Luke Brown Sports: Tuesday, September 3
The latest sports coverage on the national and local landscape
Welcome to my newsletter, a forum for me to write my favorite stories in national and local sports, now that I’m not in Central PA to cover games all the time.
If you don’t know me, I am a 2024 graduate of Camp Hill in Central PA and I’ve covered sports for various publications for years. Now, I’m a freshman at Rowan University, and as I have some unusual free time (for now), I’m writing through Substack to cover my favorite stories across all sports at all levels.
The goal for me is to grow this Substack page to 100 subscribers by the end of September. Subscriptions are free and provide access to all of my coverage on Substack, which will include game coverage, breakdowns, interviews, and whatever fun coverage I get into.
PENN STATE FOOTBALL
Penn State Wins Big 12 vs Big Ten Battle in Morgantown
It was a noon kickoff that ended at nearly 6 PM, thanks to a two hour, 19-minute rain delay in the smack middle of the season opener between Penn State and West Virginia, a Big 12-Big Ten battle that had a lot riding on it, not only for both teams, but for both conferences.
There is a huge buzz around the Nittany Lions as they break into the 2024 season, especially surrounding the guys behind the offensive line - Quarterback Drew Allar with his two running backs, Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. With the playoff expanded to 12 teams, many think this season is an open door for PSU to break into the College Football Playoff and win big games to finally get their hat in the ring of national contenders.
But, they needed to get past unranked West Virginia first, not only for themselves, but to prove that Big Ten teams are here to compete out of conference. Going into it, if WVU wins, it automatically sets the Big Ten, especially teams like Iowa and Penn State, back.
On Saturday midday turned evening, it was a dominating offensive day, putting up 200+ yards on the ground and in the air, including an appearance from Central York graduate Beau Pribula, who only threw one pass, but it was completed for a 19 yard touchdown to Tyler Warren.
Nick Singleton, who was a star at Governor Mifflin in Berks County, also continued his efficiency on the ground, carrying 13 times for 114 yards. Kaytron Allen, the other half of PSU’s successful backs, put up 20 yards both rushing and receiving, with a touchdown reception to go along with it.
With some more local flavor, Jaheim White, a York High graduate, is continuing to contribute highly to West Virginia, carrying the ball eight times in his sophomore debut, putting together 33 yards before exiting the game with injury.
For a team like Penn State, it was definitely the best option to play a well-known, serviceable Big 12 team to begin this season. Sure, can you pummel Temple 51-3 like Oklahoma, or cruise past Illinois State, 40-0, like Iowa? Yes. Do you really prove anything to anyone? No.
Don’t mix it up - Penn State gets Bowling Green and Kent State on the schedule next, two home games at Beaver Stadium that will drive up attendance and drum up excitement to get into big games, an area the Nittany Lions just can’t seem to get past.
The Nittany Lions beat an unranked Michigan team on November 28, 2020. Since then, they’ve gone 0-6 in games against the Buckeyes and Wolverines. While the reigning national champs aren’t on the schedule this year with Big Ten realignment, many seem to think this is the year for PSU - and Franklin - to get the job done in the big games. They’ll get their chance to prove that in week six, when current #23 USC hosts Penn State in southern California. After that, they’ll pay a visit to Wisconsin before hosting current #2 Ohio State, by far the biggest regular season game of the year.
The Buckeyes were also the second best team in the country in 2016, the last time that Penn State pulled out a win against their would-be rivals, if it weren’t for Ohio State’s rivalry with Michigan, and Penn State’s “Unrivaled” mentality and motto. That 2016 matchup, a 24-21 Penn State win, is largely thought of as the game that truly turned a new chapter for the program, just five years removed from a scandal that rocked the program and university.
The 2016 Nittany Lion team is often considered snubbed from the College Football Playoff, and now it seems Penn State, at least after their week one showing, is a shoo-in for a CFP spot.
Penn State is next in action at 12 PM on Saturday, September 7th, hosting Bowling Green at Beaver Stadium, televised on Big Ten Network.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Harrisburg Wins City Title in Thriller, More PA Scores
Harrisburg and McDevitt’s rivalry goes back to 1982, when the two schools were separated by just blocks in the city. There’s been NFL alumni, PIAA titles, and thrillers between the two programs, and Saturday, fans were treated with the return of the rivalry, after an absence of the “Battle for the ‘Burg” since 2017. It came because of the offseason Mid-Penn realignment, moving McDevitt from the Keystone to Commonwealth, entering the Crusaders with the largest schools in the conference, and allowing for some great matchups.
On Saturday, it was not just a great matchup, it was a historic one, and an all-time thriller leading to a win for the Harrisburg Crusaders, who were doubted quite a bit throughout the week after an ugly week one showing against La Salle. Simultaneously, throughout the week, the Cougars were getting ready to send in Jayion Lewis in at QB, his first start for the team, in the most anticipated game in the area, one of the most in the state.
Now that’s pressure, but Lewis delivered.
He put together a 14-19 day on completions, throwing for 236, and rushing for 117 yards and TD off 12 rushes.
Lewis was the third-string QB in the summer for Harrisburg, but after Shawn Lee Jr’s eligibility was denied by the PIAA, and week one starter Mikal Shank suffered a rib injury in the Cougars’ loss to La Salle, the third best option became the first entering the Cougars’ biggest game.
To put the heat on a little bit more, the Cougars’ “Dark Side Defense” was without PA’s second best ranked player in the class of 2026, Penn State recruit Kevin Brown.
With 1:16 left in the final quarter, Lewis punched in a four yard rush to the endzone for a tie score, 27-27, where regulation concluded, sending the game to OT.
In that OT, it was Harrisburg to lead with possession, as Nehmiah Ewell punched in a touchdown run of his own, followed by a two-point conversion catch by Mekhi Jackson, taking a 35-27.
Saunders placed a ball to the back of the endzone on the following drive, caught by junior receiver Gage Ruth, but the Crusaders had to convert their own two-point conversion to send the game to another overtime. That’s when Saunders fired towards sophomore Jontai Quick, but the pass was thrown too high and too far for Quick, an instant death for McDevitt in week two, and the ending to one of the best editions of the infamous rivalry.
Harrisburg earned their 16th win in the “Battle for the ‘Burg”, and their second straight after a 35-0 win in 2017.
OTHER PA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES
St. Edward’s (OH) 35, St. Joseph’s Prep 21
Pine-Richland 22, Pittsburgh Central Catholic 17
La Salle 21, Malvern Prep 17
Manheim Township 28, Central York 10
Roman Catholic 52, St. John’s (DC) 21
Aliquippa 12, Belle Vernon 0
Pope John Paul II 18, Neumann-Goretti 0
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