Little Lions crown Monarchs

Steve Richards

STATE COLLEGE — After falling to Central Dauphin last week, State College picked up a much needed bounceback win in convincing fashion, beating John Marshall (W.Va.) 56-20 Friday.

CDT/Christopher Weddle

State College's Alex Kenney runs the ball against John Marshall's (W.Va.) Derek Lantz (24) on Friday, September 25, 2009. CDT/Christopher Weddle

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The Little Lions, who whipped John Marshall 65-0 last season, picked up where they left off against the Monarchs.

Up-back Brad Holzwarth returned the opening kickoff 41 yards to the John Marshall 39. Penn State commit Alex Kenney finished the job from there, scampering in on the game’s first play from scrimmage. Kevin DiSanto's extra point made the score 7-0 just 19 seconds into the game.

Quarterback Matt Mazzara added to the margin as his 27-yard touchdown run capped off a four-play, 57-yard drive with four minutes left in the quarter.

“He really ran tough tonight,” State College Al Wolski said of Mazzara, who gained 53 yards on six carries. “That’s what he brings to the table as a quarterback.”

The Little Lions added a third first-quarter score as Kenney swept in from 27 yards out to make the score 21-0. Kenney led the Little Lions with 81 yards on just four carries.

Unlike last season when it finished with minus-41 yards rushing, John Marshall showed some offensive life in the second quarter, thanks to Aaron Fonner. The Monarchs quarterback capped an 87-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run.

“They are a much better team,” said Wolski, whose team was outgained 400-370, largely behind Fonner’s 324 yards through the air. “They could hardly muster up two consecutive plays last year; they’ve come a long way from that point.”

State College knocked out any upset thoughts right away as Bryan Schmidt took the ensuing kickoff back 85 yards for a score to make it 28-14.

Fonner, who completed 20-of- 31passes didn’t seemed discouraged by anything though. He led another scoring drive, capped by a 24-yard strike to tight end Matt Carnahan. A missed extra point left the score 28-13 with 5:13 left before halftime.

State College would score quickly again in a bizarre way. Mazzara hit Kenney with a swing pass out of the backfield. Kenney went 60 yards for a touchdown, walking into the end zone as the Monarchs stopped when the play looked to be negated by a penalty.

The officials picked up the flag and the score stood to give State College a 35-13 lead.

State College (3-1) added one more score before the half with backup quarterback Josh Weakland running the two-minute offense. Weakland hit tight end Colby Way, who dragged several tacklers in into the end zone for a 30-yard score just 13 seconds before the break. The Little Lions led 42-13 heading into the locker room.

The lead was bumped to 36 when lineman Dustin Gates picked up a defensive triple with a sack, fumble recovery and touchdown from one yard out at the 5:07 mark of the third quarter.

The Monarchs never showed any quit on their sideline, even after the 35-point mercy rule was put into effect. Another Fonner touchdown pass went to Josh Lucas late in the third quarter to pull John Marshall again within 29. Lucas finished as the leading receiver for the Monarchs with four catches for 95 yards.

State College closed out the scoring with a 9-yard run from reserve John Haffner in the fourth quarter.

Despite Fonner’s passing totals, State College won through the running game, with 275 yards on the ground. The Little Lion defense also forced five turnovers and State College didn’t turn the ball over against the Monarch defense.