LEBANON — Probably the biggest game of the year -- a game that could make or break your season.  A game that would impact your district playoff seeding.

And you build your offense around a freshman?

That's exactly what Penn Manor coach Todd Mealy did Friday night in Lebanon, as his Comets (4-3 Section One, 6-4 overall) fought off Cedar Crest (1-6, 1-9), by handing the ball to freshman Tyler Spangler.

Spangler responded by scoring four touchdowns, leading Penn Manor to a 42-7 victory heading into next week's District Three playoffs.

"(Brandon) Stone has a nagging injury and wasn't 100 percent, so we went with Spangler," said Mealy. 

Spangler rushed for 99 yards on just 15 carries, leading all rushers, to go along with his four TDs.

He was helped offensively by Daulton Parmer, who chipped in with 53 yards on only five carries, and Adam Sahd, who rushed for 51 yards on eight carries.

The first half was mostly defense on both sides, as Penn Manor notched the only score.

That touchdown came on a one-yard plunge from Spangler with 3:24 left in the first quarter.

Otherwise, it was a showcase for the defense of both the Comets and the Falcons.  The Comets, led by Errol Hammond, sacked Falcon QB Garrett Levengood three times and held Cedar Crest to minus one yard offensively in the first half.

Penn Manor didn't fare much better, only scoring the one touchdown before the intermission.

The second half was all Spangler and the Comets defense as Penn Manor scored five unanswered touchdowns before the Falcons scored with 1:37 left in the game.

Spangler scored on runs of 21, 3 and 4 yards in the second half to go along with Dylan Weber's seven-yard TD run and Parmer's 51-yard interception return.

"I didn't know I was going to play this much," said the shy freshman.  "But, I knew if I got the chance I would do my best."

The 5-feet-7, 150-pound running back was the first freshman to score a rushing touchdown for the Comets this season.

Cedar Crest finished the scoring with a nifty 45-yard pass from Levengood to Daulton Ritter with 1:37 left in the game.

"I have to give (Cedar Crest) a lot of credit," said Mealy.  "They are a tough, resilient team.  To be honest, I was suprised how good our defense played.  After all, they're a dangerous team."