LD grounds Wildcats to earn Keystone title

Sometime during preseason training camp, a determined group of football-playing Lower Dauphin Falcons placed winning the Mid-Penn's Keystone Division at or near the top of its to-do list.

Last night at Mechanicsburg's frosty Memorial Park, those same Falcons stamped an indelible check mark next to Keystone championship and stuck it in the done basket.

Tucker Berry bounced for 170 yards and three touchdowns as LD popped Mechanicsburg 56-14 in a Keystone scrap that was much closer than that at the break. Kevin Gerhart also scored twice on short runs for the Falcons (9-0, 6-0), who ran off the game's final 42 points.

LD's decisive outburst spoiled the final home performance of Notre Dame-bound Mechanicsburg quarterback Zach Frazer, who completed 21 of 42 passes for 286 yards and two scores. Frazer also was intercepted three times, twice by Matt Coyne, who returned his second pick 95 yards for a touchdown.

With Frazer operating out of the shotgun and Mechanicsburg (2-7, 0-5) employing five wideouts, LD spent most of the night sending three rushers, spying with one and dropping everyone but the Hummelstown mayor into the passing lanes. For a half, it didn't matter.

"We threw a lot of coverages at him," LD skipper Rob Klock said. "He's a special player. His receivers also made some nice plays."

No kidding.

When Frazer found Dan Zangari (7 catches for 91 yards) on a 3-yard curl with 1:25 remaining in the first half, Mechanicsburg actually stood on the upper end of the scoreboard. The Wildcats' 14-13 lead disappeared quickly, as LD QB Zach Umberger found James Weigle for a 6-yard score just 53 ticks later.

"This was one hell of a football game," said Mechanicsburg coach Rich Lichtel. "No one can stop this passing attack; we stop ourselves. I think our receivers stepped up tonight and showed what they can do."

Wouldn't be enough, though, as LD quickly took control after the break.

Gerhart capped the Falcons' opening drive with the second of his 4-yard scoring runs. Then, after a three-and-out, Berry wheeled 31 yards on a draw play that featured a nifty cut to the left boundary to make it 35-14.

Mechanicsburg tried to answer, but Frazer's deep heave to Zangari was swiped by Coyne at the 5. Moments later, after spotting a lane down the left sideline, the LD senior corner was rolling toward the end zone.

While Frazer's night was over -- Lichtel said he had soreness in his throwing arm and rib cage -- LD was just beginning to crank up the celebration. That finally arrived with seconds left, McCann and Angeloff dumping what was left in the LD coolers on Klock as he stood on the sideline.

"[Winning the Keystone] was one of the goals we established for this team," Klock said. "They did a great job of going one game at a time. Now, they have a championship."

Township tops Wildcats By Sam Butler, October 25, 2005 Susquehanna Township followed its running game to a 42-0 win over Mechanicsburg Monday night in a makeup Mid-Penn Keystone Division football game. The Indian attack was all about big plays. Of the five touchdowns only one came from less than 10 yards - a Wynton Williams 1-yard score in the fourth quarter. The other four, all greater than 10 yards. The first was a 10 yard pass from Ray Wagner to Adam Ross with 4:37 left in the second quarter. About 40 seconds later it was Joseph Lapkowicz breaking free on a 45 yard run for another seven points and a 14-0 halftime lead.

Mechanicsburg’s Jason Misiti tries to elude Susquehanna Township defender Thomas Thaxton Monday night at Memorial Park in Mechanicsburg. (Michael Bupp/The Sentinel)

Lapkowicz then broke free for a 31-yard score at 10:11 in the third quarter. Four minutes later Anthony Steele scored on a 68-yard option play. To top things off Obinna Rajis broke free from 55 yards out for yet another touchdown and a 35-0 lead with two minutes left in the third quarter.

Those five big plays led to a grand total of 395 rushing yards on 39 carries. Rajis racked up 115 yards on 11 carries, Steele had 83 yards on six carries. Lapkowicz got the call three times for 78 yards. Robert Barns added 56 yards on seven carries and Joseph Badaczewski broke off a 45 yard run as well.

With the points and rushing yards mounting and the clock not stopping, the Wildcats tried to respond with their passing game.

In the second half Mechanicsburg ran the ball one time for minus-1 yard. For the game it rushed 11 times for minus-6 yards, three coming on Zach Frazer sacks.

The Wildcats did find success in the short passing game, with receivers chalking up the yards after the catch. Frazer managed to connect with seven different receivers, but for the fifth time this season the Wildcats were shutout. Frazer connected on 22-of-41 passes for 227 yards and two interceptions. Greg Drake was the leading receiver with four catches for 103 yards.

The short passing game worked because head coach Rich Lichtel was not afraid to have Frazer throw some bombs down the field. But the short game put the pressure on the receivers to make the catches.

October 19, 2005

Sorry for the delay in the updates on the site.  The Freshman team ran their record to 7-0 this week by defeating Lower Dauphin, 27-14.  The final game for the Frosh is Wednesday, Oct. 26 vs. Central Dauphin.   Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Park.  

The JV's fell to an unbeaten Gettysburg team 28-14 Last Monday night.  The JV's drop to 2-4 on the year with the afternoon contest at LD next Monday.   

October 15, 2005

GETTYSBURG 35, MECHANICSBURG 0

Terrill Barnes scored three times in the first half on an 8-yard catch and runs of 1 and 2 yards as the Warriors (6-1, 3-1) shut out the visiting Wildcats (2-5, 0-3) in a Keystone Division contest. Curtis Corbin scored midway through the third quarter on a 1-yard run. Quarterback Storm Woerner sealed the contest by connecting from 8 yards to Sean Manahan. Evan Lewis connected with Barnes on the first pass. He followed with three extra points. The Wildcats passed for 212 yards. Lewis and Woerner shared QB duties for Gettysburg, combining for 195 yards (15-of-18).

October 6, 2005

PALMYRA 42, MECHANICSBURG 13

Derek Fackler ran for five touchdowns in the game's first 30 minutes and piled up 175 yards in the visiting Cougars' easy win. The Wildcats' (2-4, 0-2) entire offense was Zach Frazer's passing. He managed 127 air yards on 11 completions and tossed a TD to Josh Gaffney a minute before halftime to make it 28-7 at the break.

But Palmyra (3-3, 1-2) got a more efficient night from QB Jon Garver, who hit seven of his 10 passes and ran for a third-quarter TD.

Frazer unfazed by drop in stats

It doesn't happen terribly often, but we get this on occasion from high school football players:

"You want to talk to me?"

The tone is not one of incredulity. It is more of a request, bordering on a demand.  More....

October 6, 2005

The Freshman team remained undefeated (5-0) by shutting out Middletown last night in a hard fought game, 20-0.  Next up for the Frosh  ~  home vs. Altoona next Thursday night. The JV's (2-3) lost to a machine-like Cumberland Valley team on Monday night 58-21.  The JV 'Cats travel to Palmyra next Monday night.  

September 30, 2005

MIDDLETOWN 21, MECHANICSBURG 10:

Middletown (2-3, 1-1) rushed for 247 yards while winning its first Mid-Penn Keystone game. The Blue Raiders got a 27-yard touchdown run from Chuckie Moyer in the first quarter and a pair of touchdown passes from Kyle Bennett to Kyle Anthony and James Lyles. Mechanicsburg (2-3, 0-1) had 197 yards passing from Zach Frazer, who hit Mike Hellam with an 18-yard touchdown. Bobby Warshaw added a 23-yard field goal for the Wildcats.

September 30, 2005

MIDDLETOWN 21, MECHANICSBURG 10:

Middletown (2-3, 1-1) rushed for 247 yards while winning its first Mid-Penn Keystone game. The Blue Raiders got a 27-yard touchdown run from Chuckie Moyer in the first quarter and a pair of touchdown passes from Kyle Bennett to Kyle Anthony and James Lyles. Mechanicsburg (2-3, 0-1) had 197 yards passing from Zach Frazer, who hit Mike Hellam with an 18-yard touchdown. Bobby Warshaw added a 23-yard field goal for the Wildcats.

September 28, 2005
Schedule Changes & Scores

The following additions and changes have been made to the JV & Freshman Football Schedules.  This coming Monday, October 3rd, the JV football team will play Cumberland Valley at 6:30 p.m. at John H. Fredrick Field at Memorial Park Stadium.  The Freshman football team has picked up another "taxi" squad scrimmage on October 6, 2005 vs. Red Land at the Mechanicsburg Middle School practice field starting at 4:30 p.m. 

The JV football team (2-2) lost a rain-soaked heartbreaker this past Monday to Shippensburg 14-12 while the Freshman team (4-0)rolled over Susquehanna Twp. 39-0 last night.  

September 24, 2005

Pass play helps Wildcats drop Ship

By Brett Smith, September 24, 2005

A Zach Frazer 50-yard touchdown pass to Jason Misitl in the first quarter was all Mechanicsburg could put together against Shippensburg on Friday night, but that proved to be enough as the Wildcats limped past the Greyhounds 7-0 in a nondivision game.

In a game that was full of missed opportunities by both teams, Frazer's bomb with 2:25 left in the first quarter, caught Misitl in stride down the sideline for the games only score.

"Frazer's the real deal," said Mechanicsburg coach Rich Lichtel. "That was a great pass. We hurt ourselves with a lot of mistakes though. We were lucky to get out of here with a win. Shippensburg played great defensively."

The star quarterback didn't have the best of nights, completing only 3-of-12 passes for 67 yards, as Mechanicsburg tried to establish a running game early.

"We've got young guys and our receivers aren't running their routes with authority yet," added Lichtel. "I made the mistake of trying to be a passing team the first few games of the season. We're not the team we were last year and we needed to taylor some things down."

However the Wildcats only managed 69 yards on 30 carries.

It was the Greyhounds who found their running game in front of their home crowd. Shippensburg finished the night with 171 yards on 36 carries. Milton Webber rushed for 61 yards on 15 carries, while teammate John Kerr tallied 65 yards on just nine carries.

The Greyhound rushing attack couldn't translate to points and left Shippensburg scoreless in its last three games, and last 14 quarters of play.

"It's the most frustrating thing in the world," said Kerr after the game. "Tonight our offensive line was phenomenal and we were getting holes to run through. We were moving the ball, but we couldn't score again. We made simple mistakes. I don't even think it was the one big play that cost us the game, it was just the simple mistakes we made. It's just really frustrating."

Both defenses came up with big stops throughout the night.

Mechanicsburg linebacker Mike Scalese intercepted a Craig Van Sycoc (6-15-1, 44 yards) pass and was just one of three turnovers the Wildcats took from Shippensburg.

The Greyhound defense came through on a huge fourth down play on their own four-yard line. Only 30 seconds remained in the first half when Mechanicsburg chose to go for the fourth-and-one rather than attempt a field goal. Shippensburg defense stopped a Misitl run at the line of scrimmage and leaving the Wildcats empty handed.

The defense used that momentum and didn't give up a first-down to Mechanicsburg in the entire second half.

"We played really well on defense," said Greyhound coach Eric Foust. "Their quarterback made one big play and that was it. We played great up front, we played great in the secondary.

"I'm not happy tonight, but I'm not upset. I'm proud of the way my guys played. We were able to get our running game going, we couldn't finish tonight though. That was the problem, we couldn't convert."

Friday night's game at Shippensburg came after a series of events at the Shippensburg Senior High School earlier in the day. Concern arose when rumors of possible firearms being brought to school caused some students to leave school early.

"It was definitely a distraction," said Foust. "I can't get into it, but we shouldn't have to deal with that at school."

"I think as players, we just wanted to get out on the field and get our minds off of it," added Kerr.

Mechanicsburg (2-2, 0-0 Keystone) opens division play next week when they travel to Middletown.

Shippensburg (0-4,0-0 Colonial) also opens division play next Friday when they host Northern.

September 22, 2005

Freshman 'Cats topple Bishop McDevitt 28-6.  

September 20, 2005

JV's rally from 14 points down to trip Northern 34-26  in a wild game last night in Dillsburg.

Bears love to run

By Jeff Pratt, September 17, 2005

Northern got the spark it needed, the ball control offense it craved and a dominating defensive effort against Mechanicsburg Friday night.

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? Polar Bears head coach Rick Mauck certainly does.

Even a torrential downpour that eventually ended the game with 9:38 remaining in the fourth quarter didn't dampen the Polar Bears' spirits in a 22-0 nondivision win at John Frederick Field at Memorial Park in Mechanicsburg.

"We needed this game," Mauck said. "Everything we did worked out. It was one of those things where the game plan came together perfectly."

Junior Chad Halterman was the spark that lit Northern's fire, turning in a 68-yard punt return for a score to start the game and adding a 42-yard interception return for a score in the second quarter to break open the game.

With those points on the board, Northern's defense and offense slipped perfectly into their plans of attack.

For the Polar Bear D, that meant sitting back and smothering Mechanicsburg receivers while getting as much pressure on Wildcat senior QB Zach Frazer as possible.

For the Polar Bear O, that meant run, run, run. Northern controlled the ball thanks to a ground game that produced 210 yards on 35 carries from six different backs, building a 23:38-14:44 advantage in time of possession in the game.

"We had 79 offensive snaps combined in the last two games," Mauck said about losses to Bermudian Springs and Central York. "Our defense was just on the field way too much, nearly a 2-1 margin."

Against Frazer and the Wildcats' wide-open offense, that's exactly what Northern avoided Friday. By controlling the ball and using Halterman's two big plays, the Polar Bears sat back and forced Frazer to make perfect throws while under pressure. With some dropped balls and some errant throws mixed together, the Wildcats never found any rhythm in the game.

Frazer finished 8-for-26 for 133 yards with one interception. In fact, Mechanicsburg even pulled out of its spread offense late in the second quarter, switching to a two-back set and mixing in 12 runs the rest of the way.

That did result in some ball movement, with the Wildcats (1-2) producing a 10-play, 71-yard drive in the third quarter. But the Polar Bear defense stiffened inside the 10-yard line, forcing two Frazer incomplete passes to stall the drive.

And when Northern forced a fumble and Bret Seik recovered, the Polar Bear offense started another long march. using a mix of Halterman and Mike Romagnoli runs to march through a heavy rain to the Wildcat 6-yard line with 9:38 to play in the game.

That's when lightning flashed in the distance and the referees sent both teams to the locker rooms for a delay. After about an hour of rain and lightning, officials from both schools got together and called the game.

"We definitely don't want to send a message to the kids that we don't think they can come back," Mechanicsburg athletic director Andrea Teeter said. Teeter said she talked with Northern AD Gerald Schwille, and then Mechanicsburg Senior High School principal David Harris made the final call to call the game.

"One option was to come back tomorrow and play, but Northern was concerned about getting busses," Teeter said. "We don't even know about officials.

"If it was a tight game, we would be playing tomorrow," he added. "But Northern had the ball and was about to score with 9 minutes left ... is it worth it to bring everyone back? It's just a logistics nightmare for everyone involved."

"I want to compliment the Mechanicsburg people," Mauck said. "They made the right decision for the students of both schools."

Box score

POLAR BEARS 22, WILDCATS 0
(called with 9:38 to play due to rain)

Northern             7         9         6         0 — 22
Mechanicsburg    0         0         0         0 — 0
First Quarter
N — Chad Halterman 68 punt return (Brent Brockman kick), 11:19
Second Quarter
N — Brockman 39 field goal, 10:08
N — Halterman 42 interception return (kick failed), 8:45
Third Quarter
N — Jimmy Miller 16 run (pass fails), 10:08

Individual Statistics

RUSHING: Northern, Jimmy Miller 6-38; Mike Romagnoli 12-86; Chad Halterman 5-30;

Colby Betz 7-15; Dane Eichelberger 3-24; Gerald Anderson 2-17. Mechanicsburg,

Jason Statler, 5-24; Zach Frazer 3-(-5); Jason Misiti 4-18; Josh Rock 3-16; team

2-(-30).

PASSING: Northern, Colby Betz 2-5-0, 35 yards. Mechanicsburg, Zach Frazer 8-26-1,

133 yards.

RECEIVING: Northern, Corey Betz 1-21; Craig Moose 1-14.Mechanicsburg, Dan Zangari

3-52; Josh Gaffney 1-17; Greg Drake 3-61; Jason Misiti 1-3

September 15, 2005

Wildcats find new targets for Frazer

By Alicia Johnson,
Sentinel Reporter

Young Mechanicsburg receivers adjust to QB’s fastballs.

“When you run a route, you have to get your head around fast, because the ball is coming,” says junior wide receiver Greg Drake, who played in three games last season filling in for an injured Andy Bartels.

“It’s a rocket,” says senior tight end Josh Gaffney. “He has a cannon for an arm. He can split the defenders and get the ball there. He just throws so hard.”

Trinity transfer Dan Zangari began working out with the team last Tuesday, enough time for him to start to understand what the other receivers are talking about.

“He definitely throws harder than anyone I’ve caught the ball from,” Zangari says. “I underestimated when a ball was coming to me. A lot of them don’t look like they are going to make it, they float in the air, but they do. You have to be firm.”

So what is it about a Frazer pass that makes it so special (and so potentially painful)?

His accuracy and his crisp throws are two keys. No matter where a player is on the field, Frazer gets the ball in there, leaving nothing more for his receiver to do but catch it, the three Wildcats explain.

“Zach puts the ball on the money most times,” Gaffney says. “I mean, he’s human and sometimes he may miss a pass, but most times all we have to do is catch it. I’ve seen him make throws on the run that most guys couldn’t make in the pocket.”

Frazer is touted as one of the top quarterbacks in the country, mainly due to the 3,674 passing yards he threw last season, a new Pennsylvania high school passing record, with the District 3 Class AAA runner-up Wildcats.

This season, with not a single receiver returning for 2005, many football fans wondered just how good Frazer would be. A few even whispered he should transfer to another school.

To solve the receiver issue, Frazer and Mechanicsburg head coach Rich Lichtel spent a good chunk of the summer getting their inexperienced receivers use to running routes and, most importantly, getting used to catching a ball from the stud QB.

Lichtel says there were a lot of dropped balls in the beginning, but skills steadily improved as the summer went on.

Things seemed to be moving along just fine until the Wildcats came to Carlisle in week one of the season. For many players, it was the first varsity game of their high school careers. The result: a 47-0 loss and plenty of missed catches.

“They are young, but some of them weren’t ready for varsity when we played Carlisle,” Lichtel says. “They are trying to get better, but they still dropped about four or five passes (against Warwick).”

“That game was more of a wake-up call,” Drake says. “Being the first game of the season, we were nervous.”

Gaffney says by the time the next game rolled around the nerves had calmed down and the receivers were more relaxed. It showed. Mechanicsburg went on to beat Warwick 12-9 Friday. The Wildcats finished with 184 passing yards, 76 more yards than their last game.

With all the gloom and doom predicted for this year’s team, it is on exactly on the same path as last season. In 2004, Mechanicsburg lost to Carlisle 39-9 and defeated Warwick 16-13 in week two.

“You have to be patient with the passing game,” Lichtel says. “It takes three or four weeks. You have to work through the obstacles, and a lot of coaches won’t stay with it. You’re three and out and it doesn’t work well for the offense, but you have to work through it to get rhythm.”

It’s this confidence that Gaffney, Drake and Zangari say keep them and the rest of the Wildcat receivers motivated and striving to do better each day.

And if the day comes when the Wildcat receiving core starts to bring passes in with ease, it will be an excellent addition to a football resume for college recruiters.

Not too many players can say they caught a Frazer pass.

“People know he throws the ball real hard,” Drake says. “If (college recruiters) see that you can catch a ball from Frazer, they might think, ‘Well, they can catch a pass from our quarterback.’”

So the Wildcats will keep passing the ball, no surprise there, and no matter what the outcome, Lichtel says he will stay with his system.

“That is the joy of being a coach,” he says. “To watch these kids grow and progress. I don’t have to worry about what they (critics) think. I’m not going on to something special when I’m done, I’m done.”

September 14, 2005

The Freshman 'Cats roll over Gettysburg 58-0.  Off to a fast start on 2005 the season, the Wildcats travel to Bishop McDevitt next Wednesday, kickoff is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. 

September 12, 2005

Former 'Cats standout Thomas Named Player of the Week

Juniata College senior linebacker Peter Thomas (MASH '00) posted a team-high 12 tackles in Juniata's game against Lycoming College. Thomas had eight unassisted stops, as well as two tackles for a loss in the game. He also added his first interception of the season, which was the fourth pick of his career. The game marked the 14th time in his career that he has recorded at least 10 tackles in a game.

September 17, 2005

NORTHERN 22, MECHANICSBURG 0:

Not a lot was accomplished from scrimmage in three quarters-plus of this interdivisional tussle. But a pair of returns for touchdowns by Chad Halterman were more than enough for the Polar Bears (1-2) in a game called because of lightning with 9:28 left in the fourth quarter. Halterman's returns were both 45 yards -- a first-quarter punt return and a second-quarter interception. The DB also registered six tackles, two solo, as the Bears limited the host Wildcats (1-2) to 151 yards and six first downs.

September 17, 2005 Frazer Accepts Position In All-American Bowl
Zach Frazer		By Tom McLaughlin Special to Scout.com Date: Sep 16, 2005 Mechanicsburg, Pa. -- Recognized as one of the top high school football players in the nation, Zach Frazer of Mechanicsburg, Pa., has been named a 2006 U.S. Army All-American. Frazer is the third central Pennsylvania athlete to be awarded this honor over the past three days, following Jared Odrick of Lebanon, and LeSean McCoy of Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt. The honor of U.S. Army All-American is awarded to 80 outstanding high school football players each year.
Unlike many athletes selected to the Army All-American Bowl, Frazer has his recruiting behind him, as the Pa. single season passing record holder committed to Notre Dame in April. Zach Frazer was humble, but committed as he spoke, accepting his award by thanking God, his family, his friends, coaches and teammates, as well as the U.S. Army for helping him achieve this honor. A packed gymnasium exploded with the announcement, which was made during a pep rally for the entire student body at Mechanicsburg High School. Head coach Rich Lichtel praised Frazer's performance and the character, and thanked the staff, students and administration at Mechanicsburg, as well as the community for providing an environment which encourages success. Frazer has a cannon, yet he has an amazing touch on the deep ball. He can throw the short to intermediate routes as well. He does not possess great 40 speed, but after watching tape on Frazer you can tell he is not slow, he has football speed, says Bob Lichtenfels of Scout.com. Frazer's Mechanicsburg Wildcats have their home opener tonight, and Zach spoke after the presentation about focus, and going out and performing regardless of the hype surrounding him this week. The U.S. Army All-American Bowl kicks off on Saturday, January 7, 2006 from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

September 12, 2005

The JV team falls to Warwick 20-19 in a well-played, hard fought game by both teams.  The JV's travel to Northern next Monday, September 19th.  Game time is 6:30 p.m.

September 10, 2005

Wildcats fight back versus Warwick

From the Patriot News

MECHANICSBURG 12, WARWICK 9

Zach Frazer fired two touchdown passes and 184 yards as the Wildcats (1-1) came back from a 9-0 deficit. The Notre Dame recruit passed 39 yards to Mike Hellam in the second quarter and fired a 74-yard bomb to Jason Misiti for the go-ahead score in the third. Mike Scalese totaled 18 tackles and a sack to pace the Mechanicsburg defense.

From the Sentinel

WILDCATS 12, WARRIORS 9

Mechanicsburg 0 6 6 0 — 12

Warwick 2 7 0 0 — 9

First Quarter
W — Safety ~ ball snapped over head out of the endzone

Second Quarter
W — Snyder 3 pass from Resch (Fitzpatrick kick)
M — Hellam 39 pass from Zach Frazer (kick blocked)

Third Quarter
M — Jason Misiti 74 pass from Frazer (pass failed)

Team Statistics         M                 W
First downs                10                13
Rushes-yards         18-29           39-50
Passing                 10-21-1        12-22-3
Passing yards         182               135
Punts-avg.             5-38.6            3-37
Fumbles-lost            1-0               1-0
Penalties-yards      6-61             1-10

September 7, 2005

Freshman Team Start their year strong with an impressive 41-8 win at Hershey!  Way to go 'Cats!  

September 3, 2005

'Cats fall Hard in Opener

CARLISLE - Apparently, Carlisle will be Heard from again this year in Mid-Penn Commonwealth football.

It wasn't good enough that the Thundering Herd returned one of the midstate's most exciting skill players, quarterback Clem Johnson, and speedy running back Tyreese Marshall from a team that went 11-2 and made the District 3-6 AAAA finals a year ago.  more!

JV's Stop Carlisle 27-14 on Labor Day!

September 03, 2005

Herd wins big

By Jeffrey Kauffman, 

Carlisle opened the 2005 football season just as it did in 2004, utilizing its speed at the skill positions to run past the Mechanicsburg Wildcats 47-0 at Ken Millen Stadium Friday night.

Senior Herd quarterback Clem Johnson tallied three scores on two rushes and a punt return and threw a pass for a fourth score in the first half alone, then took a seat on the bench to watch his younger understudies complete the game in the second half.

Carlisle's defense was up to the task against Notre Dame recruit Zach Frazer. The Herd secondary defended two passes on the opening series and got good field position for the offense.

Thundering Herd junior running back Brandon Heard, a War College transfer, carried twice for 21 yards and Johnson ran around end for 11 and the first score of the game. David Dukes' kick was good.

Frazer got his green receiving corps to catch a couple of passes and down the field, but the drive stalled when Lucas Fickel teamed with Jarrett Boswell and Michael Thompson for two sacks to effectively end the drive. Carlisle got the ball back at its own 31.

"Frazer is a big kid," said Carlisle's Lucas Fickel, who tallied three sacks. "Their offensive line played well, but we hoped that we could pressure him and force him out of his rhythm and hit him when we could, so that was in the back of his mind on the next throw."

After an exchange of series, Carlisle had the ball at its own 48. Johnson connected with Tyrell Shaffer, who made a nice cut to get into the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown. Dukes' PAT made it 14-0.

Carlisle's Clem Johnson (2) tackles Mechanicsburg's Jason Gaffney, second from left, as the Thundering Herd's Michael Thompson (27) looks on Friday. (Jason Minick/The Sentinel)

"I saw that Anderson was in the flat and just rolled toward the end zone, hoping Clem would notice," Shaffer said. " Tyrell just read my mind and made a nice play. He wants to be the go-to guy and he made a nice play there."

A crucial 5-yard offsides penalty against the Wildcats gave the Herd a first down. The key play of the drive was a third-down catch for 16 yards by Ken Anderson. Credit the offensive line throughout the drive, as Johnson went into the end zone untouched on a one-yard sneak.

A patchwork, inexperienced offensive line of sophomore Travis Baughman, and seniors Adam Blood, Sam Bundick, Sean Williamson, Lucas Fickel and Carl Wilson played well together to open holes and allow the speedy runners to get into the secondary.

"I have high expectations for that line, because I know what they are capable of doing," Johnson said. "They played very well."

"The offensive line did a nice job," said Carlisle coach Brent Stroh. "Sam Bundick hadn't started a game, our center is a sophomore in his first game, Blood never started on offense, Carl Wilson is out for the first time. Dukes has started, but not at that position."

After a failed series, Johnson fielded the Wildcat punt at the 34, cut behind a block by Shaffer and split the seam. A big block by Heard downfield allowed Johnson to reach the end zone.

"I used to tell Richard Rayborn last year, ‘I'm catching everything back there as a punt returner,'" Johnson said. "That was a nice punt and I left it drop, but was able to field it and take off. I thought that I was going to have to make a cut, and Tyrell just leveled that guy, and all I had to do was run."

The Herd led 27-0 at halftime.

Heard showed his speed early in the second half, taking a quick handoff, breaking the secondary and racing 77 yards to paydirt. Dukes' point after stretched the lead to 34-0 and sent the Carlisle starters to the bench to watch the rest of the game.

"Brandon Heard is a very good ball player," said Stroh.

One minute later, Heard broke a 21-yard scoring run around the right end, drawing big blocks by Fickel and Shaffer to get into the end zone.

Tyreese Marshall set up the final score as he intercepted a bad pass from Frazer and returned the ball to the 8. Myles Fleming scored from three yards out for the final tally.

Heard tallied 128 yards on seven carries and scored two touchdowns.

Frazer completed 10-of-30 attempts for 103 yards but had at least nine or 10 passes that were dropped or went through receivers' hands.

"Our receivers just dropped passes tonight. Our offensive line is going to do all right this year in pass blocking, but our receivers have to catch the ball when they are open and run better routes," said Mechanicsburg coach Rich Lichtel. "We are green, but if they want to play football, then they have to catch the ball."

"It was a good start. We had some errors special teamwise, a big return," Stroh said. "Offensively, I was very happy. Defensively, we miscommunicated a few times, but we did not allow them to score.

"We can run the ball well, but we also can throw the ball, and some nights we are going to have to do that."

Mechanicsburg travels to Donegal Friday while Carlisle visits Cedar Cliff.

Box Score
THUNDERING HERD 47,  WILDCATS 0

Mechanicsburg         0        0     0     0 — 0
Carlisle                     14    13    20    0 — 47

First Quarter
C — Clem Johnson 11 run (David Dukes kick), 10:07
C — Tyrell Shaffer 31 pass from Johnson (Dukes kick), 1:51

Second Quarter
C — Johnson 1 run (Dukes kick) 3:45
C — Johnson 66 punt return (kick failed), 2:30

Third Quarter
C — Brandon Heard 77 run (Dukes kick) 11:41
C — Heard 21 run (Dukes kick) 10:08
C — Myles Fleming 3 run (kick failed) 5:14
Team Statistics         M             C

First downs             8               14

Rushes-yards      9-(-10)