HERSHEY -- This one is going to hurt for a while.

Kennard-Dale put together two incredible touchdown-scoring, ball-possessing drives during its 24-21 loss at Hershey in the first round of the District 3 Class AAA playoffs Friday night.

With 6:34 to play in the game, the Rams were on the march once again, this time with their season on the line.

Gutsy performances by Matt Romoser and Ethan Hornbarger along with solid line play, gave the No. 12 Rams a chance to upset the No. 5 Trojans.

Kennard-Dale took 16 plays to drive from its own 13-yard line to the Trojans 19 with 34 seconds to play.

Trailing by three points, the Rams attempted a 36-yard field goal to try and force overtime.

However, Zac Moser's attempt fell just short

Kennard-Dale quarterback Matt Romoser tries to escape the grip of Hershey's Ryan Ulmstead on Friday at Hersheypark Stadium. (Daily Record/Sunday News - Kate Penn)
for the Rams, who had to watch as the final seconds ticked off the Hersheypark Stadium clock of a 24-21 defeat.

"It's just a heartbreaker," Rams head coach Doug Wilkinson said. "Our kids played their guts out. I'm extremely proud of my kids."

Kennard-Dale (6-5) struck first on Romoser's 1-yard plunge on the game's opening drive, but Wilkinson's team chased the Trojans from that point on.

Hershey (9-2) answered the Rams' first score with 17 unanswered points, capitalizing on two Kennard-Dale turnovers and a questionable call by the officials.

Jake Campbell, who finished 9-of-13 for 143 yards passing, found Joe Gunkel and Austin Warfel with touchdown-scoring throws in the first quarter.

After a Chris Bennett 24-yard field goal pushed the lead to 10 points for Hershey, the Rams answered with a drive taking 10:38 to end the first half.

The Rams went 80 yards in 24 plays and converted three fourth-down conversions on the drive, capped by a fourth-and-goal score by Romoser with just two seconds left.

The senior quarterback had his moments in his final high school game. He rushed for 115 yards on 31 carries and even found Zach Brown for a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, cutting Hershey's lead

Kennard-Dale's Zach Brown makes it into the end zone despite Hershey's Jaffe Washington's efforts, making the score 24-21. Kennard-Dale was unable to close the gap, as Hershey won, 24-21. (Daily Record/Sunday News - Kate Penn)
to three.

Brown's scoring reception capped a 15-play, 85-yard drive with 8:51 to play.

"These seniors have left a pretty good legacy," Wilkinson said of his team's second straight appearance in the postseason.

Hornbarger, who plowed through the Trojans' defense for 131 yards on 29 carries, echoed what all of his teammates were feeling.

"It's just disappointing," an emotional Hornbarger said. "We had chances. It hurts."

 

Kennard-Dale    7    7    0    7 -- 21
Hershey  14    3    7    0 -- 24

First Quarter
   KD -- Matt Romoser 1 run (Zac Moser kick), 7:56
   Her -- Joe Gunkel 30 pass from Jake Campbell (Chris Bennett kick), 6:04
   Her -- Austin Warfel 13 pass from Campbell (Bennett kick), 2:36
Second Quarter
   Her -- Bennett 24 FG, 10:36
   KD -- Romoser 1 run (Moser kick), :02
Third Quarter
   Her -- Warfel 35 pass from Campbell (Bennett kick), 7:40
Fourth Quarter
   KD -- Zach Brown 6 pass from Romoser (Moser kick), 8:51
 
-- KD -- Her
First downs -- 21 -- 8
Rushes-yards -- 66-284 -- 16-21
Passing -- 5-10-2 -- 9-13-1
Passing yards -- 40 -- 143
Total yards -- 324 -- 164
Punts -- 2-17.0 -- 1-30
Fumbles-lost -- 1-0 -- 1-1
Penalties-yards -- 6-35 -- 3-20

 
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
   Rushing -- Kennard-Dale, Ethan Hornbarger 29-131, Matt Romoser 31-115, Zach Brown 3-19, Raymond Figueroa 3-19; Hershey, Jake Campbell 3-12, Luke Drayer 8-4, Jaffee Washington 3-4, Shane Moore 1-1, Harold Brantley 1-0.
   Passing -- Kennard-Dale, Matt Romoser 5-10-2-40; Hershey, Jake Campbell 9-13-1-143.
   Receiving -- Kennard-Dale, Zach Brown 4-28, Matt Chenoweth 1-12; Hershey, Austin Warfel 5-91, Joe Gunkel 3-55, Chris Flowers 1-(-3).