STATE COLLEGE – Embracing the role of underdog for the second straight week, the DuBois Beavers nearly came up with a big win. But for the second time, DuBois came up short.

State College responded to DuBois' game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter by taking the ensuing kickoff and finding the end zone for the game-winner.

Quarterback Brandon Ream hit tight end Jon Stupar for a 16-yard TD pass with 1:26 left in regulation to secure a hard-fought 24-17 victory over the stubborn Beavers Saturday at State's Memorial Field.

State College (8-3) lands in the District 6-9 Class AAAA Championship game against Altoona. DuBois finished the season at 5-6.

DuBois, a 34-0 loser at State during the regular season, proved that the second time around would not be as easy. The Beavers trailed 9-0 in the first half, but their defense did a good job of keeping the game from getting away.

DuBois got a 35-yard field goal from Mark Guthridge as time ran out in the first half. Then on the first play from scrimmage after taking the second-half kickoff, DuBois took its only lead of the game when Derek Marshall galloped 63 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown.

Guthridge's point-after kick made it 10-9 with 11:44 left in the third. But, as it did in the final minutes of the game, State answered the Beavers' touchdown with one of its own. The Little Lions took the ensuing kickoff and drove 75 yards to the end zone.

The drive was capped by an unusual play and a lucky bounce for State. Tailback Ryan Ricks was hit for a 3-yard loss and fumbled, but the ball bounced right to Ream, who ran five yards into the end zone for the touchdown. Ream's two-point conversion pass to Stupar made it 17-10 with 6:55 left in the third.

DuBois eventually tied the game, taking advantage of good field position following Mark Jones' punt inside the State 1. DuBois forced a State punt and took over at the Little Lions 45.

It took 11 plays to find the end zone, the last three 1-yard runs by quarterback Chad Hilliard. Guthridge's point-after kick tied it at 17-17 with 3:09 remaining in regulation.

Hilliard made some big plays on the drive to set up the score. His 2-yard run on fourth-and-1 at the State 36, a 10-yard run to the State 21 and a 14-yard pass to Josh Campbell to set up first and goal at the State 3.

Again, State answered with another scoring drive. Matt Fullington's 28-yard kickoff return to the Beavers' 49 started the drive. Three plays later, Ream's 18-yard pass to Ricks with a 15-yard personal foul penalty tacked on to the end of the play gave the Little Lions the ball at the Beavers' 16. Two plays later, Ream found Stupar over the middle for the 16-yard TD strike.

DuBois' last-ditch effort to tie the game ended after one play when Hilliard was intercepted by Fullington at the Beavers' 29.

State's Ricks led all rushers with 127 yards on 20 carries, although the Beavers' Marshall wasn't too far behind with 111 yards on 18 carries.

Ricks' scored State's first touchdown on a 49-yard run three plays into the second quarter. The point-after kick missed and State led 9-0.

Prior to Ricks' run, State drove 43 yards on 13 plays to the Beavers' 7 on the first possession of the game, but settled for a 24-yard field goal from Andy Young despite having the ball at the Beavers' 11 on first-and-10.

The DuBois defense stood tall following Ricks' TD run. The Beavers tried to punt on third down from their own 19, but Marshall's punt was blocked. State took over at the Beavers' 17, but lost three yards on three plays and attempted a 37-yard field goal. Young's boot missed wide left and the Beavers still trailed 9-0.

The Beavers took over possession at their own 24 with 2:19 remaining in the first half and managed to get close enough for a Guthridge field goal. Hilliard's passes of 13 yards to Mark Jones and 22 yards to Brian Gearhart keyd the drive that ended with Guthridge's 35-yard field goal that floated over the crossbars.

In the second half, the story came down to State answering what DuBois offered and it gave the Little Lions a hard-fought win over upset-minded DuBois.