LOYSBURG - Northern Bedford entered week 4 with the second best scoring defense in the area, giving up just nine points per game.
The Black Panthers did nothing to hurt that lofty ranking Friday with a 28-7 win over Claysburg-Kimmel Friday at Panther Community Stadium.
Northern Bedford held Zach Helsel, one of the area's top running back, to 79 yards on 23 carries and put constant pressure on Bulldogs quarterback Trey Claar to remain undefeated at 4-0. Claysburg fell to 1-3.
"Their defense was tough all night," Claysburg coach Joe Kitt said. "Give Northern Bedford credit. They did an excellent job. They were very well prepared."
The Panthers defense was particularly dominate in the first half, holding Claysburg to 26 yards and just one first down. Take away a 33-yard Helsel run and Northern pushed Claysburg backwards, allowing minus-seven on the other 16 plays.
"Helsel's the best running back we've seen this year," Northern coach Jeff Batzel said. "We did a good job controlling the line of scrimmage."
With the stout defense giving the offense excellent field position, the Panthers offense put a pair of second-quarter touchdowns on the scoreboard for a 14-0 lead.
Caleb Ebersole ended back-to-back drives with short scoring runs. The first capped an 11-play, 76-yard drive.
The second was much quicker. Northern needed just three plays to go 39 yards. After quarterback Blake Over found tight end Tayler Pressel down the middle for 34 yards, Ebersole scored on a 1-yard run over the left side.
Claysburg controlled the third quarter but came away with no points. The Bulldogs finally cashed in early in the fourth on a Helsel 15-yard touchdown run to make it a one-score game, 14-7.
With the momentum seemingly in Claysburg's favor, Northern Bedford took it right back with a four-play scoring drive.
After a poor kickoff that gave the Panthers the ball near midfield, Conner Kagarise found a seam off the right side and ripped off 33 yards. Two plays later, Over found Zach Pressel open in the corner of the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown.
"That was a big drive on their part. They did a good job answering our score," Kitt said.
With time running out, Claysburg turned the ball over on downs at its own 28, setting up Northern's final touchdown.
Kagarise, who finished with 135 yards on 13 carries, found another seam off the right side and took it in from 25 yards out.
"We got a little stagnant in the third quarter," Batzel said. "I was pleased how we came back and pounded it down their throats not once but twice to take back control of the game."
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Claysburg-Kimmel0 0 0 7 - 7
Northern Bedford0 14 0 14 - 28
Second quarter
NB-Ebersole 2 run (Bequeath kick), 3:50.
NB-Ebersole 1 run (Bequeath kick), 1:10.
Fourth quarter
CK-Helsel 15 run (Fickes kick), 9:16.
NB-Z. Pressel 6 pass from Over (Bequeath kick), 7:18.
NB-Kagarise 25 run (Bequeath kick), 5:26.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Claysburg-Kimmel-Helsel 23-79, Claar 7-(-21), Repko 1-0, Pant 1-0. Northern Bedford-Kagarise 13-135, Ebersole 10-26, Over 3-(-1), Z. Pressel 1-7, Diehl 2-15, Brallier 1-0, Deffibaugh 2-(-6).
PASSING: Claysburg-Kimmel-Claar 11-24-1-59, Helsel 1-1-0-21. Northern Bedford-Over 11-17-1-144.
RECEIVING: Claysburg-Kimmel-Weyandt 7-61, Repko 2-2, Helsel 2-(-1), Mountain 1-18. Northern Bedford-T. Pressel 3-71, Diehl 6-60, Ebersole 1-7, Z. Pressel 1-6.
INTERCEPTIONS: Claysburg-Kimmel-Helsel. Northern Bedford-T. Pressel.
TEAM STATISTICSCKNB
First downs1214
Rushes-yards32-6832-176
Passing (comp.-att.-int.)12-25-111-17-1
Yards passing80144
Total yards148320
Fumbles-lost1-10-0
Penalties-yards3-406-75
Punts-avg.3-22.76-27.5
