High School Football

Heights rides past Portage

H.S. Football Extra

PORTAGE -- Another stellar offensive performance in the game's opening frame gave District 6 Class 3A frontrunner Cambria Heights more than enough cushion in Friday's matchup with Portage.

One week after tallying 46 points in the first quarter against Conemaugh Valley, the Highlanders put up 36 on the Mustangs through 12 minutes and never looked back.

Cambria Heights increased its win streak to seven games with a 57-0 victory over Portage.

"I thought we came out with good intensity," Cambria Heights coach Jarrod Lewis said. "I was really proud of the guys. I thought we played pretty well tonight. We're continuing trying to get better. We had to come out and make plays tonight, and we did. We were able to spring a lot of big plays offensively and defensively, which really helped."

Play of the game: The Highlanders recovered a fumble on Portage's second offensive snap, and needed just two plays to find the end zone on Nolan Clawson's 29-yard touchdown run.

This kicked off a scoring barrage for Cambria Heights, which recorded touchdowns on all seven of its possessions in the first half.

"We just like to do what we do, and if that results in scores, that's great," Lewis said. "Our big players made those big plays, and that got us off to another solid start. It's good to see guys clicking like that."

Player of the game: Clawson produced 291 total yards through two quarters to headline the Cambria Heights offense.

The junior quarterback completed 6 of 8 passes for 141 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 150 yards on eight carries and another two scores.

Most vital statistic: Of the Highlanders' seven first half scoring drives, four came in two plays or less.

Portage coach Marty Slanoc: "Right from the start, we get the first down, but we turn the ball over. You can't do that in any game, especially against a team like that. They outclassed us pretty much across the field. They're a really good team, and not only with the talent and what they have, they're coached very well, too."

Clawson: "Those big starts are huge for us. It just gets us going the whole way through the game. It starts with a good practice and good mindset. That's what carries us through the week."

Notable: Cambria Heights is 7-0 for the second time in three seasons ... The Highlanders have outscored their last four opponents by a combined 169-6 margin ... Cambria Heights is 5-0 versus Portage since the Mustangs joined the Heritage Conference in 2022.

Records: Cambria Heights (7-0); Portage (3-4).

Next week: Cambria Heights hosts Conemaugh Township; Portage travels to United Valley.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Cambria Heights 36 14 0 7 -- 57

Portage 0 0 0 0 -- 0

First Quarter

CH -- Clawson 29 run (Kutruff kick), 11:13.

CH -- Lewis 22 pass from Clawson (Clawson run), 5:59.

CH -- DeArmitt 61 pass from Clawson (Kutruff kick), 3:40.

CH -- Clawson 27 run (Kutruff kick), 2:56.

CH -- DeArmitt 20 pass from Clawson (Kutruff kick), 0:25.

Second Quarter

CH -- Strong 16 pass from Clawson (Kutruff kick), 8:51.

CH -- Warner 5 run (Kutruff kick), 1:04.

Third Quarter

No scoring.

Fourth Quarter

CH -- Warner 39 run (Kutruff kick), 1:49.

TEAM STATISTICS CH P

First downs 16 6

Total yards 482 91

Rushes-yards 36-341 34-69

Yards passing 141 28

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 6-8-0 4-6-0

Punts-avg. 1-22 5-35

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-2

Penalties-yards 4-30 3-12

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Cambria Heights, DeArmitt 3-7, Strong 1-3, Clawson 8-150, Snyder 4-21, Gray 2-13, Warner 12-125, Wharton 6-22. Portage, Burkett 3-(-5), Berardinelli 6-19, Simala 8-31, Shaffer 5-12, Bednarski 3-0, Bagby 5-0, Ferrero 2-6, Kreutzberger 2-6.

PASSING -- Cambria Heights, Clawson 6-8-141-4-0. Portage, Burkett 4-6-28-0-0.

RECEIVING -- Cambria Heights, DeArmitt 3-92, Lewis 2-33, Strong 1-16. Portage, Slanoc 1-4, Berardinelli 2-12, Shaffer 1-12.