ALTOONA —
The Selinsgrove defense didn’t have much film to study this week on the University Prep football team.
So all the Seals had to go on the numbers produced by quarterback Akil Young and the Wildcats’ offense, and those numbers had Selinsgrove concerned.
Young had thrown for 815 yards and 11 touchdowns in University Prep’s last two games.
However, it took just one play Saturday afternoon at Mansion Park for senior Logan Benner to put his team’s mind at ease.
Benner picked off Young’s very first pass of the game — one of seven interceptions by the Selinsgrove defense — and the running game rolled up 320 yards rushing, including 137 yards and four scores by fullback Mike Walter, as the Seals rolled to a 41-14 victory in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA playoffs.
Benner’s pick allowed Selinsgrove to take control of the game early as they led 7-0 after an opening-drive touchdown at the time and capitalized on the turnover with another touchdown drive to take a two-score lead with 4:05 left in the first quarter.
“It really changed the momentum,” Benner said of his first of three interceptions in the game. “We knew that the quarterback was pretty good and (the secondary) had to step up.”
Selinsgrove improves to 10-3 on the season and wins its first state playoff game since its state championship season in 2009 and a huge turnaround from last year’s 1-9 campaign
“It means a lot to this senior class,” safety Tyler Krebs said. “We wanted to put this program back on the map. It’s a great feeling, right now.”
Selinsgrove advances to face Allentown Central Catholic (8-5), a 23-0 winner over Abington Heights Saturday. That game is tentatively 7 p.m. Friday night at Banko Stadium in Bethlehem.
Sports
H.S. football: Selinsgrove picks off seven passes in state playoff win
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Bob Garrett's Talking Points: Learn to respect wildlife
A group of new studies from scientists at Boise State University and with the U.S. Geological Survey are demonstrating that bird species considered "tolerant" of human activity and also species that seem "comfortable" with urban nesting are more negatively impacted by human disturbance than had been originally thought.
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American Legion baseball: Five-run fifth sparks Selinsgrove to win
he top three spots of Selinsgrove's order was on fire from beginning to end Wednesday. The consistent hitting eliminated any problems that could have occurred from a blown opportunity early on for Post 25. Even though Shamokin/Mount Carmel starting pitcher Austin Fry kept Ryan Wagner, Tyler Cook and Justin Keiser stranded on base to end the first inning, the three continued to bat well to lead Selinsgrove to a 13-1 victory Wednesday.
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Let's Go Racing!
Click on the photo just above, or Right Here to visit The Daily Item's auto racing website.
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American Legion baseball: Danville moves into league lead
Just two weeks into the American Legion baseball season, the Susquehanna Valley League divisional race already has a couple of frontrunners. Danville and Bloomsburg took to the field on Wednesday with first place in the division at stake, and the race became tighter after Danville came away with a 6-5 victory.
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American Legion: Danville picks up win over Line Mountain
By Anthony Mitchell For The Daily Item DANVILLE -- Danville manager Harold Albertson said that there are a number of players on his team willing to give their all.
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American Legion: Danville picks up win over Line Mountain
By Anthony Mitchell For The Daily Item DANVILLE -- Danville manager Harold Albertson said that there are a number of players on his team willing to give their all.
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Youth soccer: Local club team playing for national championship
By Jon Gerardi The Daily Item As the girls on North Union United 99F Strikers huddled around after a tough 1-0 win against Massachusetts, Strikers coach and North Union United Soccer Club president Frank Omlor was a bit speechless at what they accomplished, to say the least.
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Youth soccer: Local club team playing for national championship
By Jon Gerardi The Daily Item As the girls on North Union United 99F Strikers huddled around after a tough 1-0 win against Massachusetts, Strikers coach and North Union United Soccer Club president Frank Omlor was a bit speechless at what they accomplished, to say the least.
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American Legion: Sunbury/Norry bounces back with win a day after tough loss
By The Daily Item NORTHUMBERLAND -- There's no better remedy for a tough loss than a convincing victory.
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American Legion: Sunbury/Norry bounces back with win a day after tough loss
By The Daily Item NORTHUMBERLAND -- There's no better remedy for a tough loss than a convincing victory.
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Golf: Norry's Tyler finishes 1-under par at NCPGA Junior event
By The Daily Item MIDDLEBURG -- Northumberland's C.J. Tyler continued where he left off last year by firing a one-under-par 71 Monday at the Shade Mountain Golf Course, good for a three-stroke margin of victory over Danville's Austin Renz in the first North Central PA Golf Association Junior Tour event of the summer.
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Auto racing: Cannon wins third Whitcomb Memorial at Selinsgrove
By Shawn Wood For The Daily Item SELINSGROVE -- For a guy who isn't running for the points title at Selisngrove Speedway this season, Pat Cannon is still dominating the 358 sprint car ranks.
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Minor league baseball: Prada brings winning spirit to Cutters
By Shawn Wood For The Daily Item WILLIAMSPORT -- From Thurman Munson to Johnny Bench to Buster Posey, catchers, by nature are natural leaders.
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Outdoors: Family is a large part of trapshooter Joseph Recla's success
By Anthony Mitchell For The Daily Item ELYSBURG -- Besides a keen eye and steady hand, there is one other key to Joseph Recla's success " his family.
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American Legion: Berwick shakes off early deficit against Line Mountain
By Eric Shultz For The Daily Item HERNDON -- Berwick may have been the favored team on paper, but it took about half a game for it to show on the scoreboard.
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Pa. State Trap Shoot: College student Sandler has mastered the sport
New Ringgold native is a nine-time state champion
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Bob Garrett's Talking Points: Learn to respect wildlife
