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FOOTBALL: Hempfield stops fourth-down play to hold off Cedar Crest


LANDISVILLE >> Will Blair scored three touchdowns and ran for 211 yards to lead the Hempfield Black Knights to a 38-35 Section One victory over Cedar Crest on Friday night.

In a wild affair, it was Hempfield defenders Wyatt Miller and Ty Callahan who stopped Crest running back Justice Belleman on a fourth-and-inches run at midfield with one minute to play in regulation, securing the Hempfield victory.

After the Black Knights (6-1, 3-1 Section One) took a 10-0 first-quarter lead, the Falcons played catch up for the rest of the game. Hempfield, on the other hand, matched each Cedar Crest score to stay ahead.

Evan Horn scored three TDs for the Falcons (2-5, 1-3 Section One), who found success in running the ball after being somewhat limited on the ground in the first half.

Trailing 31-27 late in the third quarter, Cedar Crest looked to break the cycle of we-score-Hempfield-scores when Iziah Trimble picked off a Sam Kramer pass. But Miller, Callahan and Blair strung out Evan Horn's run and the Falcons turned the ball over on downs.

Hempfield got a 61-yard TD run from Blair only to have Kobe Bolanos run back the ensuing kickoff for 88 yards and a TD. Crest got the two-point conversion to draw within three at 38-35.

The Knights punted for the first time in the game with four minutes to go in the fourth, giving the Falcons a shot at a go-ahead TD or a game-tying field goal.

But the Hempfield defense got that great play from Callahan and Miller to end Crest's hopes.

STAR OF THE GAME >> Hempfield running back Will Blair, the leading running back in Section One, with 211 yards rushing and three catches for 44 yards. He also made a number of stops on defense.

KEY STATISTIC >> Hempfield turned away Crest on downs twice in the second half.

QUOTABLE >> Hempfield coach Ron Zeiber, on the drive-stopping tackles by Callahan and Miller: "We depend on those guys for a lot and they made a great play. Cedar Crest was running the ball well in the second half, but those two made a great play when they had to make it.''

UP NEXT >> The Falcons remain on the road, traveling to McCaskey. The Black Knights visit Conestoga Valley.

Hempfield 38, Cedar Crest 35

Cedar Crest07208—35Hempfield107147—38

First Quarter

H — C.Kosmela 21 FG

H — S.Kramer 6 run (C.Kosmela kick)

Second Quarter

CC — E.Horn 16 pass from L.Horn (J. Peffley kick)

H — Kramer 9 run (Kosmela kick)

Third Quarter

CC — J.Belleman 5 run (Peffley kick)

H — W.Blair 9 pass from Kramer (Kosmela kick)

CC — E.Horn 5 run (Peffley kick)

H — Blair 6 run (Kosmela kick)

CC — E.Horn 1 run (Peffley kick)

Fourth Quarter

H — Blair 61 run (Kosmela kick)

CC — K.Bolanus 88 kickoff return (D.Bernard pass from L.Horn)

CCHempFirst downs1515Rushes-yards47-26146-280Passing6-11-15-11-1Passing yards13254Total yards393334Punts1-38.01-37.0Fumbles-lost1-12-0Penalties-yards6-465-55