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By Matt Michelone
For the Mirror
EBENSBURG -- While some teams are putting their finishing touches on their playoff preparations for the upcoming high school football postseason, others are finding a way to end the year on a high note.
Central Cambria hasn't had a lot to cheer about this season, having dropped their first eight games this year.
Friday night, however, one of the bright spots in their season was Grady Snyder putting on a show in one of his last games in a Red Devil uniform.
The senior Snyder racked up a staggering 263 yards on 10 carries with five touchdowns as he led Central Cambria to a 40-18 triumph over Westmont Hilltop on senior night at Central Cambria Stadium.
"He's an unbelievable athlete," Central Cambria coach Don Fyfe said. "We're going to miss him. It's special he got to do it on senior night."
Plays of the game: Snyder racked up three runs of at least 50 yards on his way to his big night.
Player of the game: Snyder
Unsung heroes: The Red Devil offensive line
Most vital statistics: Central Cambria outgained Westmont Hilltop in total offense, 297-50, and registered nine first downs before the Hilltoppers recorded one in the first half.
Fyfe: "We practiced relaxed and we came out and played relaxed. Maybe we were so uptight and afraid to make a mistake. When you play like that, you don't play very well. I thought the offensive line played great tonight. I thought our defense played great. They didn't quit. They kept coming to practice, and focusing, and playing hard. Every game we've played as hard as we could. We just have injuries, or just mental break downs that would cost us in key situations.''
Westmont Hilltop coach Pat Barron: "(Snyder) was very good tonight, he's a heck of an athlete. We had no answer for him, especially on the edge.''
Snyder: "I'm very happy the young guys are starting to figure out what to do, and I can see the future is bright for them if they keep working. It's a great feeling for it to finally come together. It was so much fun putting on a show for (the Red Devil fans). They've been here all season, every season through my entire career. I can't thank them enough for coming out even in the lowest seasons''
Notable: Central Cambria didn't punt one time. ... Both teams fumbled twice, and each team lost one of them. ... The Red Devils were called for four penalties for 16 yards with the Hilltoppers being called for none. … Central Cambria did not complete a pass on just three attempts and yet still finished with 372 yards of offense.
Records: Westmont Hilltop (0-9), Central Cambria (1-8)
Next week: Westmont Hilltop will finish the season hosting Penns Valley while Central Cambria will finish with Huntingdon at home. Penns Valley lost to Tyrone, 82-26, while Huntingdon fell to Bellefonte, 49-26.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Westmont Hilltop 0 3 0 15 - 18
Central Cambria 14 19 7 0 - 40
First Quarter
CC--Snyder 3 run (kick failed), 10:28.
CC--Snyder 55 run (R. Chappell run), 5:28.
Second Quarter
CC--A. Chappell 2 run (Kick failed), 11:19.
CC--Snyder 61 run (pass failed), 9:21.
CC--Snyder 20 run (O'Brien kick), 6:45.
WH--Jones 36 FG, :08.
Third Quarter
CC--Snyder 47 (O'Brien kick), 3:13.
Fourth Quarter
WH--B. Goodman 3 run (Jones kick), 7:52.
WH--Brant 1 run (Brant run), :41.
TEAM STATISTICS WH CC
First downs 13 11
Total yards 237 372
Rushes-yards 45-223 31-372
Yards passing 14 0
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 3-8-1 0-3-0
Punts-avg. 3-32.3 0-0
Fumbles-lost 2-1 2-1
Penalties-yards 0-0 4-16
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Westmont Hilltop, Ray 12-84, Goodman 14-48, McCoy 0-2, Kane 6-29, L. Dill 2-4, Galiote 1-6, Ingram 3-26, Torquatto 2-20, Brant 2-27, TEAM 2-(-3). Central Cambria, Snyder 10-263, R. Chappell 8-52, Estep 3-21, A. Chappell 6-39, Grimes 2-(-2), Ray 1-4, TEAM 1-(-5).
PASSING-- Westmont Hilltop, L. Dill 3-8-1-14. Central Cambria, Snyder 0-1-0-0, M. Pittsinger 0-2-0-0.
RECEIVING-- Westmont Hilltop, Kane 1-4, Ray 1-3, Goodman 1-7. Central Cambria, None.