State College takes season opener over Young Huskies

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: August 28, 2021

By Kenny Varner

LEWISTOWN – Two familiar foes met to open up the 2021 high school season when MIfflin County hosted State College.

At stake was the Seven Mountain Wooden Bucket trophy.

State College took the contest over the young Huskies 51-6.

State College coach Matt Lintal liked the way his team came out to start the game, setting the tone.

“I’m excited about our kids. They were ready to were hungry to come out and play tonight,” said Lintal. “We haven’t see an opponent in such a long time. We haven’t had scrimmage or anything like that. These were the first live bullets. I’m very proud the way the coaches prepared these guys.”

In the first quarter, State College grabbed the momentum early scoring on its second play from scrimmage when TJ Yoder got free on a 47-yard scamper after a pass completion, making it a 6-0 advantage with still 11:24 left.

Kicker Glen Murphy hit the PAT, giving the Little Lions the early advantage.

MIfflin County went three plays and out, giving the ball to State College at the 45.

Defensively, MIfflin County started to dig in and despite the Lions going on a 12-play drive, the Huskies refused to let State score a touchdown despite facing a first and goal at eight.

The defense held and forced State College to a 26-yard field goal, upping it to a 10-point advantage.

In its second offensive drive, the Huskies were still looking for their rhythm and was forced to punt for the second time.

Starting with the ball at the MIfflin County 35, State was able to punch it in, adding to its first quarter tally of 17-0.

Special teams made a statement early as well as Brayden Price took the MIfflin County punt all the way to the house from 40-yards out, with the PAT the Little Lions upped the lead to 24-0.

The young Huskies started to shake off the nervousness and rust as its defense started to get at the State College backfield, keeping them off the board for much of the remainder of the first and second quarter.

Unfortunately for MIfflin County, State was able to cash one in with just over a minute to play, making it a 31-0 contest at halftime.

It would be Yoder once again who got the call to up the score.

After the intermission, the Huskies came out and was able to go on a scoring drive which started at its own 41.

Quarterback Jayred Lyons used his legs to help rally his team. Calling his own number five times he got his team into the end zone thanks to a 15-yard sprint down the field for the touchdown.

However, the 2-point conversion failed, leaving it at 31-6 with 7:54 left in the third.

“We don’t give up that’s what I like about these guys,” said MIfflin County coach Scot Sechler. “That’s one thing we never do.”

State College finished off the third with another touchdown, making it a 37-6 contest going into the final stanza.

The Little Lions added two more touchdowns to end the contest, taking the win and the Seven Mountains bucket in the process.