Hempfield strikes before half to build lead, beat Canon-McMillan

By: Ed Troup
Friday, September 26, 2025 | 10:27 PM

Football is a game of momentum, and when teams can capture it and build on it, big results will follow.

On Friday night at Spartan Stadium, the Hempfield Spartans used a 24-point second quarter to not only build momentum but capture it for the game in a 38-27 win against Canon-McMillan in Class 6A.

“The last two weeks, we played some really good football teams, but we also knew we were a good football team, too,” Hempfield coach Nick Keefer said. “6A football is big-boy football, and we knew in order to get back on track, we had to create turnovers. We did that the first three games and were 3-0, so we had to do that tonight and we did.”

Canon-McMillan (3-3, 1-1) struck first with junior quarterback Ty Jansma hitting senior TJ Sabatucci on a 37-yard touchdown pass with eight minutes left in the first quarter. Hempfield (4-2, 1-2) responded with on a Dominic Detruf 4-yard touchdown pass to Jack Kopas, and the score was 7-7.

On the next drive, the Big Macs used a trick play when receiver Bryan Schmeltz took a pass from Jansma in the backfield and hit Sabatucci on a 67-yard touchdown. The Big Macs had a 14-7 lead going into the second quarter.

That’s when the Spartans got to work. Kicker Sawyer Mutschler got it going on a 36-yard field goal to cut the lead to 14-10 with 10:54 left in the second quarter. Next it was running back Aidan Stinebiser scoring on 1-yard run to cap a nine-play, 55-yard scoring drive, and Hempfield had its first lead 17-14.

The Spartans recovered a Big Mac fumble on the kickoff, and just two plays later, Detruf found Lucas Simmons on a 27-yard touchdown pass. Hempfield extended its lead on a 24-yard touchdown connection from Detruf to Simmons again. Hempfield led 31-14 at halftime.

“I’m so proud of our kids’ effort tonight,” Keefer said. “(Detruf), what a great young man he is, I could not be more proud of him and all of our kids’ effort here tonight.”

Canon-McMillan got a pair of field goals in the third quarter (44 and 36 yards by Ryhs Maentz) to cut the Hempfield lead to 31-20 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Spartans got the third Detruf-Simmons touchdown connection, this time from 10 yards, to make the score 38-20 with 8:19 left. That capped a 14-play, 80-yard scoring drive for Hempfield.

Canon McMillan got a late touchdown from Jansma to Sabatucci for the third time, this time from 65 yards with 7:57 left, but that was the closest the Big Macs could get.

“We saw what we needed to fix after the last two weeks, and I thought we came out here tonight and executed well,” Keefer said.

“They (Canon-McMillan) are a good football team too. They had three good wins in a row. Everyone in 6A is good, but I thought we made the plays we needed to tonight to win.”

Sabatucci led the Big Macs with six catches for 205 yards and three touchdowns. Jansma finished 14 of 25 for 252 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Detruf had a huge night for Hempfield in going 26 of 34 for 350 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver Tony Sebring finished with eight catches for 129 yards.

Hempfield finished the game with 413 total yards, 19 first downs and 63 yards rushing to go with Detruf’s 350 yards passing. The Big Macs had 330 total yards with eight first downs and four turnovers in the loss. Each team had three penalties.

Canon-McMillan will look to bounce back next week at home against Seneca Valley in Week 6, whereas Hempfield will visit rival Norwin.

Tags: Canon-McMillan, Hempfield