Manheim Township’s perfect season ended by Harrisburg in OT
2023 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)
By Dave Byrne — LNP/Lancasteronline
NEFFSVILLE — Three the hard way.
Down 21 points with just over 22 minutes to play Friday night, Harrisburg rallied to win its third straight PIAA District 3 Class 6A football championship, defeating Manheim Township 34-28 in overtime at Gene Kruis Field.
Held to 52 yards rushing in the first half, the Cougars (12-1) ran for 164 in the second half.
Quarterback Shawn Lee Jr.’s first run of the second half went 79 yards to the Township 1, and he squeezed in from there two plays later to announce that the two-time defending champs didn’t intend on going anywhere.
Leading 21-7 coming out of halftime, the Blue Streaks (12-1) appeared to have landed a knockout blow as Declan Clancy’s 67-yard run set up quarterback Hayden Johnson’s second touchdown of the night, a 10-yard keeper.
But it was a mirage as Lee’s run gave the Cougars life. They scored on a 15-yard run by Neamiah Ewell capped a 12-play, 99-yard drive aided by facemask penalty and a pass interference call on a third-and-7.
Township led 28-20 with less than six minutes to play but a 24-yard punt return by Jayion Lewis gave the Cougars great field position at the Township 35. On fourth-and-2 at the 7 Ewell bulled his way to a first down to the 4.
Lee found Elias Coke on a 4-yard fade in the left corner of the end zone, then, running the same play, tied the game on the two-point pass with 23 seconds left in regulation.
In overtime Ewell scored from the 2. On a high snap, kicker Gideon Fasayna’s PAT kick went wide and the door was open for Township.
On fourth-and-goal from the 9, the Streaks’ Landon Kennel made a fantastic grab in the end zone, coming down with a ball batted in the air. The touchdown was waved off on an ineligible receiver penalty. On the next play Harrisburg was called for pass interference in the end zone, moving the ball to the 4.
With one more shot at the end zone, Johnson went to Nick Palumbo in the right corner but Quincy Brannon was there to knock the ball away.
“Our defense came through in the clutch,” Cougars coach Calvin Everett said. “It says a lot about how resilient our kids are.”
Township took advantage of early Cougar miscues to go up 14-0 early in the second quarter. Holding the Cougars to three-and-out on the first possession, the Streaks blocked the ensuing punt and took over at the Harrisburg 12. Johnson scored from a yard out and Township was on top.
Lee tried to go deep on the Cougars’ second possession, with Palumbo intercepting at the 11. Eleven plays later Johnson connected with Asher Wolfe from 16 yards out for a 14-0 advantage.
Township was marching again when Johnson completed a first-down pass to Kennel at midfield, but Kennel fumbled, Harrisburg recovered and went the distance in 13 plays, Ewell stretching over the goal line to finish a 1-yard score.
Township took over with three minutes to halftime, driving 58 yards in 10 plays, Johnson finding Palumbo from 4 yards away with three seconds left in the half.
It appeared things were well in hand.
Reportedly, Everett told his team at halftime that Township only scored three second-half points the previous week against Cumberland Valley, so his team was still in it.
Then Lee ran to daylight and the Cougars were indeed in it.
“Hold your heads up,” Streaks coach Mark Evans told his broken-hearted players as they gathered around each other. “This has been a ride I will never forget. Once a Blue Streak, always a Blue Streak. I love you guys.”
