JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley's defense gave up yards grudgingly in Friday's non-conference football game against Penn Hills, but the unit still had some unfinished business to take care of on the game's final play.

With victory already assured, the Raiders lined up in the shadow of their own goalpost with just four seconds remaining.

The Indians had moved the ball to the Raiders' 1, but Hollis Mathis' pass was intercepted in the end zone by Anthony Buzzelli, preserving for the Raiders a 23-0 win at NexTier Stadium.

It is Seneca Valley's first shutout since a 36-0 blanking of Connellsville in 2013.

“We worked hard all week preparing for their offense and our scout team gave us some great looks,” said junior outside linebacker Jake Holl. “Getting this shutout was a big deal for us.”

The Indians (3-5) struggled to move the ball from the start of the game, earning just a pair of first downs in their first three drives.

“We were able to get a couple of three-and-outs early on and just got rolling,” said Holl.

SV defensive end Ray Battistone sacked Penn Hills quarterback Cameron Tarrant for a 13-yard loss late in the first quarter, helping the Raiders force a punt after the Indians had crept into Seneca territory for the first time.

“We focused on the little things all week in practice and a big key was the guys reading their keys,” said Raiders' coach Dave Vestal. “It was a great effort by our defense.”

After a scoreless first quarter, the Raiders got on the board in the second period when Jack Cook capped an eight-play, 70-yard drive with a 14-yard scoring toss to senior wide receiver Mark Smith. Just two plays earlier, the duo had hooked up for 13 yards on a 4th-and-9 from the Indians' 29.

Corbin Kessler, who has shown his versatility all season, ran 94 yards for another score after lining up as the quarterback in the pistol formation on SV's next possession.

The Raiders (4-4) rushed for 281 yards in the game.

“Once it got going, I thought the line did a nice job of getting a push,” said Vestal, who was relieved to see the return of his leading rusher Hank Royal.

Royal missed last week's game against Central Catholic with an injury, but his 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame was hurled at the Indians 27 times Friday for 146 yards.

“He worked hard in practice to get ready and ran well tonight,” said Vestal.

Dylan Grubbs kicked a 28-yard field goal in the third quarter to extend Seneca's lead to 17-0 and Cook scored on a 4-yard run late in the fourth period.