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Warriors drop Thursday night game to Claysburg-Kimmel, Bulldog get their first win of the season.

Tagged under: District 6, Gameday Hub, News

| September 8, 2023

Mason Campagna and Mark Lattieri combined for 3 scores to lead the Bulldogs to their first home win since 2019.

Last night in Claysburg two teams were vying for their first win of the 2023 season. Claysburg-Kimmel and West Branch entered the Thursday contest with 0-2 records. Both teams wanted their first win, but one had to lose.

West Branch quarterback Tyler Biggans really wants to win a football game. “Same story the past three weeks. We play well but we just beat ourselves every time. We hurt ourselves in the game every single time. We just got to clean things up and we can play with any team in this league. I feel like there’s something just got to click, I don’t know what it is but it’s something just got to click. We’re good enough to where we can change around, go 7-3 and win district. It’s that simple. Our teams talented, we just got to flip the switch. Somethings got to click, I hope it will”.

West Branch  trailed Claysburg-Kimmel by a single point in the fourth quarter but two drop passes that could have led to points ultimately cost them their third loss in a row and the Bulldogs walked away with a 27-19 win.

The Warriors received the opening kick but failed to produce any points. Claysburg struck first on a 4 play drive thanks to good field position due to a fourth down stopby the Bulldog defense. Quarterback Mason Campagna found Mark Lattieri on the edge, and Lattieri made a great move to get loose and race down the sideline for a 24 yard touchdown. The point after failed leaving the score 6 to 0 with six minutes and 22 seconds left in the first quarter.

 

West Branch struck back with a 52 yard drive to tie the score at six. The warriors converted on 4th down twice, the second a 19 yard run by Biggans. Azadio Vargas took the ball in from the 2 for the touchdown with 3:01 still to play in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs regained the lead midway through the second quarter with a 7 play, 41 yard drive. Campagna scored from 5 yards out to make it a 13-6 lead. It stayed that way for the next hour as a lightening delay put the teams in the locker room with 4:30 left in the first half.

When play resumed at 8:45, it seemed West Branch found something that clicked. After stopping the Bulldogs with a three and out, the warriors scored on a 21 yard touchdown pass from Higgans to Frankie Leskovansky. Once again the point after failed keeping the score tide at 13.

 

Then another good defensive stand by West Branch gave them great field position at the 36 of claysburg. Biggans hit Kobe Kephart for a 31 yard gain, then he found Nick Stavola for a 33 yard touchdown pass to give the warriors their first lead of the game. The point after was blocked in a halftime the score was 19 to 13.

Biggans made his first of two mistakes on the night, throwing an interception that Claysburg capitalized on. The Bulldogs drove 52 yards to regain the lead with a 5 yard touchdown run by Campagna. “Basically our team we never stopped fighting the whole four quarters and without my team and line we don’t win this game” said Campagna of the win. With 4:14 left in the third quarter the home team held a slim 20-19 lead.

West Branch then went on a long, 14 play drive that got them to the Bulldog 9. A penalty dropped them to the 14 where the Warriors saw another opportunity get away. Biggans launched a pass to a wide open receiver in the endzone but the ball went right through his hands, keeping the score 20-19.

Once again, the Warriors responded and moved the ball after the defense got another big stop. On first down at the 44, Biggans hit Craig Fluck at the 30 yard line but he was met immediately by Zachary Campagna who made a crushing hit that jarred the ball loose. Trevor Brown picked up the loose rock and from there the Bulldogs went on a time consuming drive on the legs of Lattieri. Claysburg scored another td with 1:45 left in the game to take a 27-19 lead. On the next play Colton Replogle stepped in front of a Biggans pass and got the game saving interception for the Bulldogs.

 

“Mason is growing up right before our eyes” said Claysburg-Kimmel head coach Chuck Kassick. “When you start 7-8 young kids you know there’s going to be mistakes. Our kids battled hard. That’s a good team over there. We capitalized on turnovers”.

Claysburg (1-3) will face a tough Juniata Valley team next Friday. West Branch will look to get their first win against Mount Union.

 

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