PA FOOTBALL Ninth try is a charm for Pa. team

Manheim Central had eight losses in past years, before grabbing a win Saturday.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
COATESVILLE, Pa. -- Ryan Plowman's 25-yard field goal in the second quarter lifted Manheim Central to a 3-0 victory over Strath Haven in the PIAA Class AAA semifinals on Saturday.
The win gives Manheim Central (14-0) its first Eastern Championship in school history after eight previous losses in the semifinals.
"I've been the coach at all nine of these and it seemed we'd never get there," Manheim Central coach Mike Williams said of the championship.
Manheim Central was led by running back Jeremiha Hunter, who rushed for 111 yards on 23 carries. Quarterback Jarryd Moyer ran the ball 11 times for 59 yards.
With the win, Manheim Central advances to the PIAA AAA state final against Pine-Richland on Friday at Hersheypark Stadium.
Dan Connor ran 15 times for 57 yards and fumbled once for Strath Haven (13-1).
Northern Lehigh 10, Lakeland 7
ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- Jake Serfass ran for a 14-yard touchdown with 4:56 remaining in the game to lead Northern Lehigh over Lakeland 10-7 in the PIAA Class AA semifinals Saturday.
Northern Lehigh (14-0) advances to play Aliquippa (13-1) for the state AA title next Saturday in Hersheypark Stadium. Aliquippa defeated Slippery Rock 28-15 Friday night to advance to the finals.
Serfass, who rushed 15 times for 90 yards, scored on an isolation play off tackle. The Bulldogs ran 53 times for 188 yards against Lakeland (13-1).
Class A
ALTOONA, Pa. -- Todd Koenig ran for two touchdowns to lead Bishop Carroll to a 28-20 win over Springdale at Altoona's Mansion Park.
The victory earns Bishop Carroll (14-0) its first trip to the PIAA championship game, which will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at Hersheypark Stadium. The Huskies will face either Southern Columbia (12-1) or Lackawanna Trail (11-2) in the title game.
Springdale took advantage of two Bishop Carroll turnovers to build a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Jon Molnar scored on a 1-yard sneak to open the scoring, then Lucas Cox returned a fumble 32 yards for another Dynamo touchdown with 1:30 left in the quarter.
Bishop Carroll scored the next 28 points with a pair of touchdowns in both the second and third quarter. Koenig, who rushed for 135 yards on 22 carries, scored on runs of 12 and 8 yards for the Huskies in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, Bishop Carroll scored on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Eric Lasinsky to Joel Lauer and a 2-yard run by Dan Strong.
Springdale scored its final points on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run by Joe Hartwick. The Dynamos drove to midfield late in the game, but turned the ball over on downs with 2:09 left.