Hempfield breaks loose in win over Lebanon

LEBANON — Hempfield ended its disappointing campaign on a high note, dropping 59 points on the Lebanon Cedars on Friday night in a 59-32 triumph at Alumni Stadium.

The Black Knights (4-6, 4-3 Section One) fell behind early but got their offense in gear in the second quarter, with a 20-point outburst, to seize control of the contest.

Hempfield blew it open with five more touchdowns after the halftime break, three in the final stanza, to defeat the Cedars (1-9, 0-7). Lebanon completed its first season back in Section One without a victory.

Hempfield quarterback Mark Himmelsbach did more damage with his legs (16 carries for 193 yards and 2 touchdowns) than his arm (4 of 9 for 91 yards), but completed a huge pass for a score right before the break that sent things in his team's direction the rest of the way.

Running back Brendan Flores emerged as the game evolved. He finished with 115 yards 15 totes and two scores for the Knights.

Turning point: Hugh Mauck caught a 78-yard touchdown pass from Himmelsbach by running a simple seam route against what appeared to be Cover Zero by the Cedars. He beat Lebanon's safety at midfield — the only red jersey back —and coasted the final 50 yards.

It gave the Knights a 27-20 lead with 1:39 left to play in the first half and firmly established control of the contest for the visitors after a wobbly start.

Stars of the game: Himmelsbach and Flores. Each was instrumental in hanging 59 against a Lebanon defense that struggled mightily against the run. Honorable mention to Lebanon RB Joshua Kauffman, who pounded out 136 tough yards on 24 totes for the Cedars, and quarterback Zakee Sailsman was 20-for-35 for 329 yards and three touchdowns.

Key statistic: 425. The number of rushing yards the Black Knights piled up on the Cedars, on 41 carries. Hempfield was a threat to score every time it had the ball simply because the hosts had no answer against the Knights' ground attack.

Hempfield 59, Lebanon 32

Hempfield _ 7 _ 20 _ 13 _ 19 _ — _ 59

Lebanon _ 14 _ 6 _ 6 _ 6 _ — _ 32

First Quarter

L — Luis Aquinoss-Rios 8 pass from Zakee Sailsman (Sailsman run)

H — Brendan Flores 3 run (Matt Sheerin kick)

L — Jeremiah Beckley 23 pass from Sailsman (pass failed)

Second Quarter

H — David Martin-Robinson 4 run (kick failled)

H — Mark Himmelsbach 25 run (Sheerin kick)

L — Phillip Hillesheim 81 pass from Sailsman (pass failed)

H — Hugh Mauck 78 pass from Himmelsbach (Sheerin kick)

Third Quarter

H — Himmelsbach 8 run (Sheerin kick)

L — Sailsman 1 run (pass failed)

H — Flores 7 run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

H — Flores 10 run (kick blocked)

H — Himmelsbach 29 run (kick failed)

H — Nick Kauffman 53 run (Curtis Johnson kick)

L — Shaq Ortiz 66 pass from Sailsman (pass failed)

Team Statistics

_ Hemp _ Leb

First downs _ 20 _ 20

Rushes-yards _ 41-425 _ 38-199

Passing _ 4-9-0 _ 20-35-1

Passing yards _ 91 _ 329

Total yards _ 516 _ 528

Punts _ 3-35.5 _ 3-34.4

Fumbles-lost _ 0-0 _ 0-0

Penalties-yards _ 6-49 _ 4-25