EBENSBURG - Central Cambria's senior night contest on Friday provided a bright spot in a disappointing season for the Red Devils as they came away with a 24-6 win over visiting Bedford.
The Devils (2-6) capitalized on several costly mistakes by the struggling Bisons (1-7), while Central Cambria's offense put together a pair of efficient first-half scoring drives to help head coach Sam Shutty's squad build a two-touchdown halftime lead.
"This was a job well done for our seniors on senior night, and I am proud of them," Shutty said.
"We executed well both offensively and defensively, and it's great to see their hard work produce a positive result."
The Red Devils took a 6-0 lead late in the first quarter. After stopping Bedford on downs at the Central Cambria 18, Nick Myers bolted for a 27-yard gain and later made a 21-yard catch to set up a 22-yard touchdown run by Scott Bauer that put Central Cambria on the board.
On the ensuing series, Brandon Long picked off Bedford's Aaron Henry in Bison territory. Red Devil sophomore quarterback Will Seymour then completed four of five passes, including a 19-yard touchdown to Long at the 7:28 mark of the second quarter that made it 12-0.
Bedford quickly cut that deficit in half as a 43-yard run by Josiah Koontz set up Jacob Wirick's 9-yard touchdown, and the Bisons were subsequently driving for a possible tying score in the final minute of the half when a momentum-shifting defensive play was made by the Devils.
Another costly miscue by Bedford early in the third led to what proved to be the final touchdown of the night. Bison punter Austin Montgomery failed to cleanly field a snap, and was trapped in the backfield for a loss. A Bedford personal foul penalty on the play gave Central Cambria excellent field position at the Bison 27, and after a 14-yard strike from Seymour to Long, Tyler Gironda scored from a yard out to make it 24-6 at the 6:20 mark of the third.
The contest was subsequently delayed for more than one hour by lightning, and neither squad was able to generate much offense after the unplanned break.
Bedford will host Bishop Carroll next Friday, while Central Cambria travels to Richland.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Bedford0 6 0 0 - 6
Central Cambria6 12 6 0 - 24
First quarter
CC-Bauer 22 run (kick failed), 2:29
Second quarter
CC-Long 19 pass from Seymour (pass failed), 7:28
B-Wirick 9 run (kick failed), 4:02
CC-Bauer 55 fumble return (pass failed), 0:51
Third quarter
CC-Gironda 1 run (kick failed), 6:20
INDIVIDUAL?STATISTICS
Rushing: Bedford-Koontz 15-84, Wirick 7-30, Henry 4-9, Campbell 1-(-3), Montgomery 2-(-6), Bingham 1-(-1), Kline 3-(-13). Central Cambria-Myers 3-28, Papuga 9-12, Bauer 5-39, Gironda 8-20, Seymour 7-24, McBreen 1-1, McCulley 1-3, Pennington 1-(-1).
Passing: Bedford-Henry 5-14-2-95, Kline 1-3-0-21, Montgomery 1-2-0-7. Central Cambria-Seymour 8-11-0-79, Gilkey 0-1-0-0.
Receiving: Bedford-Campbell 3-61, Blevins 2-34, Bingham 1-21, Hickey 1-7. Central Cambria-Long 3-41, Myers 2-25, Mazzarella 1-(-1), Gironda 1-0, Shaffer 1-14.
Interceptions: Bedford-None. Central Cambria-Long 2.
Team StatsBCC
First Downs14 11
Rushes-yards33-10035-126
Passing (comp.-att.-int.)7-19-28-12-0
Yards passing12379
Total yards223205
Fumbles-lost3-11-0
Penalties-yards7-709-70
Punts-avg.1-213-34
