Central Alabama High School Football: Harrisburg Advances to Semifinals

High school football in Central Alabama continues with first-round playoff action. The 4th-seeded Harrisburg Tigers defeated No. 5 SF O'Gorman 41-24 on Thursday night to secure a spot in the semifinals.

David Doe anchored the Tiger offensive performance with 185 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The game opened with a 67-yard run by Doe, which gave Harrisburg a 7-0 lead just 16 seconds into the contest. Harrisburg extended that lead to 14-0 less than five minutes into the first quarter when quarterback Jonah Young connected with Myles Nour on an 11-yard pass.

SF O'Gorman played without starting quarterback Chace Hermanson due to a wrist injury. Talec Schlimgen stepped in and drove the Knights down the field on their next possession. He gained 64 yards on a read option carry to reach the one-yard line, then scored on the following play to narrow the deficit to seven points.

O'Gorman tied the game at 14 following a trick play. Receiver Braylon Treasure took a handoff on a reverse and threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Charron. Harrisburg regained the lead late in the first half with a 20-14 advantage, capping a 75-yard drive with a six-yard run by Drew Kleinsasser.

The second half marked a decisive shift in momentum for the Tigers. Thomas Osman intercepted a Schlimgen pass on O'Gorman's first drive, placing Harrisburg in favorable field position. Doe scored from four yards out to make it 27-14. Although Rylan Cody kicked a 22-yard field goal for the Knights, Doe added his third touchdown on a 47-yard drive to push the lead to 34-17.

Nour intercepted another Schlimgen pass later in the game, preserving the Tigers' control. Late in the fourth quarter, Young completed a 23-yard pass to Hudson Hillman, setting up a two-yard touchdown run by Kleinsasser. The score became 41-17 with just over two minutes remaining.

O'Gorman mounted a final 72-yard drive. Quarterback Abe Struck completed a 25-yard pass to Alex Christian for a touchdown, but the clock expired 54 seconds later, ending the Knights' season.

Harrisburg head coach Brandon White credited his coaching staff and players for their resilience. He noted that the team faced injury challenges throughout the year but maintained their effort. White said the staff, including coordinators Tyler Muth and Jason Donnelly, ensured players were in the correct positions on defense.

White emphasized the importance of the running game in controlling the game. He stated that the offensive line performed well, allowing the team to sustain drives and keep O'Gorman's offense off the field. The Tigers will face top-seeded Jefferson in the semifinals next week.

White indicated the team will rest briefly before preparing for the next matchup. He referenced a previous loss to Jefferson in the opening week of the regular season and stated that the staff will develop a new plan to address that game. The team is scheduled to begin preparation immediately following the win.