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Four Mick Johnson Touchdowns Give Bonner Prendergast First PIAA Title

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Bonner Prendergast running back Mick Johnson scores on a third quarter pitch in the PIAA 4A State Championship game, following his blockers as they slide right.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa.—The Bonner & Prendergast Friars claimed their first state title in program history on Thursday, Dec. 5, taking down the Lampeter-Strasburg Pioneers 40-14 in the PIAA Class 4A final behind four rushing touchdowns from senior tailback Mick Johnson.

The Friars’ defense added three interceptions, including a 61-yard touchdown return from defensive back Brett Johnson—his second pick of the night—burning out the second quarter clock with an exclamation point and giving Bonner their second touchdown in 31 seconds.

Bonner won the coin toss and deferred, forcing a three-and-out from the Pioneers’ high-powered offense to start. Running with the wind at his back and gusts up to 41 miles per hour, Johnson picked up 47 yards on the opening drive… including the game’s first touchdown, a one-yard tote.

Brett snagged his first interception of the night to give the Friars the ball right back, and Johnson came within inches of his second touchdown in as many drives. He lost control of the ball at the goal line, however, and fellow running back Saleem Frink scooped up the carom, extending for the 14-0 lead.

Lampeter-Strasburg’s fortune changed with the wind. Punting with the wind, Peter Fiorello drilled a bouncing 74-yard kick on the first play of the second quarter, pinning the Friars at their own one-yard line. Bonner couldn’t get out of the shadow of their goal line, and the Pioneers took possession in plus territory after a three-and-out. Two plays later, quarterback Caileb Howse found running back Dominic Brown in the flat for a 28-yard touchdown pass.

Brown found the end zone again barely four minutes later, tying the game at 14.

Bonner Prendergast Back On Top

While the Pioneers seemed to firmly seize momentum in front of a raucous (de facto) home crowd, Bonner regained their footing—and let the air out of the stadium—in the final minute of the half.

Jeremiah Coleman picked off a pass near midfield, and Bonner quarterback Noel Campbell found WVU football commit Jalil Hall for a 40-yard catch and run that gave the Friars first and goal. A four-yard Johnson touchdown helped Bonner reclaim the lead, then Brett Johnson’s pick six silenced the crowd.

The Friars’ ground game took over in the second half, with Mick Johnson touchdown runs of three and five yards serving as the final nails in Lampeter Strasburg’s coffin.

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