Central Catholic defeated Harrisburg 32-14 in the Pennsylvania Class 6A semifinals on Friday, securing their place in the state championship game. A dominant second half performance propelled Central Catholic to victory, punctuated by key defensive plays and a strong rushing attack.
The game, played at a neutral site, saw Harrisburg struggle with turnovers in the fourth quarter, ultimately sealing their fate. Central Catholic will now advance to the PIAA Class 6A championship, where they will face the winner of the other semifinal matchup. This marks a meaningful achievement for the Central Catholic program, continuing their pursuit of a state title.
Entering the third quarter, Central Catholic led harrisburg 25-14. Harrisburg faced a challenging second and-15 from inside their own 10-yard line with 1:30 remaining in the quarter.
The decisive fourth quarter began with an interception by Central Catholic’s Zach Gleason at the 11:30 mark,giving his team possession at the 48-yard line.Shortly after, at 6:18, Central Catholic extended their lead with a 26-yard touchdown run by Black Jr., who powered through the offensive line despite initial resistance. The score moved to 32-14.
Harrisburg’s struggles continued with a fumble forced by Ashton Blatt and recovered by Rob Coleman at 4:45, effectively ending any comeback hopes.
