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Key injury doesn’t hamper Cambria Heights in Coal Bowl win over Northern Cambria

By Rick Weaver 5 min read

PATTON -- Cambria Heights overcame an apparent knee injury to running back Nolan Clawson as Dawson Warner scored two touchdowns and rushed for a game-best 158 yards as the Highlanders eked out a 21-14 victory against Northern Cambria in a Heritage Conference football game on Friday night at AmeriServ Field at Cambria Heights Stadium.

Cambria Heights junior Camden Gray scored the difference-making touchdown, a 7-yard run with 10:57 to go, and Carson Lobick intercepted Daniel Farrell in the end zone to restore possession to the Highlanders, who were coming off a 26-25 loss to Marion Center. Northern Cambria never again had possession for the duration of the annual Coal Bowl game.

Play of the game: Lobick's interception with 7:05 left in the fourth quarter preserved the Highlanders' 21-14 lead that stood to the end.

"I knew we had to make a big play to get a stop and get the ball back. So I saw that deep ball go up in the air and I said to myself, 'I have to go get that,'" Lobick said.

"That's what you need out of your seniors," Cambria Heights coach Jarrod Lewis said. "You need your seniors to step up, and Lobick did that."

Players of the game: Warner and Gray combined for 217 yards rushing. "They really stepped up," Cambria Heights quarterback Kaiden Ivory said. "Nolan went down, and Dawson took over the game, was running hard. And Camden was running hard. We didn't need a third today because we kept punching them in the mouth, and our run game was working great."

Most vital statistics: Each team committed one turnover. The Highlanders held a 233-195 advantage in total yards. Cambria Heights gained 216 yards on the ground and totaled 20 first downs.

Clawson sat out nearly the entire second half with an apparent right knee injury. He left with 32 rushing yards.

"We had some guys go down in the second half. So being able to get back after it was pretty important. It was pretty huge," Lewis said.

Unsung heroes: Whomever carried the ball mattered not to the Highlanders' offensive line of guards Justin Galinis, Hayden Leamer and Jack Sherwood, and tackles James Holtz and Nathan Wood.

Coach Lewis: "Warner ran great today. And the offensive line blocked well, too. It takes a team effort; and that's what we were able to do tonight."

Lewis said he did not know how many games, if any, Clawson would miss: "It was precautionary. We'll see. We'll know a lot more after this."

Ivory on the annual Coal Bowl: "This is the game we look forward to every year. We're thrilled to win this. We'll get back; we'll keep winning games. And, hopefully, we can get to the postseason and keep having fun out here."

Lobick: "As Coach Lewis says, a tragic loss like that is good sometimes if you can recover and bounce back. We come back next week and play even harder."

Northern Cambria coach Sam Shutty: "It was a read by our quarterback. He has a couple of options. Obviously, in those matchups against a tight defense -- which they did -- they jumped in a tight man coverage, we always tell them to go with your best guy, who you have the most confidence in. Malik (Fox) is not a bad guy to throw to. I think (Farrell) underthrew just a bit. I think if he put a little more air under it, I think he has a better chance of catching it."

Notable: Farrell ran off a 42-yard gain on the Colts' first play from scrimmage. The drive stalled, however, and the Highlanders took over on downs from their 30. ... Cambria Heights followed with a 12-play, 62-yard possession that ended in a lost fumble that was recovered by Dylan Bodek . ... Warner scored 9-yard touchdowns in the second and third quarters. ... Farrell connected with Zak Kirsch for a 28-yard touchdown pass that pared the Highlanders' lead to 7-6. The lead stayed that way after Gray blocked the point-after kick. ... Farrell completed 9 of 15 passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once. ... Fox led all pass receivers with four catches, including a 21-yard touchdown reception, for 38 yards. ... Ivory completed 2 of 7 passes (all in the first half) for 17 yards. ... Cambria Heights is 8-4 against Northern Cambria since 2004.

Records: Northern Cambria (2-3); Cambria Heights (4-1).

Next week: Northern Cambria plays host to West Shamokin, and Cambria Heights visits Conemaugh Valley on Friday.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Northern Cambria 0 6 8 0 - 14

Cambria Heights 0 7 7 7 - 21

Second Quarter

CH--Warner 9 run (Kutruff kick), 8:55.

NC--Kirsch 28 pass from Farrell (kick blocked), :48.

Third Quarter

NC--Fox 21 pass from Farrell (Kirsch pass from Farrell), 7:24.

CH--Warner 9 run (Kutruff kick), 3:45.

Fourth Quarter

CH--Gray 7 run (Kutruff kick), 10:57.

TEAM STATISTICS NC CH

First downs 12 20

Total yards 195 233

Rushes-yards 21-83 55-216

Yards passing 112 17

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 9-15-1 2-7-0

Punts-avg. 3-34.3 1-36.0

Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-0

Penalties-yards 8-45 4-40

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing--Northern Cambria, Kirsch 7-51, Farrell 6-35, Smarsh 1-3, Czar 2-2, Fox 2-(-2), Shonsky 3-(-2). Cambria Heights, Warner 23-159, Gray 10-63, Clawson 13-32, Strong 6-18, Ivory 1-9, TEAM 2-(-2).

PASSING--Northern Cambria, Farrell 9-15-1-112. Cambria Heights, Ivory 2-7-0-17

RECEIVING--Northern Cambria, Fox 4-38, Kirsch 2-48, Czar 1-9, Wagner 1-9. Bodek 1-8. Cambria Heights, DeArmitt 1-14, Clawson 1-3.

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