State Coll. drops PIAA title game

ASSOCIATED PRESS

HERSHEY, Pa. — Sam Feleccia ran for 156 yards and posted one of three rushing touchdowns Saturday, leading La Salle College High School to a 24-7 win over State College in the PIAA Class AAAA final.

Feleccia’s 55-yard scamper pushed the Explorers ahead 24-0 with 4:04 left in the third, sealing victory for the Philadelphia Catholic League power in front of 3,018 fans at Hersheypark Stadium.

Most of that damage came in the opening half as La Salle College (14-1) outgained the West Champion Little Lions 213-60 in yardage.

The Little Lions’ (12-3) lone highlight came from Penn State recruit Alex Kenney’s 96-yard kickoff return deep in the third quarter. It was the second longest in PIAA history.

Earlier, Explorers kicker Mike Bennett set a new Class AAAA final record, bouncing a 37-yard field goal through the uprights to cap La Salle College High’s 12-play opening drive.

“It’s the best feeling I ever had. It feels so good,” said Feleccia, who carried 20 times and added two catches for 43 yards. “We’ve been battling for so long, it feels good to get to this point. I was confident all game, but [State College] is a good team.”

Despite a heavy snowfall that continued to blanket the region, the Explorers waisted little time in gaining the upper hand.

Behind quarterback Drew Loughery, who turned five completions, three by Connor Hoffman, into 109 passing yards, the Explorers manufactured a 10-0 lead on Jamal Abdur-Rahman’s 22-yard scoring run just 4:53 before the break.

Less than four minutes later, coach Drew Gordon’s District 12 champions made it 17-0 on Tim Wade’s 8-yard shot over left tackle Ryan Geiger.

“Rahman and Feleccia are good, and they’re strong,” State College coach Al Wolski said. “They execute their runs so well.”

La Salle College’s taxing defense was another subplot as State College struggled for every inch.