The Pine-Richland football program enjoyed their first year in Class 5A, capturing its second title in program history on Friday with a 48-7 win over District 10 champion, Cathedral Prep out of Erie.

The Rams also won a state title 2017.

The game was much more relaxing for the Pine-Richland fan than the nail-biting come-from-behind win in the semifinals over Governor Mifflin.

Pine-Richland jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first half on rushing touchdowns by Cole Spencer (18), Jeremiah Hasley (14), and Caden Schweiger (7). All three were announced as Big 56 First-Team selections this week.

After Cathedral Prep scored its lone touchdown of the game before halftime, Pine-Richland put the game away with a 27-0 second half.

Spencer hooked up with another first-team selection, Eli Jochem for an 86 yard score to start the scoring in the second half. Spencer finished the game 10-of-16 for 179 yards. Jochem was his number one target, hauling in seven catches for 162 yards.

Schweiger found the end zone two more times from 12 and five yards out and Jordan Burns rushed from 21 yards out to join the party. Burns led the offense with 130 yards on the ground on only six carries. Tony Nicassio went 6-for-7 on extra points.

For the first three and a half quarters, Pine-Richland looked like they were playing its last game of the season, but the Rams never gave up, outscoring District 3 champion Governor Mifflin, 29-3 the rest of the way to come away with a 48-44 win in the Class 5A PIAA semifinals at Hollidaysburg High School on Saturday afternoon.

Pine-Richland will be competing in its fourth state championship game, and first as a member of Class 5A.

Governor Mifflin jumped out to a 21-0 lead before the Rams offense got going with three second quarter touchdowns themselves to cut the halftime deficit to 28-19.

Cole Spencer had touchdown passes to Charlie Mill and Luke Miller in the quarter and Brooks Eastburn had an 11-yard touchdown run. The rams failed on two 2-point conversions in the quarter.

The second half started just like the first, with Governor Mifflin scoring the first 13 point to increase the lead to 41-19.

The Rams stormed back again to score the next 22 points to tie the game 41-41.

Spencer threw two more touchdown passes, both to Eli Jochem, and Caden Schweiger rushed from 12 yards out and the 2-point conversion tied the game.

After Governor Mifflin kicked a go-ahead field goal to make it 44-41, it was Spencer Time again as the senior quarterback scored his fifth touchdown of the game, a 54-yard run to give the Rams its first and only lead of the game they would need.

The defense came up with a stop at the end of the game to seal the victory.

Usually making the state title game will pin you against a team from the other side of the state, but the Rams will face District 10 champion, Erie’s Cathedral Prep on Friday at 8 p.m. in Hershey.

After moving down to Class 5A this year, Pine-Richland was the clear-cut favorite to win another WPIAL title, and they proved why on Saturday night.

The undefeated and top-seed Rams shut out previously undefeated and No. 3 Peters Township, 35-0, in the Class 5A WPIAL Championship Game at North Allegheny High School.

The Rams offense got off to a slow start, but were able to break the scoreboard late in the first quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback, Cole Spencer.

Pine-Richland opened up the floodgates in the second quarter with three touchdowns. Spencer connected with Eli Jochem for a 28 yard score to push the lead to double digits. The Rams scored two more times in the quarter on a 10-yard run by Brooks Eastburn and a 33-yard run by Spencer.

Eastburn put the finishing touches on the win with an 80-yard run in the fourth quarter. Tony Nicassio made all five extra points.

Spencer finished the game with 14 rushes for 105 yards and two scores and 15 of 22 for 133 yards passing and another score.

Eastburn finished with 103 yards on six rushes and two scores.

Pine-Richland will face District 3 champion, Governor Mifflin, on Saturday at Hollidaysburg High School at 1 p.m.