Shoutout to Blake Lilly: Penn Cambria Panthers Repeat as Champs

Blake Lilly made a triumphant return to high school football, leading the Penn Cambria Panthers to their second consecutive District 6 Class 3A championship with a 33-6 victory over Huntingdon at Mansion Park.

 

After stepping away during his sophomore year, Lilly's comeback has been nothing short of remarkable. His versatility was on full display Friday night, turning a scoreless game into a showcase of his talent.

 

The senior electrified the crowd with an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown, breaking through defenders and stiff-arming his way to the end zone. He followed up with a 51-yard touchdown reception, outmaneuvering tight coverage, and capped his performance with a 37-yard interception return that set up another score.

 

Penn Cambria coach Jason Grassi praised Lilly's impact: "The first half he not only kept us in the game, he put us up when we weren’t playing our best. He made those big plays to put us up at halftime by two scores. That was huge."

 

Despite Huntingdon controlling time of possession early, they couldn't capitalize on their drives. Opting to punt on a fourth-and-10 from the Panthers' 34-yard line, they aimed to pin Penn Cambria deep. Lilly had other plans, returning the punt 89 yards for the game's first score.

 

Reflecting on the moment, Lilly said, "I was shocked. It’s the D6 game, and I returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown. I couldn’t even have a clear head. Then I had a good catch, but (Penn Cambria QB) Brady (Jones) put it there, so credit to him. This is a great accomplishment. People thought we wouldn’t come back and be as good, because we lost a lot of key players, but we got it done."

 

Quarterback Brady Jones expressed his trust in Lilly: "I throw the ball up anywhere, and I trust Blake Lilly is going to make a play on the ball."

 

With this victory, the Panthers (10-2) advance to face District 9 champion Brockway in the PIAA playoffs. Huntingdon's season concludes with an 8-4 record.

 

Coach Grassi emphasized the team's focus: "This feels great. It’s two in a row for them, but it’s never enough. But we’re moving on. We have a game next week. We can enjoy this right now, but we have to get ready for the next game."

 

As the Panthers prepare for the next challenge, Lilly's performance stands as a testament to resilience and the impact of a dedicated athlete returning to the field.

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