Running back Caden Schweiger scored three rushing touchdowns as the normally potent Pine-Richland passing attack turned to the ground game to beat Cathedral Prep, 41-7 in the 2020 Class-5A PIAA state championship game at Hersheypark Stadium.
Schweiger scored once in the second quarter to give Pine-Richland the lead for good and then once again in the fourth quarter to help put the game out of reach. Jeremiah Hasley and Jordan Burns also each scored rushing touchdowns.
The Rams didn’t totally eschew their high-powered passing game. Quarterback Cole Spencer hit Eli Jochem for an 86-yard touchdown in the third quarter to break the game open.
After that, the Rams defense got in on the act. Hasley and Rams linebacker Luke Miller combined for a goal-line stand to stop the Rambles from getting back into the game in the third quarter.
Schweiger scored to start the fourth quarter, Burns added his just shy of the midway mark and Schweiger capped the scoring with his third of the evening.
Pine-Richland finished the 2020 season 12-0, with WPIAL and PIAA titles. The state championship was the second for the Rams. The won the Class-6A title in 2017 and were runners up in Class-4A in 2014 and Class-3A in 2003.
