL COVERAGE
Old Forge-Williams Valley: https://nepasportsnation.com/old-forge-sets-up-1-2-showdown/.
Bulletin recap: https://nepasportsnation.com/bulletins-cavs-cougars-romp/.
Scranton Prep-Wyoming Area Photo Gallery: https://nepasportsnation.com/scranton-prep-wyoming-area-football-photo-gallery/.
Valley View-North Pocono Photo Gallery: https://nepasportsnation.com/north-pocono-valley-view-football-photo-gallery/.
Scoreboard: https://nepasportsnation.com/fridays-football-scoreboard-7/.
