MOUNT CARMEL —
What appeared to be one of those "comebacks for the ages" ended up in a frustrating loss Friday at the Silver Bowl in a stunner.
Loyalsock, which had not beaten Mount Carmel in four previous encounters, raced out to a huge lead before holding on for a 32-29 victory, handing the Red Tornadoes a rare second consecutive loss in Heartland Conference Division II action.
The Lancers held a 32-7 advantage late into the third quarter and then needed a late interception by Nick DeFrancesco to negate a furious fourth-quarter comeback.
"We were pushed to the brink by a veteran football team and our senior leadership came through tonight," first-year Loyalsock head coach Justin Van Fleet said. "This was a sort of homecoming for Nick because his father was born in Mount Carmel and I wanted them to know who he was when the game was over."
Mount Carmel initiated its comeback in the third period with a five-play, 52-yard scoring drive capped by a 25-yard touchdown pass from Zack Wasilewski to Rob Varano that pulled the home team within 32-14.
However, the best was yet to come for the hometown faithful as the Red Tornadoes (2-2, 1-1) put together a fourth-quarter comeback that just fell short of being miraculous.
Mount Carmel News Wire
Loyalsock stuns Mount Carmel in Silver Bowl
- Mount Carmel News Wire
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Heartland Division II
Team W L PF PA Central Columbia (7-4) 4 1 189 166* Lewisburg (8-3) 3 2 296 222 Mount Carmel (8-5) 3 2 406 305 Montoursville (8-4) 3 2 352 234 Loyalsock (6-5) 2 3 285 252 Hughesville (1-9) 0 5 151 345 *-denotes division champion
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Nine local football stars earn all-state nods
LEWISBURG - For the third consecutive season Lewisburg linebacker Brandon Smith headlines the Valley’s contingent on the Pennsylvania Sports Writers All-State Football team.
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HAC champions dominate all-star teams
In addition to claiming its first District 4 Class AA title since 1999, Danville also put the most players onto the 2012 Heartland Athletic Conference All-Star team, as selected recently by the league’s head coaches.
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HS Football notebook: HAC-I rivals last teams standing
One of the best runs of the day in Selinsgrove's 41-14 victory over University Prep on Saturday ended up not counting.
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Danville 28, Mount Carmel 21
Statistics from Friday's playoff game
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High School Football Podcast
Listen as Daily Item Sports Editor Bill Bowman and Assistant Sports Editor Harold Raker break down every high school football playoff game set for this weekend.
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Mount Carmel pulls away to reach district final
Down on their own 30, Montoursville’s Aaron Cole took the snap and handed it off to running back Clay Stoner. Then, in the blink of an eye, the season all but ended.
Mount Carmel senior nose guard Vinny Candelora found himself in the backfield, ripped the ball right out of Stoner’s hands and kept on running 27 yards with open grass in front of him into the end zone. -
Mount Carmel 48, Montoursville 20
Statistics from Friday's playoff game
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