Orndorff was referring primarily to specific penalties. The first being an offensive pass-interference call that nullified a 32-yard completion which would have given Smithsburg (0-5, 0-2) a first down on the Cougars' 23 late in the second quarter with Catoctin holding a 14-0 lead. Two plays later, Daniel Wheeler recovered a Justin Thompson fumble, leading to Wyatt Baseley's 2-yard touchdown run.
The second was a roughing-the-passer call after an incomplete pass by Catoctin would have given the Cougars (4-1, 2-0) a fourth down on their own 30-yard line. Instead, the penalty made it first down, and three plays later, a D.J. Doyle-to-Colten Eureka 26-yard completion gave Catoctin a 27-0 lead.
"The penalties helped," said Cougars coach Doug Williams, "but the turnovers were really big. They gave us great field position, and it's not hard to score on a short field. It's tough to win a game when you turn the ball over six times."
That Catoctin got off to a quick start certainly didn't help the Leopards, either. Michael Lovejoy carried the ball four times for 37 yards in the opening series before Doyle carried it in from the 1.
An eight-play drive early in the second period - highlighted by a 32-yard run by Baseley - made it 14-0.
A Baseley interception and return of 31 yards set up Catoctin's final TD, a 1-yard run by Lovejoy.
Smithsburg's 13-play, 71-yard march late in the third quarter resulted in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Bohan to Nikolas Campbell, and wrapped up the scoring fore both teams.
Lovejoy and Baseley accounted for 223 of the Cougars' 262 yards rushing yards for the game.
Justin Thompson finished with 90 yards rushing for Smithsburg on 20 carries.
