It had been a long time coming for the Little Lions. An offseason not quite like any other, the first game of the year canceled after an extra month of waiting just for the season to begin. Getting on the field in 2020 feels nothing short of a minor miracle, and for State College, even if it meant getting on the field in Central Dauphin, something was better than nothing.
All those good feelings didn’t last long though as the Little Lions gave up a touchdown on the opening kickoff and a long reception for a score late in the half. Down 14-0 there was hope, but all the feel-good emotions about getting back out there were a thing of a past.
The Little Lions fought, a long touchdown cut the Central Dauphin lead to 28-7 midway through the third quarter, but there wasn’t enough in the tank to pull off the comeback as the minutes continued to tick off the clock. When it was all said and done, State College fell 35-13 to the hosts.
State High will return to Memorial Field next Friday for the first game in the newly renovated stadium against Cumberland Valley, a small glimmer of happiness during a year that has provided so few. And like all things early in the season, Friday’s loss was just the opening chapter, not the closing number.
Clearfield 42, Philipsburg-Oseola 6
Clearfield continued its solid start to the season with a commanding win on Friday night a three touchdown effort by the duo of quarterback Oliver Billotte target Jake Lezzer gave Clearfield a solid first punch and a second-half pick-six did little to help PO’s comeback efforts despite a touchdown late in the third quarter.
Penns Valley 28, Bellefonte 14
A 14-0 lead by Penns Valley and turnovers by both teams saw this sometimes sloppy but no less competitive affair end with the Red Raiders falling. Penns Valley went ahead with a 45-yard strike early in the contest and a 32-yard score put Bellefonte behind 21-0 in the second half. The Red Raiders managed a 14-point fourth quarter but it was too little too late.
Tyrone 15, Bald Eagle Area 12
There are few things harder to swallow than a late loss, and a great route and blown coverage saw Bald Eagle’s small lead turn into a three-point deficit with just inside two minutes to go thanks to a wide open (and acrobatic) touchdown catch. BEA managed to get the ball back with time to spare, but failed to convert a fourth-down attempt near midfield, giving the ball back to Tyrone with a chance to run out the clock.
