Big nights from Philipsburg-Osceola running backs lead to win over Westmont Hilltop
It’s becoming more common for football teams to have a “thunder and lightning” running back combination in the backfield.
Penn State has Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. And in high school football, one example is Philipsburg-Osceola’s Sam McDonald and Colton Chapman.
McDonald and Chapman ran wild on the Westmont Hilltop defense to lead the Mounties to a 44-14 win inside Mountaineer Stadium on Friday night.
The duo combined for 248 of P-O’s 289 yards rushing, and had their hands on every touchdown scored.
“Those are the leaders, that’s why they’re two of the captains,” Mounties couch Jeff Vroman said. “All summer long they were there all the time. They never gave an excuse. People see Friday Night Lights, but don’t realize when all the hard work and the preparation starts. It’s no surprise that they had those statistics.”
McDonald, who is the lightning of the combo, did a bulk of the damage with his jet sweeps.
The 5-foot-8, 145-pound senior carried the ball seven times for 134 yards and two scores. He added three receptions for 88 yards and two more scores.
McDonald’s final reception of the game was a 13-yard score with 7:27 left in the third quarter to make it 37-6 at the time. The catch was his 38th of the season, which set a new season record for P-O’s program.
“I just go back to the lineman and everyone who blocks for me. I just think they did awesome tonight,” McDonald said. “When we throw the ball, I get open and just try to make plays. We worked as a team.”
Chapman, who is the thunder, has no problems crashing up the middle on dives and counters.
The 5-foot-8, 160-pound junior toted the ball 15 times for 114 yards. He recorded the game’s first score on the Mounties’ first possession of the game.
The possession was a seven-play drive that saw Chapman carry it five consecutive times with the fifth carry being that touchdown from eight yards out.
“Whenever I’m on a football field, to me, it just seems like I’m unstoppable — no one’s better than me; no one’s bigger than me. It just gives me the drive to keep going,” Chapman said. “I think tonight was the first time we truly played as a team all night. The line blocked amazingly. The lead backs were great, I can’t do it by myself.”
Centre County’s Friday Scores
Bald Eagle Area 32, Johnstown 26 (2OT)
Bishop McCort-Bishop Carroll 28, Bellefonte 0
Somerset 56, Penns Valley 42
State College 55, Central Dauphin East 17
