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By Kevin Petrochko
For the Mirror
EBENSBURG -- Led by senior running back Grady Snyder's record-breaking performance, the Central Cambria Red Devils notched a season-ending victory over the Huntingdon Bearcats on Friday night, 28-21, in a Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference crossover matchup.
It was the final game for both teams.
Snyder eclipsed 3,000 career rushing yards in the first half.
"It feels nice," Snyder said. "It's been a grind these past four years, and it feels good going out with something on my shoulders."
Snyder finished the night by scoring all four of the Red Devils' touchdowns.
"Very good performance by our team," Snyder said. "We played hard through every snap. I'm very proud of our team's performance."
Despite the season not going as planned, Central Cambria never quit according to its coach.
"It's great for our seniors to go out with a win," Central Cambria coach Don Fyfe said. "We had a season that didn't quite go the way we had expected, but the thing I told them in the huddle was that I was so proud of how they never quit."
Fyfe believed his senior class was steadfast in its approach for every game.
"I've had them for three of the years," he said. "(Former head) coach (Shane) McGregor had them their freshman year, but they accepted me with open arms when I came in."
Sophomore running back Ryan Chappell also racked up eight carries for 44 yards for the Red Devils.
"We fought through some battles," Chappell said. "It feels good to come out with a two-game (winning) streak at the end."
Despite a rough season, Huntingdon's program has a positive outlook for the future according to its head coach.
"In the two years I've been here, they (Bearcat seniors) have done everything I've asked them to do," Tim Lucko said. "We had a couple new ones come out this year and I think that's a sign where your program is healthy."
Play of the game: With 2:34 left in the first quarter, Snyder ran back a punt return 28 yards for a touchdown for the first score.
Player of the game: Snyder finished the game with 22 carries for 200 yards rushing.
Unsung hero: Chappell's 44 yards out of the backfield.
Most vital statistic: Central Cambria finished the game with 259 total rushing yards
Fyfe on Snyder's performance: "He's just a workhorse. He's a once-in-a-lifetime kid in a program."
Lucko: "I thought my kids fought hard. I'm proud of their effort tonight."
Chappell: "We're a big weight room team, and we're getting some field work all the time. We're going to start working a lot."
Notable: Central Cambria's defense held Huntingdon to 226 yards of total offense. … Landon Erdman scored two touchdowns for Huntingdon on runs of 26 and 2 yards.
Records: Huntingdon (0-10), Central Cambria (2-8)
Next week: Both team's seasons are now complete.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Huntingdon 0 13 2 6 -- 21
Central Cambria 7 6 8 7 -- 28
First Quarter
CC--Snyder 28 punt return (O'Brien kick), 2:34
Second Quarter
H--Erdman 26 run (Snare kick), 7:28.
CC--Snyder 8 run (Kick failed), 1:13.
H - Gibson 95 kick return (Kick failed) 0:57
Third Quarter
H–Safety (Snyder tackled in the endzone), 7:46.
CC--Snyder 5 run (Pittsinger pass to Blasco), 1:53.
Fourth Quarter
H--Erdman 2 run (Kick failed), 11:37.
CC--Snyder 3 run (O'Brien kick), 3:28.
TEAM STATISTICS H CC
First downs 10 16
Total yards 226 278
Rushes-yards 31-180 36-259
Yards passing 46 19
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 7-9-1 3-8-1
Punts-avg. 1-29 1-28
Fumbles-lost 1 2
Penalties-yards 4-35 4-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Huntingdon, Erdman 14-103, Mykut 11-26, Gibson 4-60, Hughes 2 (-9) Central Cambria, Snyder 22-200 R. Chappell 8-44, A. Chappell 5-16, Pittsinger 1 (-1)
PASSING--Huntingdon, Mykut 7-9-46-1. Central Cambria, Snyder 1-1-7-0 Pittsinger 2-7-12-1.
RECEIVING--Huntingdon, Gibson 2-11, Hughes 3-23, Rutter 1-4, Erdman 1-8. Central Cambria, Burkett 2-12, R. Chappell 1-7.