Fourth-quarter lead slips away for Cambria Heights in loss to Marion Center
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PATTON -- Cambria Heights suffered its first Heritage Conference loss since Oct. 27, 2023, a 26-25 setback against Marion Center in a showdown between the conference's only remaining unbeaten teams on Friday night at AmeriServ Field at Cambria Heights Stadium.
The Highlanders led 25-14 after a 27-yard field goal by Nito Kutruff on the first play of the fourth quarter. Camden Rising threw for two touchdowns in a span of 4:53 to help the Stingers inch ahead.
"I don't know; we just didn't play ball," Cambria Heights coach Jarrod Lewis said.
The Highlanders had won 13 successive Heritage games, including all 10 in their conference and District 6 Class 3A championship season, since a 28-11 setback to Northern Cambria in 2023.
Play of the game: Rising, a senior, connected for a 25-yard touchdown pass that pared the Cambria Heights lead to 25-20 with 10:05 to play in the fourth quarter.
Players of the game: Rising completed 14 out of 20 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns. Troy Slovinsky caught two of Rising's touchdown passes. Slovinsky caught six balls for 138 yards. His 19-yard touchdown reception came with 5:12 remaining and put Marion Center ahead for good.
Most vital statistics: Cambria Heights committed two turnovers and forced none. The Highlanders outgained the Stingers, 361-252. Neither team lost a fumble.
Unsung heroes: Marion Center defenders Tyler Phillips and Alec Brudnock. Phillips returned an interception by Kaiden Ivory 12 yards to the Cambria Heights 32. Brudnock intercepted Ivory at the Marion Center 47 with 50 seconds left to clinch the victory.
Coach Lewis: "Give credit to them. They made some plays; and we stalled out in the second half."
Lewis on the Stingers making the most of the short field: "Whenever you give any team a short field, that's what happens."
Marion Center coach Adam Rising: "We have some playmakers; between Alec Brudnock, Troy Slovinsky, Trent Slovinsky, Tyler Phillips, Mike Fabri and Cam Rising. The offensive line gave them opportunities to scan the field. And that's what makes us so dynamic."
Notable: Cambria Heights junior defensive end Jack Sherwood threw Michael Fabri for a loss of 4 yards on fourth-and-2 at the Cambria Heights 38 early in the second quarter. The Highlanders followed with an eight-play, 62-yard drive. Nolan Clawson completed the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run that gave Cambria Heights its first lead of the night, 14-7. ... Nolan Clawson led all rushers with 125 yards on 23 attempts. Dawson Warner added 47 yards on 11 attempts. Ivory completed 6 of 15 passes for 119 yards and a 28-yard scoring pass to Brayden DeArmitt. ... Rising's 25-yard scoring pass to Brudnock helped Marion Center cut the lead to 25-20 with 10:05 left. ... The entire second half was played with only one functioning scoreboard. The scoreboard on the east side was rendered inactive. The play clock, consequently, was kept by the on-field officials. ... Rylie Chigas was named queen and Ethan Douthitt was chosen king in pregame homecoming ceremonies.
Records: Marion Center (4-0), Cambria Heights (3-1).
Next week: Cambria Heights plays host to Northern Cambria in the annual Coal Bowl game, and Marion Center visits West Shamokin on Friday.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Marion Center 7 0 7 12 -- 26
Cambria Heights 7 15 0 3 -- 25
First Quarter
MC--Troy Slovinsky 26 pass from Rising ( Troup kick), 8:28.
CH--DeArmitt 28 pass from Ivory (Kutruff kick), 1:13.
Second Quarter
CH--Clawson 2 run (Kutruff kick), 7:50.
CH--Clawson 5 run (DeArmitt pass from Clawson), 1:30.
Third Quarter
MC--Fabri 1 run (Troup kick), 10:54.
Fourth Quarter
CH--Kutruff 27 field goal, 11:54.
MC--Brudnock 25 pass from Rising (pass failed), 10:05.
MC--Troy Slovinsky 19 pass from Rising (pass failed), 5:12.
TEAM STATISTICS MC CH
First downs 12 18
Total yards 252 361
Rushes-yards 27-51 51-235
Yards passing 201 126
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 14-20-0 8-17-2
Punts-avg. 6-21.6 3-37.0
Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-0
Penalties-yards 7-58 6-45
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Marion Center, Rising 16-46, Brudnock 1-6, Fabri 7-6, Slovinsky 1-1, Team 2-(-2), Phillips 6-(-6). Cambria Heights, Clawson 23-125, Warner 11-47, Gray 9-24, Strong 2-24, Ivory 4-23, DeArmitt 1-(-4),Team 1-(-4).
PASSING--Marion Center, Rising 14-20-0-201. Cambria Heights, Ivory 6-15-2-119, Clawson 1-2-0-7.
RECEIVING--Marion Center, Troy Slovinsky 6-138, Brudnock 4-36, Trent Slovinsky 2-19, Phillips 2-8. Cambria Heights, DeArmitt 4-76, Clawson 3-41, Lobick 1-9,