Mountain Lions’ offense shut down
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By Jon Fleck
For the Mirror
The Altoona defense stood tall and played well enough to win Friday night, but the offense just couldn't put much together, resulting in a 13-0 loss to Cumberland Valley at Mansion Park.
Altoona dropped to 0-3 overall after getting shut out for the second straight game.
Plays of the game: With 1:30 left in the first half, Erik Barbacci ripped off a 30-yard run, giving CV a first-and-goal at the Altoona 10. A combination of Altoona pressure and CV penalties pushed the Eagles back to the Altoona 31. Looking like the game would go to halftime with no score, quarterback Grant Shepley floated a pass down the middle of the field to an open Nolan Buzalka for a 31-yard touchdown with just 13 seconds on the clock.
Altoona coach Vince Nedimyer: "Give them credit. They made a play when they needed to make one. The quarterback put the ball where he needed to."
Cumberland Valley coach Josh Oswalt: "I don't know how that play happened. We were not picking up pass protection at all. We cleaned that up at halftime and did a much better job in the second half."
Still clinging to a one-score lead midway through the fourth quarter, Cumberland Valley recovered a muffed punt at the Altoona 32. Eight plays later, Shelby found Zayden Smith in the back corner of the end zone with 2:30 remaining for a 7-yard touchdown to set the final score.
Cumberland Valley players of the game: Brody Pines ran for 91 yards on 22 carries, and Shepley completed 11-of-20 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Altoona players of the game: Mark Harrington Jr. and Logan Wuckovich played downhill all night from their inside linebacker positions to slow down the Eagles' running game while TyKear Davis and Tyrease Pearson put pressure on the quarterback, resulting in a pair of sacks for big losses. In the first half, Davis threw Shepley for a 17-yard loss in Altoona territory, effectively ending that drive, then Davis and Pearson combined on a sack in the third quarter for a 12-yard loss, ending another CV possession.
Nedimyer: "Our defense gave us a chance a win. If those four play well, we have a chance to win. Offensively, we have to go back and work on some things. It was Connor's (Pike) first game at quarterback. As a 10th grader that's not an easy thing to do. He's only going to get better."
Deja vu: CV had a first-and-goal at the Altoona 10 once again in the second half and was forced back once again. This time it was a bad snap that sailed over the quarterback's head and cost the Eagles 23 yards. Altoona held and got the ball back on downs.
Oswalt: "Our plan was to score more points. We'd get down to the goal line then get in some bad situations. We just couldn't punch it in. Even when we scored the second touchdown on that extended drive, we got down there and were kind of pitter-pattering before we scored."
Vital statistics: Harrington ran for 82 yards on 19 carries, accounting for most of Altoona's 127 yards of total offense. The Mountains Lions didn't crack the 100-yard mark until the final two minutes of the game. Cumberland Valley dominated time of possession in the second half. Prior to its final drive, Altoona ran just 11 plays and picked up just one first down on its first three possessions of the second half.
Records: Cumberland Valley (2-1). Altoona (0-3).
Next week: Cumberland Valley home against State College. Altoona hosts Central Dauphin.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Cumberland Valley 0 7 0 6 -- 13
Altoona 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Second Quarter
CV--Buzalka 31 pass from Shepley (Rice kick), :13.
Fourth Quarter
CV--Smith 7 pass from Shepley (kick failed), 2:30.
TEAM STATISTICS CV A
First downs 13 9
Total yards 257 127
Rushes-yards 35-82 32-113
Yards passing 119 14
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 11-20-0 3-9-2
Punts-avg. 3-39.3 3-39.3
Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-1
Penalties-yards 9-54 3-24
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Cumberland Valley, Pines 22-91, Shepley 5-(-23), Barbacci 5-41, Sherman 1-2, TEAM 2-(-29). Altoona, Harrington 19-82, Pike 7-(-2), Emeigh-Ballos 1-7, Patterson 1-4, Hazelwood 2-24, Adams 1-1, TEAM 1-(-1).
PASSING--Cumberland Valley, Shepley 11-20-0-119. Altoona, Pike 3-9-2-14.
RECEIVING--Cumberland Valley, Buzalka 4-62, Green 3-25, Pines 1-5, Hunter 1-9, Smith 1-7, Sherman 1-11. Altoona, Emeigh-Ballos 1-(-2), Harrington 1-8, Hazelwood 1-8.