Warriors run roughshod over Colts!

Tagged under: District 4, District 6, Game Photos, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

Greg Ricupero | November 26, 2022

PIAA Single A Quarterfinal (D6) Northern Cambria Colts (10-3) vs (D4) Canton Warriors (11-1) at Mansion Park in Altoona, Pa.

Northern Cambria’s Cinderella season came to a quick end Saturday night as the Canton Warriors scored three touchdowns in the first, four minutes and 22 seconds. The Colts came into the game as big underdogs and knew they would need a perfect game to win. Their special teams broke down on the opening kickoff and it was 7-0 after 15 seconds. Westin Bellows raced 77 yards, breaking several tackles on the games first play. The Colts started with three straight passing plays which resulted in two incompletions and a sack. Backed up the Colts punted giving the Warriors great field position at the NC 35. It took Canton a minute and a half to score. Hayden Ward taking the pitch on a perfectly executed triple option play scored from 24 yards out. Less than a minute later Riley Parker picked a pass in the flats and waltzed into the end zone. It was 21-0 and everyone in the stadium knew the Colts were in big trouble. The Colts responded by going three and out. The punt went 59 yards for a touchback. But poor field posywould not slow the Warriors down. They drove 80 yards in four minutes and 18 seconds. Parker capped the drive with a short touchdown run. The Colts would get their first first down of the night when Colton Paronish raced 65 yards to the Warriors two. Owen Bougher scored to put the Colts on the board. We went to the second quarter 28-7 Warriors.

The second quarter started with both teams turning it over on downs at the others 34 yard line. Both teams than punted. Canton would get the ball with 1:45 left in the half at their own 13. They would go 87 yards in one minute six seconds. Parker had a 60 yard run to start the drive. Hayden Ward would capped the drive and Canton went to the lockers up 34-7.

Both teams went three and out and punted to start the third quarter. The Colts would than turn it over on downs at the Warriors 39 when Bougher threw incomplete to Peyton Myers. Meyers the big play star for the Colts was bottled up all night. The Warriors would go 61 yards in a little over a minute with Hudson Ward going 51 yards for six. Parker ran in the two point conversion to start the mercy rule with 8:50 left in the third. The Colts refused to quit and scored once more when Bougher hit Xander Dolansky in the end zone. It was a great season for the Colts who weren’t even expected to win four games. The have nothing to be ashamed of. The triple option of Canton make them a threat next week against always powerful Steelton-Highspire. Final Warriors 42 Colts 13

CW 28- 6- 8- 0=42

NC    7-  0- 0- 6=13

C-Westin Bellows 77 kick return xp Bailey Ferguson 11:45 (7-0)

C-Hayden Ward 24 run xp Ferguson 8:32 (14-0)

C-Riley Parker 25 interception return xp Ferguson 7:38 (21-0)

C-Parker 2 run xp Ferguson 1:34 (28-0)

NC-Owen Bougher 2 run xp Trey Pershing 0:33 (28-7)

C-Hayden Ward 12 run xp short 0:39 (34-7)

C-Hudson Ward 51 run 2pt Riley Parker run 8:50 (42-7)

NC-Xander Dolansky 10 pass from Bougher xp wide 6:41 (42-13)

Next Week Canton vs Steelton Highspire

Photos by Leo Murray Photography

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