Highlanders unable to control Hill as Comets win title!

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

Greg Ricupero | October 15, 2022

Heritage Conference Matchup

Cambria Heights Highlanders(6-1) at Penns Manor Comets(7-0)

In a battle to decide the Heritage Conference title and a trip to the Appalachian Bowl in two weeks at Windber, the Penns Manor Comets punched their ticket.

Both teams entered the game with the top two offenses and defenses in the conference. Penns Manor was riding a seven game winning streak and the Highlanders six since a season opening loss to rivals Northern Cambria. It turned out both offensives would win the day. It was to be a battle between the two quarterbacks, the Comets Max Hill and the Highlanders Ty Stockley.

Cambria Heights likes to run the ball behind it’s massive offensive line, control the clock and grind you down. Their game plan started out well. On their first two drives, they ran the ball nine times for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Stockley and Tanner Trybus picking up most of the yardage and scoring once each.

The Comets also like to run the rock. However on their first play they came out throwing. Hill’s pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage. Justin Marshall the speedy senior appear to me to be running a hook and ladder play. The Comets went three and out on their first two possessions. Marshall would have a big night punting and his second punt would cover 51 yards, penning the Highlanders deep in their territory. The Comets defense was able to force Stockley to throw his first pass, an incompletion which forced fourth down.

The Comets would take over in Cambria Heights territory and drive to the one yard line. Hill fumbled there as he was going into the end zone. The Highlanders were forced to punt after picking up just one first down. The Comets starting at their own 36 drove to the Highlanders 45 before they ran the hook and ladder again. Hill threw to xAshton Courvina who tossed the ball to Marshall who raced downed the sideline for the Comets first score. The ensuing kickoff was muffed and the Comets had all the momentum. However Cambria Heights would go 82 yards in exactly 1 minute to regain control of the game. The last 39 yards came on a Trybus to Stephen Nelen pass reception. Trybus took Stockley’s handoff on a reverse swept right, stopped and threw to a wide open Nelen. The Highlanders were up two touchdowns again with just over four minutes to go in the half. The Comets would drive to the Highlanders ten with just under a minute to go in the half. On fourth and eight Hill hit Ashton Courvina for a touchdown to cut the lead to seven as the teams went to the lockers.

Both teams punted on their first possessions of the second half, but another 50 yard punt by Marshall pinned the Highlanders deep. The Comets started their second drive at the Cambria Heights 37 and it took Hill just one play to score as he got outside and ran away from the defense. The game was tied. After both teams exchanged punts again, the Highlanders would regain the lead. Stockley hit Trybus who had lined up in the slot position in stride for a 75 yard touchdown. On the next play Hill raced 65 yards to tie the game again. The quarter end with the Comets in possession of the ball. Hill needed less than a minute to score again this time from 50 yards out. The Comets had the momentum and Stockley was out of the game with a leg injury. Sophomore Issac Weiland took over the quarterbacking duties. Surely the Highlanders would have to rely on their ground game. Two plays later on a perfect play action Weiland completed a 40 yard pass to the Comets ten. On the next play

Marshall Eckenrode scored. The extra point was blocked and Penns Manor still held a one point lead. The Comets were pinned inside their own five on the kickoff. Three plays later they punted from their own end zone, the ball took a Highlanders bounce and they had the ball at the Comets 30. The play of the game occurred after a false start penalty. The Highlanders lined up in a shotgun formation and the snap went over Weiland’s head. The Comets Carter Smith out fought Weiland for the ball. Penns Manor would than march 51 yards for a touchdown. Courvina would pick up a huge fourth and two. Hill who was battling an ankle injury, reentered the game and scored with just over three and a half minutes to go. Comets coach Bill Packer than made a great decision and went for two to put this one away. Hill ran the two pointer conversion in, to give Penns Manor a nine point lead. Over the final minutes Weiland threw deep and often but just missed several times and the Comets held on for the victory. The win wraps up the Heritage Conference title for Penns Manor.

Heritage Conference Scoreboard

Homer-Center 13 Marion Center 10

Portage 49 West Shamokin 34

Northern Cambria 33 River Valley 21

United Valley 20 Purchase Line 19

CH 13- 8- 6- 6=33

PM 0-14-13-15=42

CH- Ty Stockley 26 run xp Junseo Deckard 9:34 (7-0)

CH- Tanner Trybus 42 run xp Blocked 6:41 (13-0)

PM- Justin Marshall 45 pass from Max Hill xp Colton Shields 5:08 (13-7)

CH- Trybus 26 pass to Stephen Nelen 2pts Hunter Nelen run 4:08 (21-7)

PM- Ashton Courvina 10 pass from Hill xp Shields 59.7 (21-14)