Campbell's Scott Hershberger turns the corner after eluding a tackle attempt by Somersworth's Max Dubois during Saturday's Division III quarterfinal in Litchfield. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

LITCHFIELD – It was almost a record-breaking day for Campbell High School running back Scott Hershberger. But it was a victorious day, and that’s the important thing.

The senior now needs just 34 yards – unofficially – break the state high school career rushing yardage record of 5,890 yards set by former Souhegan back Sean Jellison.

He almost got it in the Cougars’ 46-27 Division III quarterfinal playoff win over Somersworth, as he rushed for 331 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries. It would’ve been broken but a 60-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter was called back due to a penalty, so the Cougars and Hershberger will have to wait until next Saturday’s semifinal game here vs. No. 4 Gilford, a 40-20 winner in its quarterfinal over No. 5 Newport.

Hershberger is not only chasing a record, but also a championship to close out his Cougar career.

“It’s obviously exciting,” Hershberger said. “Today I tried to come out and do my best and just earn another game … Every game is so valuable at this point being a senior.

“That (penalty) was a little annoying, but 20 yards the next game isn’t that crazy. I know it’s coming, I just have to stay patient and be humble.”

There’s no distractions it seems with this. The No. 8 Hilltoppers (3-6) probably gave 9-0 Campbell its toughest game earlier in the season, so they were primed.

“It’s this weird balance of big picture, but obviously it’s one heckuva accomplishment for that kid,” Campbell coach Glen Costello said. “But he’s been team-first all along. If we wanted to, he could’ve broken it a couple of weeks ago against some of the other teams but he understood the big picture of being healthy for the next couple of weeks.

“Somersworth punched us in the mouth the first time we played them here. They were physical, they were a little banged up but they still took it to us (that day). I was happy with the way we came out and played. I didn’t think we would necessarily roll without playing our best football, and we put together a pretty good football game.”

Which began with Hershberger rumbling 58 yards to paydirt on the game’s second play from scrimmage. The two-point conversion attempt was no good.

Somersworth’s Seth Worell tied the game four plays later on a 48-yard TD run, bu t the Cougars put together an old fashioned 14-play, 78-yard drive with QB Mikey Grace hitting a wide open Nick Mackey on 16-yard TD pass. That and a Grace two-point pass to Brody Pinciaro made gave the Cougars a 14-6 lead that they would never relinquish with 1:49 left in the period.

Campbell went up 22-6 on a Scott Hershberger 33-yard run and two-point conversion with 6:53 left in the half. The ‘Toppers answered on QB Max Ridings’ 1-yard plunge and Worrell’s two-point run to make it 22-14 with 3:51 left, but Campbell wasn’t done as Nick Hershberger scored from 7 yards out and Grace got in for the two-pointer with 2:15 left in the half and a 30-14 halftime lead.

“I was OK,” Costello said, adding that his players had thought there was a false start on one of the TDs and weren’t quite ready. “I never really felt bad, that it was out of control at any time with someone like Scott.”

Nope, it never was, despite a fumblefest by both teams in the third quarter. Still, Scott Hershberger enjoyed TD runs of 60 and 59 yards, the lead grew to 38-14, and that was pretty much it except for all the math to see how close he was to the record. But it could wait another day.

“I’m hoping that obviously he breaks it at home, then we can celebrate it a little more,” Costello said.