Linganore air attack too much to handle for Northern in 56-20 Semifinal win
November 25, 2023
FREDERICK, Md. — The Linganore (12-1) offense tallied six first half touchdowns, including two passing scores of 75 yards or more, en route to a 56-20 rout of Northern (8-5) on Friday night.
Lancers quarterback Christian Petruzzello had four passing touchdowns and also added a fifth score on the ground to pace the Linganore offense. The Lancers leaned on their ability to create big plays, and also relied on their stout defense to jump on the Patriots early and never look back.
Running back Ethan Arneson got the scoring started for the Lancers, as he scored from 14 yards out midway through the first quarter. Linganore jumped out 7-0, but the offense was just getting going.
After a muffed punt by the Lancers was recovered by the Patriots, Isaiah Randall connected with Miles Halbert on a 48-yard strike which would draw Northern even 7-7. With the reception, Halbert broke the MPSSAA single-season record for most receiving yards, surpassing Westminster’s Blaine Price from 2012.
But the Linganore offense would answer right back in just a few plays. Petruzzello found receiver Matthew Hauptman from about 20 yards out to give the Lancers the lead. And after another stop by the defense, Petruzzello once again would connect with one of his receivers, this time a wide-open MJ Rawlett streaking down the sidelines for a 77-yard score. The Lancers would take a 21-7 lead into the second quarter.
Early in the second quarter, the Lancers would break another huge scoring play. Petruzzello found Rawlett out in the flat, and he split two defenders and took it 87-yards to the end zone. Linganore extended its lead to 28-7.
A second Lancers fumble was recovered by Northern, and the Patriots would capitalize on the mistake. A long reception and run by Halbert set up a one-yard score by Tyler Brown. The score would bring the Patriots back within a 28-14 deficit.
However, Linganore would score twice more before halftime. Petruzzello scored on a QB keeper with just over a minute left. And then, after forcing a turnover on downs, the Lancers scored on a trick play. Arneson would find Hauptman to seemingly put the score out of reach at halftime. Linganore led 42-14 heading to the break.
A short touchdown run by Arneson in the third quarter, and another Petruzzello pass to Hauptman in the fourth quarter would account for the two Lancers scores in the second half. Northern tallied another touchdown from Randall to Halbert as the final seconds of the game ticked away with a running clock. The Patriots two-point attempt was unsuccessful as the clock hit triple zeroes. The Lancers capped an impressive 56-20 victory.
Linganore advances to its 15th state title game in school history, looking to claim its first championship since 2017. The Lancers will face off against Frederick County foe Oakdale in the 3A Championship, a rematch of the Week 4 matchup that saw the Bears win, 21-14. Northern sees its season come to an end, reaching at least the state semifinals for the second time in the last three years, and second time since 1990.
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