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By Matt Michelone
For the Mirror
SAXTON -- Sometimes it's not a matter of a big offensive or defensive play that can flip the script for a team on their way to victory.
It's sometimes a matter of coming up with key plays on special teams that makes all of the difference.
Northern Bedford registered a kickoff return for a touchdown, and a blocked punt, which set up a quick scoring opportunity, en route to a Tussey Mountain 30-14 win Friday night in Inter-County Conference action at Dick L. Hess Stadium.
Play of the game: Northern Bedford's Aaron Bowers returned a kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter which put the Black Panthers ahead 21-6 with just over two minutes to play.
Player of the game: Ben Clark racked up 93 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown for Northern Bedford.
Unsung heroes: The Panthers' special teams units, which either generated points or helped flipped the field at crucial times. That includes three punts which went for an average of 38.7 yards.
Most vital statistic: Northern Bedford scored 14 points off of Titan special teams mistakes. That included a blocked punt early in the third quarter which set up Vaughn Schleinkofer's touchdown pass to Nolin Snider.
NBC coach Garry Black: "(Our special teams coach) has worked really hard every week. He takes time to make sure that the kids understand how important special teams are. Tonight was one of those nights. It was kind of a weird vibe type of game. It wasn't the cleanest, but special teams made a nice punt return, we had nice punts, we blocked a punt, we returned a kick for a touchdown. You can't ask for much more.''
Tussey Mountain's Jacob Dasher: "Story of our season is special teams. We have given up multiple kickoff returns in the past couple of weeks. We didn't fumble on kick return today. Special teams continue to kill us. We got to find a way to get off the field on third down. I can harp on special teams all day. You can't give Northern Bedford short fields.''
Bowers: "I got a good look at the field, saw the middle of the field was wide open, picked my lane and just full speed, go right through. The momentum, that's huge. We needed to respond and in a big way, and we did.''
Black on coaching against Dasher: "Jacob is one of my guys. I wish him nothing but the best whenever he's not playing us."
Dasher on coaching against Black: "I was at Southern Huntingdon for three years, didn't beat him then. Been here for two, still haven't beat him. It really eats at me. I got to go back home to Northern Bedford tonight. One of these times we need to come out on the right side."
Notable: Despite losing, Tussey outgained the Panthers 247-234. ... It was the second time that Black coached against Dasher since his former player accepted the Titans' job.
Records: Northern Bedford (5-1), Tussey Mountain (1-5)
Next week: Northern Bedford hosts Meyersdale while Tussey Mountain travels to Berlin Brothersvalley.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Northern Bedford 0 21 7 2 - 30
Tussey Mountain 0 6 0 8 - 14
Second Quarter
NB--Pittman 76 run (Kochara kick), 11:42.
NB--Clark 39 run (Kochara kick), 8:35.
TM--Lucko 17 run (run failed), 2:28.
NB--Bowers 70 kickoff return (Kochara kick), 2:14.
Third Quarter
NB--Snider 13 pass from Schleinkofer (Kochara kick), 8:43.
Fourth Quarter
NB -- Safety (Quarterback called for intentional grounding in endzone), 9:57.
TM--Clark 36 pass from Miller (Garner pass from Miller), 2:04.
TEAM STATISTICS NB TM
First downs 10 10
Total yards 234 247
Rushes-yards 25-179 32-154
Yards passing 55 93
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 6-11-0 7-20-1
Punts-avg. 3-38.7 4-28.5
Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-0
Penalties-yards 5-50 6-48
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Northern Bedford, Clark 12-93, Bowers 3-17, Pittman 3-71, Schleinkofer 2-(-7), Feathers 2-1, Swanseen 1-0, Cottle 1-1, Foor 1-3. Tussey Mountain, Hall 3-12, Lucko 13-88, Myers 8-24, Clark 3-19, TEAM 2-(-10), Miller 3-21.
PASSING--Northern Bedford, Schleinkofer 6-10-0-55, Feathers 0-1-0-0. Tussey Mountain, Myers 6-15-0-57, Miller 1-5-1-36.
RECEIVING--Nothern Bedford, Pittman 2-2, Donaldson 2-23, Snider 1-13, Horsh 1-17. Tussey Mountain, Hall 2-26, Garner 2-22, Lucko 1-5, Gambol 1-4, Clark 1-36.