HS FOOTBALL: Bears outlast Dawgs, 27-20
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Mahanoy Area's #2 Colm McGroarty is brought down by Tri-Valley's #21 Trey Porter.
MAHANOY CITY – Mahanoy Area and Tri-Valley exchanged the lead at least four times before a winner was decided Friday on Homecoming night in Mahanoy City.
A 52-yard run by senior running back Colm McGroarty put Mahanoy Area on the board first early in the 1st quarter.
The Bulldogs would answer three seconds into the second quarter via a run by senior fullback Kash Tobin, but a failed point-after would keep Mahanoy in the lead.
Senior quarterback Blake Schwartz found Hunter Troutman for a go-ahead touchdown with about two minutes left in the half, followed by a successful two point conversion.
A Trey Porter interception for Tri-Valley ended a Mahanoy drive at the very end of the half to give Tri-Valley the 14-7 advantage into the halftime break.
McGroarty would find paydirt again early in the third quarter with a 26-yard run, but a failed point-after kept Tri-Valley ahead 14-13.
He would put Mahanoy ahead a few minutes later with an explosive 61-yard score, and a failed two-point conversion put Mahanoy ahead 19-14.
Standout sophomore Cole Gemberling scored on a 9-yard run for Tri-Valley to put the Dawgs back in front, 20-19.
With 7:25 left to play, Mahanoy junior quarterback Levi Terry connected with senior wideout Ethan Manley to retake the lead for good at 27-20.
The Bears held of the Bulldogs for the remainder of the game, including a hail mary attempt with 1.5 seconds left.
Mahanoy improves to 2-6 with the victory while Tri-Valley falls to 4-4.
The Bears are on the road next Saturday, facing Nativity BVM at Spartan Stadium in Fountain Springs.
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