By Paul Buriak

For the Mirror

JOHNSTOWN — Greater Johnstown sophomore quarterback Julius Reed accounted for seven touchdowns to spark an offensive explosion that was too much for Central Cambria to overcome on Friday night.

The Trojans ended a 43-game losing streak dating back to 2019 at the expense of the Red Devils with a 47-36 Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference victory at Trojan Stadium.

Play of the game: Reed’s 27-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Porter on the opening drive of the third quarter for the Trojans opened up a 41-21 lead for Greater Johnstown.

Player of the game: Reed completed 18 of 25 passes for 227 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for a team-leading 110 yards on 28 carries and two more scores.

Unsung hero: Central Cambria’s Grady Snyder did the best he could to keep his team in the game by rushing for 220 yards and three touchdowns for the Red Devils.

Most vital statistic: Greater Johnstown ran 78 offensive plays and did not commit a turnover, while the Red Devils were intercepted twice and lost a fumble.

Central Cambria coach Don Fyfe: “They had me worried coming in. They (Johnstown) showed glimpses of putting it together, and tonight they put it all together.”

Johnstown coach Antwuan Reed: ” It was a great thing for these kids to deliver, it was a total team effort. They fought for the whole four quarters.”

Julius Reed: “We had great practices all week. We’re responding to adversity really good and coming together as a team.”

Notable: Central Cambria quarterback Hunter Pittsinger ran for two scores. … Johnstown’s Gerald Veney Jr. caught two touchdown passes, while Trojan running back Raheem Braswell picked up 103 yards on 10 carries.

Records: Central Cambria (0-4), Greater Johnstown (1-3)

Next week: Central Cambria travels to undefeated Penn Cambria (4-0), which beat Bedford on Friday night. Greater Johnstown will be at winless Westmont Hilltop (0-4) the same night.

SCORE BY QUARTER

Central Cambria……………………………..14 7 7 8 — 36

Greater Johnstown ………………………. 14 20 7 6 — 47

First Quarter

GJ–J. Reed 1 run (kick failed), 11:26.

CC–Snyder 5 run (O’Brien kick), 6:41.

GJ–Braswell 11 pass from J. Reed (Z. Reed pass from J. Reed), 3:14.

CC–Snyder 20 run (O’Brien kick), 2:20.

Second Quarter

GJ–J. Reed 4 run (pass failed), 9:29.

CC–Pittsinger 2 run (O’Brien kick), 7:47.

GJ–Veney 21 pass from J. Reed (Matthews pass from J. Reed), 4:41.

GJ–Z. Reed 13 pass from J. Reed (pass failed), 2:00.

Third Quarter

GJ–Porter 27 pass from J. Reed (Murphy kick), 6:33.

CC–Snyder 10 run (O’Brien kick), 5:31.

Fourth Quarter

GJ–Veney 14 pass from J. Reed (run failed), 6:50.

CC–Pittsinger 1 run (Garzarelli pass from Pittsinger), 4:47.

TEAM STATISTICS CC GJ

First downs 18 29

Total Net Yards 414 487

Rushes-yards 36-31 1 53-260

Passing 103 227

Comp-Att-Int 4-15-2 18-25-0

Punts 2-27.5 3-33.3

Fumbles-Lost 1-9.0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 7-50 5-40

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Central Cambria, Snyder 21-220, Chappell 10-72, Pittsinger 4-5, Stevens 1-14. Greater Johnstown, Braswell 10-103, J. Reed 28-110, Z. Reed 7-30, Legrier 2-3, Miller 3-0, Edwards 1-26, Matthews 2-minus 12.

PASSING–Central Cambria, Pittsinger 4-15-2-103. Greater Johnstown, J. Reed 18-25-0-227.

RECEIVING–Central Cambria, Burkett 2-54, Stevens 1-16, Snyder 1-33. Greater Johnstown, Z. Reed 5-47, Veney 3-38, Braswell 4-36, Taylor 5-78, Porter 1-27.