Heights makes it 8-0 with victory

H.S. football extra

PATTON -- This season, particularly in the last five contests, Cambria Heights has indeed played like a championship-caliber team.

The defending co-Heritage Conference champions once again turned in a statement performance on both sides of the football in a 49-6 rain-soaked victory over Conemaugh Township at AmeriServ Bank Field.

Cambria Heights remained unbeaten through eight games, while improving to 8-0 for the second time in three years and third in the last six.

"I thought we did some good things defensively," said Cambria Heights coach Jarrod Lewis, whose team has outscored its last five opponents by a combined 218-12 margin.

"We really stayed in our lanes, really did a good job. With the rain and the wind that was coming down, we started stripping and started going after the ball a little bit, and that turned out to be fruitful. We got a couple of them on the ground, provided some short fields, and then we punched them in."

Plays of the game: Cambria Heights senior Colton Strong blocked an Indians punt on the opening possession of the second half, to which the Highlanders capitalized with a 34-yard field goal by Nito Kutruff.

Bryce Lewis then recovered a fumble on the ensuing possession, and on the next offensive snap, Highlanders quarterback Nolan Clawson ran for a 16-yard touchdown.

This marked 10 points for the Highlanders in a 46-second span, increasing their 14-point halftime lead to 30-6 and putting the game out of reach.

Player of the game: Clawson accounted for all five of Cambria Heights' touchdowns.

The senior threw for 138 yards and three scores on just five completions, while carrying the ball 22 times for 205 yards and another two touchdowns.

"We practice in this weather all the time to prepare for nights like this, so we weren't worried," Clawson said. "Our line did another great job, and I'm glad I was just able to find the open guy."

Unsung heroes: The Highlanders' defense, alongside their blocked punt and fumble recovery, compiled five sacks, three forced fumbles, and a safety.

Most vital statistic: Conemaugh Township was held to minus-16 yards of total offense in the second half.

The Indians managed just one first down after their second quarter scoring drive. This propelled Cambria Heights to score 42 unanswered points after Conemaugh Township cut the Highlanders' early lead to 7-6.

"Yes, sir, that's just everybody doing our job," Bryce Lewis said. "We had a great week of practice, and everybody came together, put in the time, and it showed up on the field."

What's on the line: With Homer-Center's victory over West Shamokin Friday night, next week's game between the Wildcats (7-1) and Highlanders will likely decide the Heritage Conference champion.

"It's an opportunity to kind of etch a legacy and get another banner," Coach Lewis said. "It's going to be tough. Homer-Center's a great football team. We know it's going to be a battle. So we'll enjoy this for tonight and get back to work for next week."

Conemaugh Township coach Brandon Studer: "They're at the top of the Heritage Conference for a reason, right? They pride themselves in physicality, and Coach Lewis has them ready to go all the time. They showed that. They're big, they're strong, they're physical, and we just didn't match it."

Records: Conemaugh Township (6-2); Cambria Heights (8-0).

Next week: Conemaugh Township hosts Northern Cambria; Cambria Heights travels to Homer-Center.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Conemaugh Township 0 6 0 0 -- 6

Cambria Heights 7 13 13 16 -- 49

First Quarter

CH -- Gray 38 pass from Clawson (Kutruff kick), 0:59.

Second Quarter

CT -- Holder 35 pass from Studer (kick failed), 9:09.

CH -- DeArmitt 57 pass from Clawson (conversion failed), 6:31.

CH -- Lewis 26 pass from Clawson (Kutruff kick), 0:54.

Third Quarter

CH -- Kutruff 34 field goal, 8:39.

CH -- Clawson 16 run (Kutruff kick), 7:55.

CH -- Kutruff 31 field goal, 3:50.

Fourth Quarter

CH -- Clawson 1 run (Kutruff kick), 9:28.

CH -- Safety, 7:43.

CH -- Warner 11 run (Kutruff kick), 4:40.

TEAM STATISTICS CT CH

First downs 7 18

Total yards 115 384

Rushes-yards 35-19 43-246

Yards passing 96 138

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 5-8-1 5-12-0

Punts-avg. 5-26 0-0

Fumbles-lost 3-1 4-0

Penalties-yards 5-36 4-30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Conemaugh Township, B. Conn 6-8, Shippey 4-(-2), Studer 16-35, Valentine 4-(-14), Huffman 2-1, Jarvis 3-(-9). Cambria Heights, DeArmitt 3-20, Strong 7-20, Warner 4-44, Clawson 22-205, Gray 3-9, TEAM 4-(-52).

PASSING–Conemaugh Township, Studer 5-8-96-1-1. Cambria Heights, Clawson 5-11-138-3-0, DeArmitt 0-1-0-0-0.

RECEIVING–Conemaugh Township, Shippey 1-16, Huffman 1-5, R. Conn 1-8, Holder 2-67. Cambria Heights, Gray 1-38, DeArmitt 2-70, Lewis 2-30.