Game Summary
Mil (2-3, 2-2) 6 13 0 0 — 19 PG (3-2, 3-1) 6 6 14 0 — 26
PG —Weinus 11 run (kick blocked)
M —Wingard 2 run (kick blocked)
PG —Diaz-Walton 26 pass from Levan (kick blocked)
M — Keim 2 run (Wingard kick)
M —Shomper 3 run (kick failed)
PG —Weinus 87 run (Diaz-Walton kick)
PG —Weinus 3 run (Diaz-Walton kick)
Mil PG
First Downs 13 12
Rushes-Yards 38-147 34-277
Passes 12-18-1 10-16-0
Passing Yards 192 131
Total Yards 339 408
Fumbles-Lost 3-3 3-1
Penalties 4-36 8-60
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Millersburg — Keim 9-52, Shomper 6-42, Wingard 18-32, Lehman 4-18, Burger 1-3. Pine Grove — Weinus 24-226, Aungst 7-45, Soltys 1-5, Levan 2-1.
PASSING: Millersburg — Wingard 12-17-0, 192; Lehman 0-1-1, 0;. Pine Grove — Levan 10-16-0, 131.
RECEIVING: Millersburg — Troutman 3-111, Shomper 4-44, Lehman 4-27, Keim 1-10. Pine Grove — Wolfe 5-61, Diaz-Walton 3-52, Weinus 1-10, Soltys 1-8.
INTERCEPTIONS: Pine Grove — Wolfe.
PINE GROVE — Pine Grove’s defense was aggressive all night, but it saved its best play for last.
With 10 seconds left in the game and the ball at the Cardinals’ 33-yard line, Millersburg backup quarterback Austin Lehman heaved the ball into the air and Pine Grove’s Tyler Wolfe came up with the interception. That sealed a 26-19 Pine Grove victory, making for a happy Homecoming on Saturday night at Cardinal Stadium.
In a night when the Cardinals’ defense recorded eight sacks and forced four turnovers, Mark Weinus also ran for 226 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns in a Tri-Valley League win for Pine Grove (3-2, 3-1 TVL).
“To come up with an interception like that in a close game is a big relief and a weight off of everyone’s shoulders,” Cardinals coach Jeff Sampson said. “And Mark had an incredible effort tonight. He’s been getting better and better as the season goes along.”
After the defense forced an Indians three-and-out in the first quarter, Pine Grove’s offense put together a touchdown drive culminating in an 11-yard run by Weinus. Millersburg blocked the PAT, keeping it a 6-0 game.
After Lehman ran the kickoff 75 yards all the way to the 10-yard line, the Indians put together a three-play scoring drive that saw quarterback Christian Wingard run into the end zone from 2 yards out. Millersburg’s extra-point attempt was also blocked, making it a 6-6 tie at the end of the first quarter.
Cardinals quarterback Logan Levan answered with a 26-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Danny Diaz-Walton, but the PAT was blocked again.
Levan completed 10-of-16 passes for 131 total yards and a touchdown in the win.
“He really handled the pressure well,” Sampson said of Levan. “He was great in key situations and that helped us.”
The Indians came back with a scoring drive highlighted by a 56-yard pass from Wingard to Ethan Troutman. The big play set up a 2-yard touchdown run by running back Connor Keim that gave Millersburg a 13-12 lead.
Two possessions later, the Indians’ QB-WR combo of Wingard and Troutman connected again, this time for 46 yards, which led to a 3-yard touchdown run by Cole Shomper, putting the Indians on top 19-12 at halftime.
Sampson wanted his defense to step it up in the second half, and the unit met his call, recovering a fumble on the kickoff return.
The Cardinals tied the game on the very next play, an 87-yard touchdown run by Weinus, his longest rush of the night.
Pine Grove’s D immediately struck again, forcing a fumble on the second play of Millersburg’s next possassion.
Linebacker Alec Soltys recovered the ball and the Cardinals quickly capitalized on the turnover with a 3-yard Weinus touchdown run that put Pine Grove on top 26-19.
“At halftime, I told my guys I wanted them to put pressure on Wingard and that’s what they did,” Sampson said. “It was a total team effort.”
Throughout the rest of the game, Pine Grove focused on eating up the clock with Weinus handling most of the ball-carrying duties.
“Our offensive line was big throughout the game,” Sampson said. “They created holes for Mark and he took advantage of them.
Only at the end of the fourth quarter did Millersburg have a solid drive, but that was stopped short by Wolfe’s interception.
“We put together three or four great quarters tonight,” Sampson said. “If we can do that in our battle against Upper Dauphin next week, we can win.”