BY HUGH CONRAD
ARMAGH — The script looked so much like it did on Sept. 25. That night, United spotted Penns Manor a 14-0 halftime lead only to charge back and hand the Comets their only loss of the season, 25-22.
The Lions again spotted the Comets a 14-0 halftime lead in the District 6-A quarterfinals Saturday night before an overflow crowd at Thomas J. Madill Stadium. Those 14 points came as a result of two United turnovers and a great performance by Comets freshman quarterback Danny Ferens.
However, the Lions charged back and came within six points, 14-8, with 9:26 left in the game.
The Comets (10-1) were not denied, as Ferens keyed a 20-14 victory.
“We had three turnovers in the first half, and then we came out in the second half and (Penns Manor) had a long drive,” United coach Greg Mytrysak said about his Heritage Conference champions. “I give credit to their quarterback, (Danny) Ferens, because he made some big third-down plays. That quarterback constantly made big plays.”
In the first half, two Lions fumbles led to Penns Manor touchdowns.
On the first, Ferens took the ball to his right and cut back against the grain, outracing the United secondary for a 62-yard score.
Mark Conway converted the first of his two first-half PATs for a 7-0 advantage.
After the second fumble gave the Comets possession at the United 41, Ferens led a six-play,
41-yard drive that culminated in a 3-yard run by the quarterback, giving the Comets a 14-0 advantage.
Then the Comets took their opening drive of the second half to the United 1-yard line. However, Penns Manor running back Ben Miller was stuffed short of the goal line on a fourth-and-1 by Shaquille Howard.
That led to a 99-yard United drive, aided by some key Penns Manor penalties. Kody Oliver went in from the 1 and Dom Chero burst off the left side for the 2-point conversion to narrow Penns Manor’s lead to 14-8.
Back came the Comets, taking advantage of a good kickoff return and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Lions to move deep into United territory.
On a third-and-13 from the United 43, Ferens again drove a stake into the Lions’ hearts, scrambling away from pressure and moving to the United 11.
Again the Lion defense stiffened, but on a fourth-and-goal from the 3, Ferens found Travis Trimble open for a touchdown with 5:02 left.
Back came the Lions, moving 73 yards for a score as Kody Oliver rushed in from 3 yards out to narrow the lead to 20-14.
However, an onsides kick attempt was ineffective, and the Comets moved on the face Bishop McCort at Point Stadium next week the 6-A semifinals.
Mytrysak looked at the crowd and the job that his team did and reflected on the Lions’ 9-2 season.
“It’s incredible,” Mytrysak said about the crowd.
“The people, these fans, adopted our team. They just turn out.”
Ferens rushed for 137 yards on 13 carries, and Trimble added 103 yards on 10 carries to give Penns Manor the victory.
