Comets remain unbeaten!

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

Greg Ricupero | October 1, 2022

Heritage Conference Matchup Northern Cambria Colts(4-1) at Penns Manor Comets(5-0)

The Penns Manor Comets remained unbeaten with an impressive 40-14 victory over the visiting Northern Cambria Colts. The teams two offenses are very different. The Comets like to run the ball and than run it some more. The Colts like to throw it all over the field. The Comets got the ball first and had trouble getting their running game going. On third down near midfield quarterback Max Hill went play action and hit a wide open Justin Marshall at the Colts 30. The pass was underthrown and Marshall had to wait for it. This allowed the Colts defenders to tackle him inside the red zone. Hill would cap the 68 yard, four and a half minute drive, four plays later and Penns Manor led 7-0.
The Colts offense which couldn’t score last week at all, took one play to find the end zone. They ran a man in motion to see if the Comets were in man or zone. They were in a zone. Colts quarterback Owen Bougher than hit a streaking Peyton Myers in stride for a 65 yard touchdown. The game was tied. The Comets defense has three shutouts this year and had only allowed 20 points in five games. The Colts would gain less than a 100 yards the rest of the game as Bougher was under constant pressure and NC was unable to run the ball. PM had six sacks on the night.
Penns Manor responded with another 60 plus four minute drive. Marshall was finally able to get to the outside and had a big 36 yard run. This time it was Ashton Courvina fighting his way into the end zone. On the Colts next drive a sack stopped the drive and forced them to punt.
Penns Manor offense responded again with an 86 yard touchdown drive. Hill scored his second on the first play of the second quarter. It was 21-7 Comets.
The Colts started in good field position because the Comets didn’t want to kick deep to Myers. They however went three and out. PM would now go 80 yards in just under six minutes. This time they scored through the air as Hill hit Marshall for six. The Colts got the ball back and Bougher was sacked twice more before the half ended with PM leading 27-7.
The Colts got the ball to start the second half and started to move the ball with short quicker passes. However the drive stalled at the PM 39. On fourth down and eleven punter Ben Janosko had troubles with the snap. He picked up the ball and made a great effort to get the first down, he was just short. However he was hit high and late and the Colts had a first down in the Comets red zone. This was the first in a series of personal fouls that would mar the game in the second half. PM than started talking and were penalized twice for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Colts cashed it in when Bougher escaped a sack and hit Ty Dumm for the touchdown.
The Comets however once again responded. The drove to the Colts seven, overcoming a holding call and another personal foul. But on fourth down Hill’s pass fall incomplete. Pinned inside their own ten, the Colts couldn’t move the ball and punted. It took the Comets one play to score on the short field. Courvina scored his second touchdown from 34 yards out. The Colts didn’t give up. They managed one more drive. However on first down inside the Comets red zone. Bougher tried to throw a quick pass to his outside receiver who appeared open. Marshall jumped the route and raced 90 yards for a game sealing touchdown. Both teams were charged with personal fouls and the backups got into the game as it ended 40-14.

Next Week
Penns Manor(6-0) at Portage (4-2)
West Shamokin (4-2) at Northern Cambria(4-2)

Heritage Conference Scores
West Shamokin 48 River Valley 20
Portage 28 Homer-Center 25
Purchase Line 20 Marion Center 7
Cambria Heights 55 United Valley 0

Stars of the Game
Courvina 100 plus rushing two TDs
Marshall 100 plus receiving/rushing two TDs 90 yard interception return
Hill 100 plus passing/rushing two TDs
Comets linemen

NC Colts 7- 0- 7- 0=14
PM Comets13-14- 0-13=40

PM- Max Hill 2 run xp Colton Shields 7:20 (0-7)
NC- Peyton Myers 65 pass from Owen Bougher xp Trey Pershing 6:54 (7-7)
PM- Ashton Courvina 1 run xp ng 2:43 (7-13)
PM- Hill 6 run 2pts Carter Smith pass from Hill 11:54 (7-21)
PM- Justin Marshall 9 pass from Hill xp blk 3:02 (7-27)
NC- Ty Dumm 6 pass from Bougher xp Pershing 7:18 (14-27)
PM- Courvina 34 run 2pts ng 11:39 (14-33)
PM- Marshall 90 interception return xp Shields (14-40)