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CRESSON -- Unbeaten Penn Cambria will be making its fourth straight trip to the District 6 Class 3A championship game next week, and the Panthers are hoping again to win the school's first district football title there.
After reaching the district title game in each of the previous three years but losing there to Central, Penn Cambria turned the tables on the Scarlet Dragons Friday night, when the Panthers posted a 33-0 semifinal victory in a game played on the Penn Cambria High School Athletic Field.
The win puts Penn Cambria (11-0) into next weekend's District 6 Class 3A championship game against Tyrone at Mansion Park. Tyrone advanced to the title game by beating Forest Hills, 44-0, in the other semifinal game Friday.
Penn Cambria rolled up 328 of its 373 yards in total offense via the rush Friday, with the Panthers' three senior backfield horsemen -- Gavin Harrold, Mason Mento, and Tommy Plunkett -- all churning out at least 100 yards apiece.
En route to rushing for 100 yards on 12 carries, Harrold scored on touchdown runs of 11 and 2 yards in the second quarter and 10 yards in the third quarter for Penn Cambria (11-0). He also intercepted a pass from his secondary spot on defense.
Mento rushed for 111 yards on 12 carries, including a 1-yard fourth-quarter touchdown run, and Plunkett ran for 103 yards on 15 carries, highlighted by a 25-yard third-quarter TD run.
After a scoreless first quarter, Penn Cambria held a 12-0 halftime lead before getting some breathing room in the third quarter.
"Our guys were able to run the ball in the second half,'' Penn Cambria coach Nick Felus said. "We have some talented guys carrying the football, but it all starts up front, and our offensive line did an excellent job of creating space tonight.
"As the saying goes, 'No block, No rock,''' Felus added. "We executed well on both sides of the ball tonight, and our defense played very well, too. To turn in a shutout in the playoffs against a good team like Central is fantastic, unbelievable.''
Harrold also praised his offensive line for their effort.
"It's an old cliche, but it's a matter of the guys up front putting in the work week in and week out and never failing to help us with our running game,'' Harrold said. "We started off a little slow, but we picked it up in the second half.
"This is the last time that our seniors will play on this field, and we left it all on the field tonight,'' Harrold said.
And consequently, Penn Cambria will be getting another chance at a district championship next week.
"We had to focus and execute tonight, and I believe that we did that,'' Harrold said. "We have to execute well again next week. We've been there (district title game) in each of the past three years, but we failed to win. We think that this is our year.''
Play of the game: With Central threatening to score the game's first touchdown in the second quarter, Penn Cambria senior linebacker Derek Hite came up big on a fourth-and-one play, knifing through the front line and stopping Lukas Black short of the sticks to turn the momentum in Penn Cambria's favor. The Panthers' offense responded with an 89-yard, 13-play drive that Harrold capped off with his 10-yard touchdown run after taking a direct snap.
Player of the game: Harrold stood out on both sides of the ball.
Unsung heroes: Penn Cambria's offensive line opened up big holes for the Panthers' running backs, and the Penn Cambria defense pitched a shutout.
Most vital statistic: Penn Cambria more than doubled up Central in total yardage, 373-163.
Central coach Jerry Albright: "(Penn Cambria) has so much talent, but our guys gave it their best effort and went down fighting tonight. Our ultimate goal this season was to win another district title, but we made the playoffs, so that's a pretty successful season. We have a good building block for next year, and we'll be back.''
Penn Cambria running back Mason Mento: "I think our O line did a great job tonight of giving us holes and allowing us to get running room, and our defense really picked us up and played a hell of a game.''
Penn Cambria running back Tommy Plunkett: "We didn't start the way that we wanted to tonight, but we came out fired up in the second half and picked it up. We have big goals this season, and we're not finished yet.''
Records: Central (5-6); Penn Cambria (11-0).
Next week: Central's season is complete. Penn Cambria faces Tyrone in the District 6 Class 3A championship game at Altoona's Mansion Park Stadium.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Central 0 0 0 0-- 0
Penn Cambria 0 12 14 7--33
Second Quarter
PC--Harrold 11 run (pass failed), 5:25.
PC--Harrold 2 run (run failed), 1:38.
Third Quarter
PC--Harrold 10 run (Jones run), 10:56.
PC--Plunkett 25 run (pass failed), 3:13.
Fourth Quarter
PC--Mento 1 run (Jones kick), 6:53.
TEAM STATISTICS C PC
First downs 8 19
Total yards 163 373
Rushes-yards 26-78 47-328
Yards passing 85 45
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 13-28-3 2-6-0
Punts/avg. 3-33.3 1-12
Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-1
Penalties-yards 3-20 9-60
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Central, Beach 9-24, Black 6-21, Mickel 3-12, J. Muthler 5-11, Marks 1-9, Myers 2-1. Penn Cambria, Mento 12-111, Plunkett 15-103, Harrold 12-100, Jones 8-14.
PASSING--Central, J. Muthler 12-26-3-85, Black 1-2-0-0. Penn Cambria, Jones 2-6-0-45.
RECEIVING--Central, Hoenstine 5-39, Beach 5-27, Baird 1-12, Klotz 1-5, Mickel 1-2. Penn Cambria, Harrold 1-31, Hite 1-14.