Pine-Richland ‘outmatched’ in PIAA semifinal loss to St. Joseph’s Prep
By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, December 1, 2018 | 3:27 PM
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Pine-Richland’s Luke Meckler walks from the field after a Rams turnover during the PIAA Class 6A state semifinal against St. Joseph’s Prep Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Pine-Richland’s Luke Meckler is tackled for a loss by St. Joseph’s Prep’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr. during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
St. Joseph’s Prep’s Marvin Harrison Jr. catches a pass next to Pine-Richland’s Dylan Stenson during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Pine-Richland quarterback Cole Spencer is sacked by St. Joseph’s Prep’s Myles Talley during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Pine-Richland’s Tyler King hangs his head after a St. Joseph’s Prep touchdown during the PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
St. Joseph’s Prep’s Zach Bouggess breaks up a pass intended for Pine-Richland’s Tyler King in the end zone during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Pine-Richland’s Luke Meckler is tackled by St. Joseph’s Prep’s Liam Johnson during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
St. Joseph’s Prep’s Anthony Rightley catches a touchdown pass over Pine-Richland’s Luke Meckler during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
St. Joseph’s Prep quarterback Kyle McCord throws a pass during the PIAA Class 6A state semifinal against Pine-Richland Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
St. Joseph’s Prep’s Zach Bouggess intercepts a pass intended for Pine-Richland’s Shane Cafardi during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Members of the Pine-Richland band watch in a steady, cold rain during the Rams’ PIAA Class 6A state semifinal against St. Joseph’s Prep Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
St. Joseph’s Prep’s Johnny Freeman catches a pass in front of Pine-Richland’s Dylan Stenson during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
St. Joseph’s Prep’s Kolbe Burrell scores during the first half of a PIAA Class 6A state semifinal against Pine-Richland Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Members of the Pine-Richland band watch in a steady, cold rain during the Rams’ PIAA Class 6A state semifinal against St. Joseph’s Prep Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
St. Joseph’s Prep’s Zach Bouggess chases down Pine-Richland’s Shane Cafardi during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Pine-Richland’s Luke Meckler walks from the field after a Rams turnover during the PIAA Class 6A state semifinal against St. Joseph’s Prep Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Pine-Richland’s Luke Meckler is tackled for a loss by St. Joseph’s Prep’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr. during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
St. Joseph’s Prep’s Marvin Harrison Jr. catches a pass next to Pine-Richland’s Dylan Stenson during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Pine-Richland quarterback Cole Spencer is sacked by St. Joseph’s Prep’s Myles Talley during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Pine-Richland’s Tyler King hangs his head after a St. Joseph’s Prep touchdown during the PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
St. Joseph’s Prep’s Zach Bouggess breaks up a pass intended for Pine-Richland’s Tyler King in the end zone during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Pine-Richland’s Luke Meckler is tackled by St. Joseph’s Prep’s Liam Johnson during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
St. Joseph’s Prep’s Anthony Rightley catches a touchdown pass over Pine-Richland’s Luke Meckler during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
St. Joseph’s Prep quarterback Kyle McCord throws a pass during the PIAA Class 6A state semifinal against Pine-Richland Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
St. Joseph’s Prep’s Zach Bouggess intercepts a pass intended for Pine-Richland’s Shane Cafardi during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Members of the Pine-Richland band watch in a steady, cold rain during the Rams’ PIAA Class 6A state semifinal against St. Joseph’s Prep Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
St. Joseph’s Prep’s Johnny Freeman catches a pass in front of Pine-Richland’s Dylan Stenson during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
St. Joseph’s Prep’s Kolbe Burrell scores during the first half of a PIAA Class 6A state semifinal against Pine-Richland Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
Members of the Pine-Richland band watch in a steady, cold rain during the Rams’ PIAA Class 6A state semifinal against St. Joseph’s Prep Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
St. Joseph’s Prep’s Zach Bouggess chases down Pine-Richland’s Shane Cafardi during their PIAA Class 6A state semifinal Saturday, Dec. 1 2018, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
ALTOONA — Pine-Richland’s highlight Saturday was a 21-yard scramble on a fake punt, a short-lived moment of joy for a team that already trailed by 30 points.
On the next play, the Rams threw an interception.
It was that kind of afternoon.
Pine-Richland’s offense sputtered and its defense struggled against St. Joseph’s Prep quarterback Kyle McCord, who passed for 305 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-0 victory at Mansion Park Stadium in a PIAA Class 6A semifinal.
This was a rematch from last season’s state championship in Hershey that Pine-Richland won 41-21. But this time the Rams fell behind early and trailed 23-0 before halftime.
“We were outmatched,” Pine-Richland coach Eric Kasperowicz said. “They just had better guys than we did. They threw the ball up and made catches.”
Despite a cold, steady rain, McCord completed 22 of 31 attempts with touchdowns of 42, 10 and nine yards. The sophomore quarterback completed passes to seven different receivers including four to sophomore Marvin Harrison Jr., whose father was an NFL star.
Pine-Richland (12-2) was trying to reach the state finals for the third time in five seasons. Instead, St. Joseph’s Prep will face Harrisburg in the championship next Saturday night in Hershey. The Philadelphia Catholic League powerhouse could win its fourth PIAA title since 2013.
St. Joseph’s Prep rushed for 118 yards on 35 carries and junior running back Kolbe Burrell scored two short touchdowns, but overall Pine-Richland defended the run well. Burrell gained more than half of his team’s total on a 65-yard run in the fourth quarter.
McCord caused trouble throughout.
The 6-foot-3 quarterback entered Saturday with 2,299 passing yards and 30 touchdowns along with scholarship offers from Penn State, West Virginia, Michigan, Arizona and more.
“He’s really good,” Kasperowicz said. “We were having fits — bringing pressure, bringing five, bringing six, bringing four, doubling this receiver — and he was smooth. He’s only a sophomore too, which is scary.”
McCord accounted for all but 20 of Prep’s 262 first-half yards. He completed 15 of 24 attempts for 242 yards. On the first possession alone McCord completed five for 106 yards, ending with a 42-yard touchdown to Marques Mason for a 6-0 lead.
“What people miss about him is his ability to see the field,” Prep coach Gabe Infante said. “He’s got great vision so he does a good job of making decisions for us. His ball-placement is exceptional.”
Burrell followed with touchdown runs of three and two yards, and Antonio Chadha added a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter for a 23-0 lead.
“We watched their film and they were playing teams that were scared of them,” Burrell said. “We had the mentality that we were just going to come in and fight, fight, fight.”
Pine-Richland’s offense totaled only 61 yards in the first half.
The Rams started aggressively and recovered an onside kick on the opening kickoff, but couldn’t turn that momentum into points. Their first two possessions ended with failed fourth-down conversions.
The first drive stalled at Prep’s 15-yard line, and the second stopped at their own 41.
“We had lots of opportunities there,” Kasperowicz said. “I think (after) that onside kick there, not being able to convert kind of took the momentum out of us a little bit. We’re so used to putting that away and getting some points there. That first half probably goes a little differently if we do.”
Pine-Richland rushed for 117 yards on 36 carries, and quarterback Cole Spencer completed 6 of 25 throws for 39 yards and two interceptions. Spencer led the Rams with 53 yards on 22 carries.
Their longest gain was Anthony Cerminara’s 21-yard fake punt late in the third quarter.
“That’s a good football team,” Kasperowicz said. “Well-coached, they’ve got dudes everywhere, they were definitely a better team.”
Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.
