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CRESSON - Penn Cambria coach Jason Grassi has expressed to his team that the Panthers have been playing postseason football for the last number of weeks.
With the Panthers currently in the middle of the tightly-contested playoff hunt in District 6 Class 3A, every matchup is crucial for the remainder of the regular season.
The Panthers were able to claim a key victory Friday night, overcoming a slow start with 29 unanswered points to handle Greater Johnstown 36-6 in a LHAC clash.
"I'm honestly not sure why we came out so flat," Grassi said. "We obviously have to win every game to have an opportunity to stay in the playoffs. Everyone knows how important this stretch is for us. But, in the end, we did what we needed to do to win the game."
Penn Cambria held the fourth and final playoff spot in Class 3A, with Tyrone, Huntingdon, and Philipsburg-Osceola all within 80 ranking points of the Panthers, coming into Friday night.
The victory puts Penn Cambria at 6-3 overall with 710 points. Philipsburg-Osceola defeated Tyrone, while Huntingdon was upset by Penns Valley in their Week 9 matchups.
Philipsburg-Osceola (5-4, 650 points) remains within striking distance of Penn Cambria heading into next Friday's LHAC crossover.
"Obviously we don't know who we're going to play yet, but no matter what happens, we're going to be playing a good team to get into the playoffs," Grassi said. "We get a to play a home game next week in playoff atmosphere, and whoever it is, we're going to come prepared to slug it out with them for four quarters."
Players of the game: Penn Cambria running backs Corbin Vinglish and Ian Beck combined to score all five of the Panthers' touchdowns in the contest.
Vinglish carried 21 times for 119 yards and two touchdowns. He also surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the season on a 15-yard rush during the third quarter.
"I just want to thank my linemen," Vinglish said. "That's more of an achievement to them because they're the reason I'm there. And, look at our other rushing stats with Ian Beck and Evan Latterner, they've been doing their job all year."
Beck rushed for 63 yards and three scores on just six carries.
Unsung hero(es): Latterner compiled 68 yards on 13 attempts for the Panthers, who racked up 300 of their 367 yards of offense on the ground.
Most vital statistic(s): All three of the Panthers' first half scoring drives started in Trojans territory, as three short punts led to three touchdowns and gave Penn Cambria a 21-6 lead at halftime.
Beck rushed for two second half scores and the Panthers added a safety to set the final.
Greater Johnstown totaled one first down through its first seven possessions before finishing with six for the game. The Trojans compiled just 48 yards of offense.
Greater Johnstown coach Tony Penna Jr.: "They are a well-coached, tough football team. Definitely a lot of pedigree in winning, and they play a very physical brand. A lot of my young guys stepped up and played really, really well tonight, so I was really proud of them. We battled hard and fought, and that's all I can ask for."
Vinglish: "It's win or go home. Simple as that. I don't want to be done playing football, that's for sure. I know no one else does. We're all a family. We wanna stay together for at least two more weeks."
Records: Greater Johnstown (1-8); Penn Cambria (6-3).
Next week: Penn Cambria will host Central in the crossover game while Johnstown will host Tyrone.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
G. Johnstown 6 0 0 0 — 6
Penn Cambria 7 14 7 8 — 36
First Quarter
PC -- Vinglish 7 run (Golden kick), 1:41.
GJ -- Hill-Goodman 55 interception return (Conversion failed), 0:15
Second Quarter
PC -- Beck 6 run (Golden kick), 9:14.
PC -- Vinglish 2 run (Golden kick), 4:39.
Third Quarter
PC -- Beck 18 run (Golden kick), 8:32.
Fourth Quarter
PC -- Beck 17 run (Kick failed), 11:14.
PC -- Safety, 4:25.
TEAM STATISTICS GJ PC
First downs 6 20
Total yards 48 367
Rushes-yards 18-11 54-300
Yards passing 37 67
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 5-24-1 9-13-1
Punts-avg. 6-29 1-43
Fumbles-lost 3-0 1-0
Penalties-yards 6-45 7-50
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING–Greater Johnstown, Goggins 5-11, Porter 9-3, Hill-Goodman 1-(-1), Wilkes 1-(-3), Bowser 1-1, McLean 1-0. Penn Cambria, Latterner 13-68, Vinglish 21-119, Beck 6-63, Ronan 4-29, Maybush 2-5, Little 1-5, Kalwasinski 5-7, Gaida 2-4.
PASSING–Greater Johnstown, Goggins 5-24-37-0-1. Penn Cambria, Latterner 9-13-67-0-1.
RECEIVING–Greater Johnstown, Porter 1-1, Hill-Goodman 4-36. Penn Cambria, Jones 1-11, Coudriet 3-18, Mack 3-17, Beck 1-11, Shall 1-10.