Central Cambria Red Devils hold off second-half scare from Central Scarlet Dragons
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EBENSBURG -- Central spotted Central Cambria an 18-0 halftime lead before it launched a furious comeback effort that fell short, 32-22, in a Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference crossover football game at Central Cambria Stadium on Friday night.
The Dragons endured a tale of two halves for the second time in as many weeks. They overcame a weak start last week in their victory against Penns Valley. Central came close to duplicating the feat at Central Cambria.
"It's been our downfall all year; we have one great half, and we have one down half," Central coach Jerry Albright said. "We're still a very young team. We play a lot of young kids; freshmen, sophomores and juniors."
Plays of the game: Take your pick. Central senior Kaden Horn fired a 62-yard halfback option pass to JJ Moushlian that produced the Dragons' second score. Horn was one of four players who attempted a pass. Central Cambria junior Ryan Chappell ran off a 70-yard touchdown run with 2:38 left to sew up the Red Devils victory.
Those tricky Dragons: Central junior Adam Loucks, from punt formation, saw no one awaiting an expected punt, and hit Cole Marks for an 11-yard gain that kept the Dragons scoring chance in order.
"They were flat-footed; they weren't anticipating it. They were going to try to get the ball. Our punter made a great throw (and Marks made) a great reception. It gave us a little momentum," Albright said.
Carter Schenk caught the first of his two TD passes to pull Central within 18-6.
"We have several plays that we can run, and it's just a matter of trying to figure out which one to use," Albright said.
Players of the game: Chappell rushed for a game-best 170 yards and three touchdowns. Carter Schenk led Central with 10 pass receptions for 120 yards. He scored two touchdowns.
Unsung heroes: Central Cambria junior Hayden Gaunt recovered a Dragons fumble at the Central 29. Mason Pittsinger then connected with Cam Stevens on the next play for the game's first touchdown just before the end of the first period. Classmate Brody Makosy intercepted Jesse Muthler at the Central 25 and returned the pick 22 yards. Chappell scored from the 1 on the first play of the fourth quarter. Jett Williams' interception with 1:10 to go quelled the Dragons' final attempt at a comeback.
Most vital statistics: Central committed three turnovers, including an interception throw with 1:10 to go and the Dragons threatening to cut into their 10-point deficit.
Central Cambria coach Wade Klezek: "(Chappell)'s such a physical runner, and he has that breakaway speed. He'll get yards on you, and he'll eat away, eat away. But then when he has that crease, he has the ability to take it to the house. He consistently gains those yards that can add to the totals with those big-time runs."
Chappell: "We knew we had to be physical. No game is easy in the LHAC, so we had to match the run, the pass, and we got the job done tonight."
Albright: "We didn't come with our aggressiveness. We were a little back on our heels; not playing with the intensity we needed to be playing with."
Notable: Muthler was 22 of 34 for 178 yards. He threw two interceptions. ... Chappell's second-quarter touchdown run, which came with 3:50 to play before halftime, completed a possession that began with 1:54 left in the first quarter. ... Moushlian intercepted Pittsinger to account for the Dragons' first takeaway. ... Central junior Carter Stewart limped off the field in the last minute of the first half. He returned in the third period, however. ... Pittsinger completed 8 of 13 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Records: Central (2-6), Central Cambria (3-5).
Next week: Central plays host to Bald Eagle Area, and Central Cambria travels to Somerset.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Central 0 0 6 16 -- 22
Central Cambria 11 7 0 14 -- 32
First quarter
CC--O'Brien 26 field goal, 6:58.
CC--Stevens 29 pass from Pittsinger (Dill pass from Pittsinger), 6:06.
Second quarter
CC--R. Chappell 2 run (O'Brien kick), 3:50.
Third quarter
C--Schenk 2 pass from Muthler (pass failed), 6:48.
Fourth quarter
CC--Chappell 1 run (O'Brien kick), 11:55.
C--Moushlian 62 pass from Horn (Schenk pass from Muthler), 10:59.
C--Schenk 1 run (Schenk run), 3:08.
CC--R. Chappell 70 run (O'Brien kick), 2:38.
TEAM STATISTICS C CC
First downs 16 15
Total yards 299 319
Rushes-yards 16-41 37-217
Yards passing 258 102
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 25-37-2 8-13-1
Punts-avg. 2-32.5 2-41.0
Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 6-68 4-30
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Central, Harbaugh 4-20, Muthler 3-16, Musei 4-8, Schenk 4-6, TEAM 1-(-9). Central Cambria, R. Chappell 28-170, Pittsinger 5-40, A. Chappell 2-9. TEAM 2-(-2).
PASSING--Central, Muthler 22-34-2-178, Horn 1-1-62-0, Loucks 1-1-11-0, Schenk 0-1-0-0. Central Cambria, Pittsinger 8-13-1-102.
RECEIVING--Central, Schenk 10-120, Dickson 6-47, Horn 3-23, Loucks 2-15, Mickel 1-9, Decker 1-11, Moushlian 1-16, Marks 1-11. Central Cambria, Stevens 3-57, Dill 2-25, Williams 2-14, Galli 1-6.