Harrisburg erupts for 27 points in second quarter, breaks two-game slide by outlasting Chambersburg

Harrisburg welcomed back one explosive component Saturday and displayed some of that big-play potential, all in the nick of time.

Quarterback John McNeill threw for three touchdowns, including a pair to speedster Kamere Day, and Harrisburg’s defense rose to the occasion against Chambersburg, claiming a much-needed 27-25 victory at Severance Field.

The Cougars, trailing 14-0, erupted for 27 second-quarter points and held off a valiant comeback bid by the visitors. The outcome was still in doubt until Day intercepted a Brady Stumbaugh pass with less than a minute to play.

McNeil, who added a short TD run, took every snap for the Cougars (5-3, 3-2) and threw for 246 yards, connecting with Day for scoring strikes of 80 and 29 yards.

On the other side, the Trojans (5-3, 3-2) were limited to 95 rushing yards on 35 attempts. Still, Mark Luther’s squad pushed back in a tense Mid-Penn Commonwealth scuffle.

Trojans’ RB Keyshawn Jones carried 24 times for 63 yards and two scores.

STARS

Stumbaugh was elusive early, converted multiple third-down chances with his arm and legs. The Trojans’ first two possessions totaled 14 and 13 plays, with Jones capping both series. Wideout Tyler Luther (5 catches, 64 yards) also was a key contributor in moving the chains.

Harrisburg, which ran just three plays in the first 14 minutes of the game, finally set the fuse when McNeil found Day 15-yards behind the defense for a deep TD strike.

Seconds later, after DT Sa’Quan Carter-Barton recovered a Chambersburg fumble, McNeil scrambled to his right and somehow found Day chasing left in the back of the end zone. Day finished with 3 catches for 119 yards.

With the Trojans forced to punt on their next possession, Harrisburg used a 50-yard run by Jaylon Johnston to set up McNeil’s fourth down sneak, giving Harrisburg the lead for good.

It got worse for Chambersburg just before halftime when Donte Kent, returning to action after suffering a shoulder injury vs. CD East in week 4, snagged a dart from McNeil and raced 64 yards to the house.

GAME-SEALING MOMENT

Luther’s 37-yard field goal, coupled with Stumbaugh’s QB sneak and 2-point conversion pass to Bryce Diller, pulled the Trojans to within 27-25 late in the third quarter. Chambersburg’s last three possessions, however, ended with two punts and a game-ending interception.

A tackle-for-loss by Wyatt Hull, and sack by Garner Funk, helped stall Harrisburg and its attempt to run out the final 4:35.

With Chambersburg starting its final drive at its own 30, Stumbaugh’s 9-yard keeper provided a new set of downs before a Tymek Everett-Evans sack pushed the Trojans to third-and-18. Seconds later, Day stepped in.

THEY SAID IT

“I just told them to remain calm, let’s not get bent out of shape. They got the ball and went right down and scored. We had three plays and punted it away, and they went right down the field and scored again. The biggest thing was making sure our guys kept their composure and that’s something they did do. – Harrisburg coach Calvin Everett

“I saw he was one-on-one and trust Kamere because of his speed. I knew he was going to be wide open when the play first started.” – Harrisburg QB John McNeil on his 80-yard touchdown pass to Kamere Day

“I think we just needed a shot of momentum. Once we came out and were able to hit something from an offensive standpoint, that certainly injected some life into the guys. They got after it after that point.” -- Everett

Chambersburg 7-7-11-0 25

Harrisburg 0-27-0-0 27

First quarter

C-Keyshawn Jones 2 run (Tyler Luther kick), 5:03

Second quarter

C-Jones 5 run (Luther kick), 9:55

H-Kamere Day 80 pass from John McNeil (McNeil kick), 9:44

H-Day 29 pass from McNeil (kick failed), 7:47

H-McNeil 1 run (run failed), 2:37

H-Donte Kent 64 pass from McNeil (Tymek Everett-Evans run), :43

Third quarter

C-FG Luther 37, 7:35

C-Brady Stumbaugh 1 run (Bryce Diller pass from Stumbaugh), 4:03

Team Stats CH H

First downs 10 11

Rush-Yards 35-95 30-112

Passing 93 246

Comp-Att-Int 8-16-1 11-15-2

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0

Punts-Avg. 4-34.5 3-37

Penalties 4-25 6-40

Individual statistics

RUSHING—Chambersburg, Keyshawn Jones 24-63, Brady Stumbaugh 11-32; Harrisburg, Jaylon Johnston 11-85, Tymek Everett-Evans 7-31, Jahmir Plant 6-9, Team 1-(-1), John McNeil 5-(-12).

PASSING—Chambersburg, Stumbaugh 8-16-1--93; Harrisburg, McNeil 11-15-2—246.

RECEIVING—Chambersburg, Tyler Luther 5-64, Sam Vessah 1-24, Kevin Lee Jr. 1-4, Jones 1-1; Harrisburg, Kamere Day 3-119, Donte Kent 2-94, Jaylon Johnston 1-18, Kyle William Jr. 3-16, Plant 2-(-1).

Follow Eric Epler on Twitter -- @threejacker

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