HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. — Hollidaysburg fared much better Friday night in its home opener than Allegany did in its season opener.
Senior quarterback Maddox Bainey threw four touchdown passes and backup quarterback Cole DeLattre ran for another as the Golden Tigers shut out the Campers 35-0 at Tiger Stadium.
Coach Homer DeLattre’s team improved to 3-0, the program’s best start in 17 years. The 2007 team, coached by John Barton, won its first four games.
“That’s what we talked about this week,” DeLattre said, referring to the 3-0 start. “We put it on the board early in the week. The kids had great focus and a good week of practice.”
Hollidaysburg also snapped a two-game losing streak to the Campers, beating them for the first time in 29 years. The Tigers last victory was a 34-26 decision in 1995.
Allegany coach Bryan Hansel’s team sputtered throughout and managed only 153 yards of offense, all of which came on the ground.
The Campers’ best scoring chance came late in the first half, when they were trailing 14-0, but quarterback Sebastian Stewart’s pass was intercepted in the end zone by Kayden McCrystal with 16 seconds remaining.
“We had that good drive there at the end of the first half and we didn’t score and that made it tough for us,” Hansel said.
Bainey, who led four scoring drives on six series before giving way to Cole DeLattre in the fourth quarter, has thrown 11 touchdown passes in the three wins.
He connected with three different receivers against Allegany, and tossed two scoring strikes to Jay Albarano.
“They’re a good team and they have some good receivers who have some good size,” Hansel said. “When they catch the ball, even if it’s on a short pattern, they have very good speed and can get down the field.”
Senior Jackson Resh led the Campers with 81 yards on 20 carries. Freshman Khiante Bible rushed 11 times for 30 yards. Stewart, a junior making his first start at quarterback, had 13 yards rushing and no yards passing, going 0-for-5 with an interception.
Senior Kain Sewitzer picked off a pass from Bainey in the second quarter. It was Bainey’s first interception of the year.
“I had a lot of faith in our team this year,” said Bainey, who completed 8 of 16 passes for 125 yards. “We looked really good over the summer and our receivers have really worked hard to get open and we are all working well together so far.
“We’ve been trying to be explosive when we get the ball.”
Allegany (0-1) will look to bounce back at home against defending Class 3A state champion Oakdale on Friday night.