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Armstrong outguns Highlands

Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News

| October 22, 2022

Natrona Heights: Cadin Olsen threw for 436 yards and five touchdowns as Armstrong won their seventh consecutive game 56-35 over previously unbeaten Highlands Friday night.

Cadin Olsen completed 17-of-21 passes for 436 yards and five touchdowns.

“I’m kind of speechless,” said Armstrong head coach Frank Fabian. “I’m with Cadin every day, and when you think you’ve seen it all, he saves his best game for when we need it the most. I thought he had a great week in practice and he looked dialed in tonight.”

With the victory, Armstrong can clinch the Greater Allegheny Conference title outright next Friday with a win against 1-8 Kiski Area.

The Riverhawks’ offense which averages over 40 points a game, continued to shine, putting up 56 points on a previously undefeated Golden Rams team.

Armstrong scored touchdowns the first four times they touched the football, and outside of letting the clock run out to close the first half, they scored on all but two possessions.

“The biggest concern for us was their defensive line and could our line hold up, Fabian said. “Hitting a couple of big plays early helped because it forced them back in coverage. They couldn’t have as many people in the box, but I thought our offensive line did a tremendous job tonight handling their pressure. Highlands is an excellent defensive team.”

The Riverhawks started the scoring as Cadin Olsen tossed a pair of first-quarter touchdowns to Isaiah Brown, covering 18 and 38 yards.

Highlands got on the board early in the second quarter on Rondeal Hewlett’s 19-yard reception from Chandler Thimons.

Cadin Olsen hit younger brother Ian on a 78-yard touchdown on the next play from scrimmage before scoring on a 1-yard run that pushed Armstrong’s lead to 28-7.

 

The Golden Rams would get one back before halftime as Aaran Randolph scored from seven yards out. Randolph rushed for a game-high 121 yards on 12 carries.

“The key to the game was getting pressure on their quarterback and getting physical with their wide receivers, and we didn’t do that,” said Highlands head coach Matt Bonislawski. 

Picking up right where they left off, Isaiah Brown hauled in a 67-yard touchdown pass from Cadin Olsen 47 seconds into the second half.

That score marked the first of four consecutive touchdown drives for the two schools.

Chandler Thimons tossed his second touchdown to Rondeal Hewlett from 25 yards out for the Rams.

 

The Olsen brothers then connected again from 38 yards as Ian caught a short pass and outraced the defense.

Armstrong put three receivers over the century mark, with Ian Olsen catching five passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns, Isaiah Brown hauling in six passes for 157 yards and three scores, and Kyan Kline grabbing five passes for 127 yards.

“We’re six deep, which is what we like to say,” Fabian said. “Isaiah is somebody everyone knew before the season, but Ian has taken a considerable step forward as Kyan Kline is stepping up and making big plays. We can have a different guy each week based on the defensive matchups we receive.”

Highlands fought back and made it a one-score game in the fourth quarter as Randolph scored on a 19-yard touchdown run on fourth down that followed the only Armstrong punt that came after Thimons 1-yard touchdown run.

Chandler Thimons completed 8-of-17 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns while adding 72 yards on the ground and a third score.

“Offensively, we scored 35 but had some penalties that derailed a couple of drives,” Bonislawski said. “When you score 35 and lose by 21, there’s not much to say. They’re a good team, and Cadin Olsen is very talented. You saw that tonight.”

Armstrong was unphased, however, and answered back with a pair of touchdown runs by Alex Patton of two and 39 yards to put the game away. Patton rushed for 119 yards on 15 carries.

 

“We were kind of fighting on defense, so I told the staff let’s go win on offense,” said Fabian. “That was our mentality. Let’s keep doing what we’re doing and return to what was successful early.”

Highlands will look to bounce back next Friday when they travel to Hampton.

“We had a couple of glimpses tonight. We were able to pull it to within 42-35, but we could not stop them,” Bonislawski concluded. “I give our credit for fighting back. We’ll watch the film and get better from this game.”

Gallery by @KAR120C6

Game Highlights:

 

Armstrong 56 Highlands 35

Score by Quarters

Armstrong – 14 14 14 14 – 56

Highlands – 0 14 14 7 – 35

Score by Quarters

First Quarter

A – Isaiah Brown 18 yd pass from Cadin Olsen, (Hunter Reed pat), 9:30

A – Brown 38 yd pass from Cadin Olsen, (Reed pat), 2:12

Second Quarter 

H – Rondeal Hewlett 19 yd pass from Chandler Thimons, (Burton Babinsack pat), 9:57

A – Ian Olsen 78 yd pass from Cadin Olsen, (Reed pat), 9:37

A – Cadin Olsen 1 yd run, (Reed pat), 4:27

H – Aaran Randolph 7 yd run, (Babinsack pat), 1:19

Third Quarter 

A – Brown 67 yd pass from Cadin Olsen, (Reed pat), 11:13

H – Hewlett 25 yd pass from Thimons, (Babinsack pat), 8:24

A – Ian Olsen 38 yd pass from Cadin Olsen, (Reed pat), 7:29

H – Thimons 1 yd run, (Babinsack pat), 4:10

Fourth Quarter 

H – Randolph 19 yd run, (Babinsack pat), 11:45

A – Alex Patton 2 yd run, (Reed pat), 7:33

A – Patton 39 yd run, (Reed pat), 6:07

Individual Stas

Rushing: A – Patton 15-119, Cadin Olsen 7-(-2), Brown 1-12. Totals: 23-129. H – Randolph 12-121, Thimons 16-72, Brayden White 2-2, Julius Saunders 5-16. Totals: 35-211. 

Receiving: A – Kyan Kline 5-127, Brown 6-157, Ian Olsen 5-147, Patton 1-5. H – Randolph 2-17, Hewlett 3-79, White 2-70, Jahmar Wright 1-22, Landan Signorella 1-6.

Passing: A – Cadin Olsen 17-for-21, 436 yards, 5 TD. H – Thimons 8-for-17, 172 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, Randolph 1-for-1, 22 yards. 

Interceptions: A – Brown. 

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