NORTH HUNTINGTON, Pa. — With snow on the field and in the sky, nobody expected a high-scoring affair between the two run-heavy offenses in Penn Cambria (14-1) and Avonworth (12-3). A low-scoring affair is just what the teams delivered as the Antelopes managed to down the District-6 champs, 16-6, in the PIAA Class-3A state semifinal matchup.
The Lopes used a stout defensive effort and the legs of Luca and Nico Neal to move onto the Class-3A PIAA Championship game.
The undefeated Panthers won the coin toss and elected to receive to start the game. After a decent drive that moved them into Lopes territory, a flag and a third-and-long stop helped stall the initial drive. The Lopes first drive of offense did not go as well as they punted from their own 35-yard line.
After forcing a quick three-and-out and a bad punt, the Lopes got the ball back in plus territory, at the Panthers’ 46-yard line. Unfortunately for the Lopes, they went four-and-out and turned the ball over on downs.
The game would see its first points on the Lopes third offensive drive of the half. Luca Neal carried the ball nine times for 64 yards on the drive but it stalled out on the Panthers’ 8-yard line. The Lopes settled for a 25-yard field goal from Calder Mahan and took a small lead midway through the second quarter.
The Panthers offense would then finally wake up as three plays later, Gavin Harrold took a 62-yard run to the house to give the Panthers the immediate answer. Their two-point conversion failed after a penalty backed them up on the attempt.
Despite the Panthers leading by the score of 6-3 at halftime, the Lopes offense outperformed that of the Panthers but their defense gave up just one explosive play that changed the trajectory of the first half.
The Antelopes opened the second half with a promising drive and even appeared to score a touchdown on Nico Neal’s 51-yard run out of the wildcat but the play was called back due to a holding call. The Panthers defense ended up forcing a fourth down stop later in the drive.
With momentum shifting towards the Panthers, the Lopes defense picked up their offense and forced a fourth down stop deep in their own territory. Then just three plays after the turnover-on-downs, Luca Neal broke free for a 65-yard rushing touchdown which gave Avonworth their first lead since the second quarter.
The touchdown gave the Antelopes the momentum and their defense used it to their advantage on the ensuing drive. Two plays into the Panthers next drive, the Lopes punched the ball out and Mason Metz jumped on it for the turnover.
The Lopes looked at times that they would punch in a lead-extending touchdown and even got down to the one but flags pushed the drive backwards and were forced to go for it on a fourth-and-long. On the play, Carson Bellinger’s pass went to the goal line but was intercepted by Blake Lilly who returned it to the Panthers’ 28-yard line.
Trailing by just three, the Panthers wanted to put the ball in their best players hand and tried to ride Harrold and Mason Mento down the field. After crossing midfield behind their legs, the Lopes defense stepped up again and forced a Panthers punt which gave Avonworth the ball back with just over four-and-a-half minutes in the game.
Needing to run the clock out on the Panthers’ chances, the Lopes turned to their duo, the Neal brothers and in specific, Luca. The younger Neal brother totted the ball for gains of 25 yards, 12 yards and 43 yards before punching in the 2-yard game-sealing score with under x left in the game. Luca’s second touchdown of the night ended the chances for the Panthers.
Avonworth moves onto the PIAA Class-3A State Championship game against the winner of Northwestern Lehigh and Danville while Penn Cambria’s season comes to an end after winning their district title.
