PIAA FOOTBALL: Hollidaysburg rallies past Delaware Valley in wild Class 5A first-round game

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DANVILLE – Hollidaysburg had a few more big plays and just enough stops to advance in the PIAA Class 5A football playoffs.

Carter Muth, a shifty running back, had 283 yards and five touchdowns, and senior quarterback Cole Delattre threw for 182 yards and two touchdowns and added 145 yards rushing and a touchdown in a wild back-and-forth 56-42 win over Delaware Valley on Friday night at Danville High School Stadium.

Hollidaysburg (13-0), the District 6 champion, will play Roman Catholic, a 49-7 winner over Whitehall, in the quarterfinals next weekend.

Delaware Valley, which started the season 0-4, finishes as the District 2 Class 5A champions and with a 7-6 record.

“My sophomore year, we made the state quarterfinals, and last year, we had a setback and didn’t win districts, so we really wanted to get back here this year,” said Delaware Valley senior running back Mike Iuzzolino, who ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns and had a kickoff return for a 92-yard touchdown in his final game as a Warrior. “We wanted to get back to Week 14, but unfortunately, we weren’t able to do that. Now it is up to the underclassmen to carry on the tradition.”

It was a game filled with explosive plays made by outstanding athletes.

Delaware Valley rolled up 422 yards of total offense, fueled by Iuzzolino in the running game. Senior quarterback Colin McGarvey completed 17 of 27 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns, and sophomore receiver Trey Newton had eight receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Iuzzolino closed out his season with 1,540 yards, 19 rushing touchdowns, and 23 total touchdowns. In his career, Iuzzolino ran for 3,431 yards and 47 touchdowns and contributed to District 2 Class 5A championships in 2023 and 2025.

McGarvey, in his first season as starting quarterback, totaled 2,061 yards and 20 touchdowns.

“I am tremendously proud of this team, not just tonight, but all season,” McGarvey said. “It is easy after you start 0-4 to just give up on the season. All of the seniors came in, and we got better every single day. We started hot, but we didn’t finish, but I am very proud, and I wish the underclassmen all the luck moving forward.”

Newton, who ended his sophomore season with 65 receptions for 774 yards, is the program’s record holder with 123 career catches. He also has 1,377 receiving yards in his two seasons as a starter.

“I played my heart out for the seniors,” Newton said. “I really wanted this season to continue. I have to get in the weight room and get ready for next year.”

Newton also returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown as part of a 21-point outburst by Delaware Valley in the first 6 minutes and 9 seconds.

“That was huge,” said Newton, who pushed the lead to three scores with a 34-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter. “We came out with a lot of energy and scored those first three touchdowns. We just needed to continue that, but we slowed down.”

Hollidaysburg’s dynamic playmakers were able to counter Delaware Valley’s video-game-like statistics.

In the second quarter, Delattre scored a 79-yard touchdown run, while junior wide receiver Ethan Coke scored a 21-yard touchdown reception and a 54-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Muth scored a 64-yard touchdown to virtually seal the victory.

Hollidaysburg finished with 608 total yards and 24 first downs. Delaware Valley was also haunted by 15 penalties for 145 yards.

Those eye-popping numbers and interceptions by Kayden McCrystal, who also had a pick in the first half, and Josh Banks thwarted any response by Delaware Valley once it fell behind.

After Newton returned the opening kickoff, Iuzzolino broke through for a 28-yard touchdown, and Newton’s 34-yard touchdown catch made it 21-0. Hollidaysburg climbed back in it after Muth’s first touchdown and McCrystal’s first interception.

Scoring runs from inside the 3 by Muth tied the game at 21-21 with 6:13 left in the second quarter. Iuzzolino gave Delaware Valley back the lead with a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Delattre bolted 79 yards for a touchdown on Hollidaysburg’s next possession, then Delaware Valley took advantage of a roughing the kicker penalty on a 44-yard field goal attempt by Reagan Decker. Tight end James Dabney caught a screen pass and darted 22 yards for a touchdown and a 35-28 lead that McGarvey preserved with an interception to end the frantically paced half.

Hollidaysburg tied the game, again, when Coke caught a 21-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-5. Delaware Valley responded. McGarvey hit Donald Outer for 35 yards, and Iuzzolino scored on a 2-yard run for the Warriors’ final lead at 42-35.

“Everyone did a really good job,” McGarvey said. “We were a resilient group. We proved that no matter how you start, you can always climb the ladder and pick yourself up.”

Dellatre hit Coke in stride for a 54-yard touchdown to tie the game at 42. Banks’ interception halted the Warriors’ ensuing drive at midfield. Nine plays later, the Golden Tigers had their first lead, 49-42, with 1:40 left in the third. They would not get tied again.

Hollidaysburg’s defense stopped when Delaware Valley marched to the 31. It took two plays for Muth to sprint 64 yards to extend the lead to 56-42.

“They have a great offense that was very explosive,” Iuzzolino said. “They were too tough to stop once they got going. We suffered and let them back in the game. We were able to stay on our feet for a little bit, but we had too many penalties and turnovers that ultimately decided the game.”

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