Pine-Richland Completes Miraculous Comeback In PIAA Semifinals
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.