Hardy’s return, big game give Penn Hill state title
Daequan Hardy returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown Friday to help Penn Hills to a 36-31 victory over Manheim Central in the PIAA Class 5A championship, but that end-zone-to-end-zone sprint was only a small part of Hardy’s night at Hersheypark Stadium.
Hardy scored four touchdowns and made three interceptions as Penn Hills (16-0) celebrated the second state title in school history and its first since 1995.
Along with the 100-yard interception return, Hardy had touchdown catches of 74 and 27 yards and returned a kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown.
Still, Penn Hills had to hold off a late rally by Manheim Central (15-1).
Southern Columbia 49, Wilmington 14: Junior running back Gaige Garcia scored five touchdowns and Southern Columbia won its second straight PIAA Class 2A football title with a 49-14 victory over Wilmington.
It’s the ninth state title for Southern Columbia, which is the most in Pennsylvania history.
Garcia caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Stone Hollenbach in the first half and Southern Columbia (16-0) scored 35 second-half points. Garcia had touchdown runs of 5, 26, 37 and 38 yards.
Wilmington (13-2), the District 10 champion, led 14-7 in the second quarter but managed only 15 yards of offense in the third quarter as the Tigers took charge.
Garcia rushed 19 times for 134 yards and Shane Miller had a pair of interceptions.