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8-0 Highlanders claim Heritage Conference title

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Cambria Heights’ Ryan Haluska celebrates his touchdown with Gavin McConnell on Friday night in Blairsville.

BLAIRSVILLE — Cambria Heights, to borrow liberally from a song by Karen and Richard Carpenter, has only just begun.

Ryan Haluska rushed for all three Highlanders’ touchdowns to help the new Heritage Conference champs erase an early 7-0 deficit and nail down a 20-7 victory over River Valley on Friday at Ernie Widmar Field at Memorial Field.

“We knew as soon we got into the Heritage that was our goal,” quarterback Ty Stockley said. “It’s very surreal to finally accomplish that goal. But we’re just getting started because this isn’t our end.”

“It feels awesome. This was our goal all year,” Haluska said. “And we’re going to try to keep the train moving.”

“It’s a great accomplishment. But we’re going to enjoy it tonight and get ready for Purchase Line (Week 9) starting tomorrow,” Cambria Heights coach Jarrod Lewis said.

Play of the game: River Valley senior Cage Kinney caught a 60-yard touchdown pass from classmate Angelo Bartolini on a halfback option. The score came on the second play of the game.

Players of the game: Haluska and Ty Stockley combined for 247 rushing yards. Stockley rushed for 124.

Unsung heroes: Lucas Storm and Garrett Jasper recorded sacks at pivotal moments of the game. Joseph Snedden’s 43-yard pass reception helped Cambria Heights climb out of a hole and kept in order an 18-play possession that ended in a missed field goal attempt by Zechariah Scott from 37 yards.

Most vital statistic: Cambria Heights limited River Valley to 23 yards on 20 attempts. Angelo Bartolini was held to 20 rushing yards, with a long of 5.

Coach Lewis: “I’ve said all year this team has high character. We have great senior leadership. And even though we got down early, we never panicked.”

Stockey on Cambria Heights’ attempt to control the ball in the second half: “We knew coming in the second half they were going to come out hot. We knew we had to answer and keep going hard on them.”

Haluska on Stockey: “He’s a stud. I love to block for that guy. He never gives up on a play. He gives 110 percent every single play.”

Storm: “(We needed to) keep our heads and regroup. That’s all it is. Don’t think about it. There’s always the next play.”

Jasper: “We didn’t let that first play at the beginning let us down. We just kept going.”

River Valley coach Jess Houser on Stockey: “I thought coming in and looking at the film that he was the better runner. That’s who I was more worried about. They all played well.”

Notable: Tanner Hite contributed 49 rushing yards for Cambria Heights. … Stockley completed 1-of-2 passes. … The Highlanders totaled 337 yards and limited River Valley to 220. … Rocco Bartolini answered Haluska’s first-quarter touchdown with a 52-yard kickoff return. … Neither team punted. … Four of River Valley’s pass played netted 20 yards or more.

Records: Cambria Heights (8-0 overall, 7-0 conference); River Valley (6-2, 5-2).

Next week: Cambria Heights plays host to Purchase Line; River Valley visits Northern Cambria.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Cambria Heights 7 13 0 0 — 20

River Valley 7 0 0 0 — 7

First Quarter

RV–Kinney 40 pass from A.Bartolini (Behenna kick), 11:02.

CH–Haluska 9 run (Scott kick), 5:38.

Second Quarter

CH–Haluska 4 run (Scott kick), 8:46.

CH–Haluska 1 run (kick failed), :26.

TEAM STATISTICS CH RV

First downs 21 8

Total yards 337 220

Rushes-yards 61-294 20-23

Yards passing 43 197

Passing (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 1-2-0 9-16-0

Punts-avg. 0-0.0 0-0.0

Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-1

Penalties-yards 3-31 3-32

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Cambria Heights, Stockley 22-124, Haluska 26-123, Hite 11-49, TEAM 2-(-2). River Valley, A.Bartolini 12-20, R.Bartolini 2-13, McFarlin 2-11, Staats 2-(-21).

PASSING–Cambria Heights, Stockley 1-2-43. River Valley, A.Bartolini 1-1-60-0, Staats 8-15-0-137.

RECEIVING–Cambria Heights, Snedden 1-43. River Valley, Kinney 4-94, A.Bartolini 3-77, R.Bartolini 1-21, Skirboll 1-5.

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