Dragons Earn Top Seed in D-6 3A Playoffs

A 21-point third-quarter explosion Friday night, Oct. 16, helped the Central High School football team remain undefeated.

The Dragons turned a 14-7 lead into a 35-point cushion against Penns Valley en route to a 42-13 victory at Roaring Spring Athletic Field.

The win was the Dragons' sixth in as many games in 2020. Penns Valley, meanwhile slipped to 1-3 overall.

Central sophomore quarterback Jeff Hoenstine tossed five touchdown passes to five different receivers and ran for a score. On the receiving end of Hoenstine's scoring passes were senior Demetrious Harbaugh and Hunter Klotz, juniors Devon Boyles and Parker Gregg and sophomore Eli Lingenfelter.

Hoenstine finished the night with 288 passing yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions on 19 of 32 passing and finished with 49 yards rushing and one touchdown on eight carries.

Gregg led seven different receivers with 71 yards receiving on four catches. Boyles had five catches for 55 yards and Harbaugh five receptions for 51 yards. Freshman Hunter Smith had two receptions for 45 receiving yards.

Six different players carried the ball for CHS, led by Gregg's 53 rushing yards on eight carries. Sophomore Kade Rhule added six carries for 22 rushing yards.

Defensively, the Dragons picked off Penns Valley's quarterbacks three times.

Senior Seth Baney carried the ball 16 times for 119 yards and one touchdown for Penns Valley.

Central outgained Penns Valley in total yards, 425-189.

Central has earned the top seed in the District 6 Class 3A playoffs and will entertain fourth-seeded Westmont Hilltop (2-3), Johnstown, in a semifinal game at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Hollidaysburg's Tiger Stadium.

Friday's winner will battle either second-seeded Tyrone or third-seeded Penn Cambria, who will play Saturday, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Mansion Park, Altoona.