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NORTHERN CAMBRIA -- Saturday night's District 6 Class 1A semifinal between Cambria Heights and Northern Cambria resembled every bit of a championship fight in the first half.
Both teams landed punches, had big stops and the game was close heading into the half.
Starting in the second half, though, the Highlanders fumbled the ball away, the Colts converted it into a touchdown and the game got away very quickly.
Colt quarterback Owen Bougher went 9-for-12 passing for 165 yards to become the program's all-time single-season passing leader in the process as they went on to pummel the Highlanders, 41-0, at a rain soaked and windy Duffy Daugherty Stadium.
"We got a stop right off the bat (in the second half), had some good field position, and then they start doing that shifting and then we jumped," Cambria Heights coach Jarrod Lewis said. "It was too much to overcome.
"It was a very even first half. Some of the penalties got us into uncharacteristic downs. Credit (the Colts), they played well."
Play of the game: The Northern Cambria defense recovered a fumble with around 8:30 to go in the third quarter. That set up the first of two touchdown passes from Bougher to Tyler Dumm to give the Colts a 13-0 lead.
Player of the game: Bougher broke the Colts all-time single season passing record with his performance. He now has 2,062 yards passing for the season.
Unsung hero: Tyler Dumm caught five passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns and caught the record-setting pass on a 30-yard gain over the middle for a first down.
Most vital statistics: Northern Cambria won despite committing nine penalties for 70 yards compared to the Highlanders who had six for 35.
Northern Cambria coach Sam Shutty: “The first half was like yeah this is where it's going to be. It's a 7-0 game. Our defense just stepped up big. I am so proud of our defense and our defensive coordinators put together a great plan, and our kids just executed that second half. Cambria Heights had nowhere to go."
Lewis on the Highlander Seniors: "I can't say enough about this senior class, I'm so proud of the way they've represented Cambria Heights. This is a group that went to a District 6 Championship game, a group that won a conference championship, and a group that made it to the second round. It's tough to end this way. I'm proud of these seniors, they've left a very solid mark on this program."
Notable: This was one of two semifinal matchups in the Class 1A bracket involving both teams having played in the Heritage Conference. ... Both teams registered 11 first downs. ... Tanner Trybus racked up 135 yards on the ground on 23 carries. ... The Colts are going to the District 6 championship for the first time since 2003 when they lost to Bishop Carroll Catholic.
Records: Cambria Heights (8-4), Northern Cambria (9-3)
Next week: Cambria Heights' season is finished while Northern Cambria will play Penns Manor in the District 6 Class 1A Championship Saturday at Mansion Park at 7 p.m.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Cambria Heights 0 0 0 0 - 0
Northern Cambria 0 7 14 20 - 41
Second Quarter
NC--Sheredy 27 run (Pershing kick), 4:59.
Third Quarter
NC--T. Dumm 9 pass from Bougher (kick failed), 7:21.
NC--Sheredy 3 run (Myers pass from Bougher), 1:33.
Fourth Quarter
NC--T. Dumm 30 pass from Bougher (Pershing kick), 9:15.
NC--Myers 41 run (kick failed), 5:58.
NC--Myers 100 interception return (Pershing kick), :31.
TEAM STATISTICS CH NC
First downs 11 11
Total yards 179 373
Rushes-yards 44-155 29-208
Yards passing 24 165
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 4-10-3 9-12-0
Punts-avg. 3-36 3-40.3
Fumbles-lost 3-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 6-35 9-70
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Cambria Heights, Storm 7-12, Trybus 23-128, Stockley 11-26, Eckenrode 2-0, TEAM 1-(-1). Northern Cambria, Myers 3-50, Bougher 4-35, Dolansky 2-0, Paronish 13-55, Sheredy 7-68.
PASSING--Cambria Heights, Trybus 1-1-0-9, Stockley 3-10-3-15. Northern Cambria, Bougher 9-12-0-165.
RECEIVING--Cambria Heights, Eckenrode 1-9, Snedden 1-4, Baker 1-9, Storm 1-2. Northern Cambria, Sheredy 1-7, Paronish 1-8, T. Dumm 5-135, C. Dumm 1-6, Myers 1-9.