Two Pennsylvania high school football powerhouse will compete for a spot in the 6A final game now that nearly every state championship game berth has been secured.
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Next Saturday night, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh Central Catholic will square off at Altoona’s Mansion Park. The victor will have the opportunity to play the reigning state champions, St. Joe’s Prep.
Live updates from the contest, which begins at 1 pm, may be seen here.
FINAL: HARRISBURG 33 PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC 38
3.52 p.m.Pittsburgh Central Catholic will play St. Joe’s Prep in the PIAA 6A state championship game.
3.51 p.m.On third down, Harrisburg is unable to convert. Additionally, Lewis is picked off by Chrys Black on fourth down, which will finish it. What a game, and what a fight the Cougars put up to the very end.
3.50 p.m.With 39 seconds remaining at the 19 for Harrisburg, it’s third-and-three. Drama.
3:47 p.m.Lewis finds Quincy Brannon for 26 yards on 4th-and-18. With fewer than two minutes remaining, the Cougars are down five but still alive and shouting. The ball is on the 26th.
3:43 p.m.Harrisburg has the ball in PCC territory as Coke makes another incredible catch, this time for 43 yards.
3:41 p.m.On third-and-five, Harrisburg stops Pittsburgh Central Catholic, forcing PCC to punt. After falling behind by 17, the Cougars have a chance to win.
33, 6:37 4Q, Pittsburgh Central Catholic Church 38, Harrisburg
3:33 p.m.Elias Coke puts Harrisburg back in excellent position to steal this one with one of the season’s top catches, a 30-yard full-extension grab. No good for an extra point.
Q4, 6:37 Elias Coke stretches for a 30-yard touchdown from Jaiyon Lewis on the following play after a PI on the first target.The cougars are squabbling.Harrisburg 33, Pittsburgh CC 38pic.twitter.com/5SxLEjLc3H
3:29 p.m.: After Lewis returns to the game, he converts a fourth-and-five pass to Quincy Brannon.
3.26 p.m.The cougars are stopped. On this drive, they need a score.
3:20 p.m.In order to stay in the game, Harrisburg needs to halt on this Central Catholic drive.
PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC 38 HARRISBURG 27 END OF THIRD QUARTER
3:12 p.m.Mikal Shank Jr., a sophomore quarterback, is playing in place of quarterback Jaiyon Lewis.
3:08 p.m.A Vikings three-and-out is forced by Harrisburg. On this following drive, the Cougars probably need to score.
HARRISBURG 27, 2:42 3Q, Pittsburgh Central Catholic Church 38
3 p.m.Quincy Brannon receives a flawless ball from Jaiyon Lewis for a 62-yard score after Harrisburg converts a fourth down on an Ewell run. An extra point is useless.
At 4:20 3Q, Pittsburgh Central Catholic Church 38 Harrisburg 21
2:58 p.m.Billy Lech makes a field goal from 36 yards out to make it a three-possession game after Tayvon Williamson stops the drive in its tracks with a sack.
2:52 p.m.As PCC recovers a fumble on the subsequent kickoff in Harrisburg territory, the Vikings gain momentum. Billy Lech, the kicker, recovers the fumble.
At 7:01 3Q, Pittsburgh Central Catholic Church, 35 Harrisburg 21,
2:51 p.m.PCC’s advantage is now up to two scores after Walls sprints in from a yard out on fourth down for the score.
2:46 p.m.Harrisburg behind by seven points at the beginning of the third quarter after going three and out. At the Cougar 44, Central Catholic takes over.
2:26 p.m.
Here are a few odd halftime figures: Harrisburg 305 offensive yards to 122 for PCC… Harrisburg 13 first downs to 5 for PCC. While PCC’s scoring drives were 42, 27, 34, and 28 yards long, HBG’s three touchdown drives were all 80 yards long. @Pa_Preps Vikings are ahead 28–21.
HALFTIME: HARRISBURG 21 PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC 28
HARRISBURG 21 PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC 0:04 2Q
2:20 p.m.Lewis scores a 1-yard run. The Cougars will get the ball to begin the second half, so it will take incredible performance to keep them within striking distance.
Q2, 0:14 Just before halftime, Jaiyon Lewis scrambles right and dives in for a 1-yard touchdown, cutting the game to one score.Harrisburg CC 28, Pittsburgh dumQ8G7x0W 21pic.twitter.com
2:14 p.m.With 22 seconds left in the first half, Jaiyon Lewis sets Harrisburg up at the PCC 9-yard line with an improvised 49-yard scramble.
CENTRAL CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH 28 HARRISBURG 14, 1:17 2Q
2:09 p.m.It’s a huge swing here late. Xavier Thomas hauls in a 23-yard TD catch from Walls on a slant with 1:17 to go, recapturing momentum as we approach the break in Mansion Park.
2:02 p.m.Harrisburg appeared to have an 87-yard touchdown pass to Quincy Brannon to tie the game. But the play comes back due to a holding. Massive turn. Flag was out before the ball was caught.
1:59 p.m.A big sack by Nehemiah Ewell stymies the PCC possession. Harrisburg can tie the game before the break.
Q2, 4:06 That s a sack for Nehemiah Ewell.pic.twitter.com/t4lI79TwkP
1:58 pmA squib kick leads to Xavier Thomas returning the ball to the Harrisburg 45.
PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC 21, HARRISBURG 14, 4:57 2Q
1:56 pmAn 80-yard Harrisburg drive ends with a 15-yard TD run by Mickens. Cougars hanging around.
Q2, 4:57 Messiah Mickens is running the hell out of the ball.The four-star Penn State commit goes 15 yards up the gut for his second touchdown today.Pittsburgh CC 21, Harrisburg 14pic.twitter.com/vVd3mrBuxY
PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC 21, HARRISBURG 7, 8:45 2Q
1:47 pmThe Vikings immediately respond, as Walls finds Max Roman for a 25-yard touchdown following a big kick return. Two-point conversion is good.
Q2, 8:45 The second quarter is a shootout.Jy’Aire Walls finds Max Roman in the end zone then runs in the two-point conversion.Pittsburgh CC 21, Harrisburg 7pic.twitter.com/gfR2wLwafv
PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC 13, HARRISBURG 7, 9:20 2Q
1:43 pmMessiah Mickens rambles in for a 12-yard touchdown run. The Penn State commit tallies his 20th rushing touchdown of the year and the Cougars are back in the game.
Q2, 9:20 Cougars respond immediately.A reverse to D’Antae Sheffey goes 48 yards, then Messiah Mickens takes an 11-yard carry into the end zone.Pittsburgh CC 13, Harrisburg 7pic.twitter.com/FkrsBn00yA
1:42 pmD Antae Sheffey with a massive 47-yard run on an end-around has Harrisburg cooking. The Syracuse commit with the biggest play of the game for either side.
PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC 13, HARRISBURG 0, 10:28 2Q
1:38 pmJy aire Walls scrambles for a 12-yard touchdown on third down, and the Vikings make the Cougars pay for the blocked punt.
Q2, 10:28 Jy’Aire Walls scrambles for a 12-yard keeper to the end zone.Pittsburgh CC 13, Harrisburg 0pic.twitter.com/aXtFGyy2Jr
END OF FIRST QUARTER: Pittsburgh Central Catholic 6 Harrisburg 0
1:32 pmBradley Gompers blocks the Harrisburg punt, and PCC takes over the ball at the Harrisburg 27.
1:26 pmHarrisburg survives, forcing another three-and-out. Big play by Kevin Brown and Tayvon Williamson on third down leads to a touchback punt.
1:24 pmMessiah Mickens fumbles, and Colsen Gattens recovers at the PCC 39. Big swing.
1:22 pmBig play from Jaiyon Lewis to Elias Coke for a pickup of nearly 30 gets Harrisburg into PCC territory for the first time on the afternoon.
PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC 6, HARRISBURG 0, 5:10 1Q
1:18 pmElijah Faulkner scampers up the middle for a 42-yard touchdown, and the Vikings are on the board first. Two-point conversion is no good.
Q1, 5:10 Elijah Faulkner runs for a 42-yard touchdown on the Vikings first snap after a Cougars punt. Two-point pass fails.Pittsburgh CC 6, Harrisburg 0pic.twitter.com/2S2qX6ynaW
1:16 pmPittsburgh Central Catholic forces a three-and-out, as this is a defensive struggle. The Vikings then deflect the punt and get the ball at the Harrisburg 42.
1:13 pmAnother strong drive defensively for Harrisburg. It forces another Vikings three-and-out. But Billy Lech with a tremendous punt sets the Cougars at the 10.
1:11 pmHarrisburg picked up a first down but, can t do much more. PCC ball again.
1:05 pmThe Cougars defense looks dominant to start, recording a tackle for loss and forcing two incompletions. Three-and-out for PCC.
1:02 pmHarrisburg will kick off to start the game.
12:02 pmIt looks like Harrisburg star wide receiver, who was injured in the Cougars win over Wilson last week, is going to give it a go.
Good news for Harrisburg: Four-star receiver Elias Coke is warming up.Coke suffered a lower leg injury last week and exited the District 3 6A final on crutches. Looks like he ll be good to go today.pic.twitter.com/0QI8qZ7QdT
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