JOHNSTOWN - A game that looked to be a potential high-scoring shootout after the first quarter ended up a runaway win for Johnstown High School as the Trojans' outstanding team speed and aggressive defense wore down visiting Penn Cambria in a 36-7 Laurel Highlands Conference triumph on Friday night.

Both teams put together long scoring drives on their opening possessions, but Johnstown (6-3) exploded for three straight second-quarter touchdowns. The Trojan defense also held Penn Cambria's Zak Newton, who came into the game as one of the area's top rushers, to just 15 yards on 12 carries.

"Our defense did a great job," Johnstown coach Kevin Marabito said. "They don't always get the credit they deserve. Penn Cambria is a very good football team with a great offense, and once our defense settled in after the first quarter, they really started getting to the ball and making plays."

Johnstown quarterback John Siciliano rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another score, while running back LaQuinn Stephens-Howling picked up a game-high 115 yards on 11 carries.

"We couldn't match up with them," said Penn Cambria coach Ernie Fetzer, whose squad fell to 6-3. "Their skill players were too much for us. We had some flu issues this week, but that's no excuse. We just couldn't stop them."

The game started well for the Panthers, who took the opening kickoff and drove 63 yards in eight plays. A pair of runs by Adam Zaliznock covering 16 and 15 yards along with a 22-yard completion from Newton to Aaron McGhee set up Newton's 11-yard touchdown. Zaliznock then ran in for the two-point conversion to put Penn Cambria up 8-0.

Johnstown answered with a 10-play, 60-yard drive. Stephens-Howling carried three times for 34 yards, and Siciliano finished the series with an 8-yard scoring run. Jordan Jefferson added the tying two-point conversion run.

The Trojans went ahead on the initial possession of the second quarter after overcoming both a holding and a personal foul penalty on an eight-play drive. The Panthers were in a position to turn back the Johnstown threat, but on a fourth-and-15 from the Penn Cambria 29, Siciliano eluded several tackles and dashed into the end zone. Oskar Almgren then kicked the first of four extra points to make it 14-8.

Two Panther miscues led to a pair of Trojan touchdowns in the last four minutes of the half. Newton mishandled a punt snap and was trapped at his own 35, and five plays later, Siciliano fired a 27-yard touchdown strike to Richard Agurs.

On the ensuing series, Newton's deep pass downfield was picked off by Ryan Sisco, who returned it 43 yards to the Panther 12. Jefferson then found paydirt from 5 yards out with just 49 seconds left to give Johnstown an eventual 29-8 halftime lead.

The Trojans kept the momentum going on the initial possession of the third quarter. Johnstown ground out four straight first downs on ten consecutive rushing plays, including a 26-yarder by Stephens-Howling, during a five and a half-minute drive that was capped off by Kashmir Pretlor's 3-yard touchdown run.

"Our offensive line opened some great holes for our backs tonight," Marabito said.

Both squads have already clinched District 6 playoff berths, with the Trojans set in Class AAA and the Panthers assured of a spot in the AA postseason bracket. Johnstown will close the regular season next week at Central Cambria, while the Panthers will look to bounce back at Richland.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Penn Cambria..............................................8 0 0 0 - 8

Johnstown8 21 7 0 - 36

First Quarter

PC - Newton 11 run (Zaliznock run) 7:23

J - Siciliano 8 run (Jefferson run) 2:40

Second Quarter

J - Siciliano 29 run (Almgren kick) 8:10

J - Agurs 27 pass from Siciliano (Almgren kick) 2:11

J - Jefferson 5 run (Almgren kick) 0:49

Third Quarter

J - Kashmir Pretlor 3 run (Almgren kick) 6:29

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Penn Cambria - Newton 12-15, Zaliznock 10-56, Fuller 15-79, St. Clair 5-38, Buck 2-0, Guzic 2-42. Johnstown - Stephens-Howling 11-115, Jefferson 5-17, Siciliano 11-86, Pretlor 4-20, Q. Jones 6-21, G. Jones 4-3, Simon 2-minus 2.

Passing: Penn Cambria - Newton 1-3-1-22. Johnstown - Siciliano 1-3-0-27

Receiving: Penn Cambria - McGhee 1-22. Johnstown - Agurs 1-27

Interceptions: Johnstown - Sisco.

Team StatISTICSPCJ

First Downs1516

Rushing46-23043-260

Passing (c-a-i)1-3-11-3-0

Passing yards2227

Total yards252287

Fumbles-lost2-00-0

Penalties8-408-70

Punts2-351-43