Junior High Football

NBC’s 2nd win over Meyersdale worth a D5 football title

District 5 Class 1A Championship

WINDBER -- When Northern Bedford met Meyersdale in the regular season matchup on Oct. 9, the Black Panthers surrendered a big lead in the fourth that allowed the Red Raiders to tie it up.

NBC put together a quick drive that ended when it won the game with 10 seconds remaining.

Fast forward to Friday night when the two teams met for the District 5 Class 1A championship, and the result was the same.

However, fourth-seeded Northern absolutely dominated second-seeded Meyersdale in every facet as it scored three second half touchdowns en route to a 21-0 title-clinching victory at Windber Stadium.

"I said, that night (Sept. 25) at Berlin (Brothersvalley), we turned the corner," Northern Bedford coach Garry Black said. "I've been around football long enough to know. Since then, we've played one bad half of football against North Star. Outside of that, we've played outstanding ball in this second half of the season."

The district title was the fifth in the past 10 years as the Panthers previously won in 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2023.

"I've been fortunate to be surrounded by really good coaches and players," Black said. "We've been in nine of these (district championship games) since 2015, and this is our fifth win. ... Being a small school -- we have 89 boys as our enrollment -- and I couldn't be happier for the way that our community and our kids treat the game of football."

Despite controlling the contest, Northern Bedford was unable to find its way into the end zone in the opening half of play.

Northern's drives ended with two punts, a turnover on downs following a 17-play possession, and an interception by Meyersdale's Carter Vogt on NBC's deepest drive into Red Raider territory (29-yard line) of the first half.

Meanwhile, the defense held Meyersdale to three punts and the end of the half on the fourth drive.

The Red Raiders got the kickoff to begin the second half and the NBC special team's unit made a play as the Meyersdale returner was popped causing him to fumble. Carter Love recovered the loose ball at the MY 32.

Three plays later, Northern Bedford quarterback Trace Baker found a wide-open Jordan Free for a 29-yard touchdown at 10:25. Case Ritchey tacked on the PAT to make it 7-0.

"In that second half, we knew that we were playing along with them and our line was beating them. It was really a defensive game," Baker said. "Offenses weren't being explosive enough. We came out and we really just smashed them (Meyersdale) in the mouth. We were playing so well in the second half. We ran the ball really well, and the line blocked great. It was just the formula for the win."

After the Panthers' defense forced a turnover on downs, the offense went to work when on a third-and-9, Baker found 68-yards of running room as the junior outran the Meyersdale secondary to paydirt at the 3:21 mark of the third frame.

Following the third Red Raider punt of the evening, NBC put together an 11-play, 89-yard drive that Brett Cottle capped off with a 9-yard TD run with 6:07 left to play on the fourth.

The Meyersdale offensive unit had just one play in the final quarter as Cottle picked off Ryder Reese on the ensuing Raider drive.

The Black Panthers ran eight plays before Baker took a knee three times to end the game.

"First (half), 0-0 ballgame -- it was a dogfight," Meyersdale coach Ryan Donaldson said. "Come out in the second half and things didn't go our way, and it happened pretty quickly. They (Northern Bedford) outplayed us especially in the second half."

Northern Bedford totaled 228 yards in the second half, while the defense held Meyersdale to just 34.

Play of the game: Baker's 68-yard touchdown run was the nail in the Red Raiders' coffin.

Players of the game: The offensive and defensive lines of Northern Bedford (Knox Dibert, Bryan Thomas, Mason Musselman, Caden Troy, Gavin Jessee, Jordan Talasky and Brody McCoy). The defensive front held the Red Raiders to 90 total yards of offense, while the offensive line led the way for 350 yards.

Unsung hero: Baker had 67 yards passing on four completions, while he also ran the ball nine times for 96 yards.

Most vital statistic: Northern Bedford racked up 17 first downs, and held Meyersdale to just four.

Notable: NBC junior Ian Weimer didn't have a carry through the first three quarters but played a key part in the Panthers' third touchdown when he had runs of 9, 18 and 14 on his first three carries -- all of which led to first downs. ... Meyersdale lost starting quarterback Spencer Whitfield early in the first quarter to an injury that he was unable to return from.

Records: Northern Bedford (7-5); Meyersdale (7-5).

Next week: Northern Bedford plays Steelton-Highspire next Friday at 7 p.m. at Bedford. Meyersdale's season is over.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Northern Bedford 0 0 14 7 — 21

Meyersdale 0 0 0 0 — 0

Third Quarter

NB--Free 29 pass from Baker (Ritchey kick), 10:25.

NB--Baker 68 run (Ritchey kick), 3:21.

Fourth Quarter

NB--Br. Cottle 9 run (Ritchey kick), 6:07.

TEAM STATISTICS NB M

First downs 17 4

Total yards 350 90

Rushes-yards 44-283 19-23

Yards passing 67 67

Pass (comp.-att.-int.) 4-9-1 8-13-1

Punts-avg. 3-36.7 3-29.7

Fumbles-lost 1-0 3-1

Penalties-yards 3-25 3-25

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Northern Bedford, Swanseen 13-85, Baker 9-96, Br. Cottle 3-21, Love 2-3, Free 5-27, Bowers 1-3, Weimer 4-43, Black 3-(-3), Feathers 1-5, TEAM 3-(-3); Meyersdale, Sines 9-20, Whitfield 1-(-2), Porter 7-5, Reese 2-0.

PASSING–Northern Bedford, Baker 4-8-1-67, Br. Cottle 0-1-0-0; Meyersdale, Reese 8-13-1-67.

RECEIVING–Northern Bedford, Bowers 1-6, Lloyd 1-11, Free 1-29, Horsh 1-21; Meyersdale, Vogt 4-39, Sines 1-3, Paulman 1-10, Porter 1-8, Steinberg 1-7.