Cambria Heights downs Marion Center!

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Greg Ricupero | September 8, 2024

Cambria Heights overcomes turnovers to beat a gritty Marion Center team!

Cambria Heights Highlanders (2-0) at Marion  Center (2-0)

Last Meeting 9/1/23 Cambria Heights 39-7

You don’t often win a game when you commit five turnovers, but that is what happened last night as the visiting Highlanders pulled out a 21-7 victory over the host Stingers. Cambria Heights is the top dog in the conference. Marion Center is looking to become a contender. Both teams like to run the ball and play physical defense.

In what turned out to be a defensive struggle the Highlanders were able to make more big plays in the passing game than the Stingers. Marion Center would struggle with field position early. The opening kickoff wasn’t handled at they had to start at their own 14. To everyone’s surprise they came out passing and would continue to pass the entire game. Their first punt would go only 11 yards and the Highlanders were in business at the Stingers 41.  The Highlanders would drive down to the MC eleven before fumbling the ball away. (Turnover#1)

The Stingers continued their passing assault and drove into the Highlanders red zone before throwing incomplete on a fourth and eleven. The Highlanders would flip field position again with a 64 yard punt by Garrett Jasper. A minute later Jasper recovered a Stinger fumble at the 29.

On the first play of the second quarter quarterback Isaac Weiland hit Marshall Eckenrode in stride as he split two defenders for the games first score.

The Stingers took less than two minutes to tie it up. The Highlanders defense jumped a Camden Rising pass and it was tipped up in the air. Stinger freshmen Troy Slovinsky hauled it in and ran 54 yards to the Highlanders two. Tyler Phillips would fight his way into the end zone two plays later to tie the score.

Tyler Phillips TD ⁦@MCStingersFB⁩ pic.twitter.com/jCkZoDnKQe

— Gregory Ricupero (@GregoryRicupero) September 8, 2024

The Highlanders would respond with a long drive that ended when Trent Slovinsky took a pass away from two Highlanders receivers at the Stingers three. (Turnover#2) Three plays later the Stingers had to punt out of their own end zone. The Highlanders would take advantage of the good field position this time when Weiland threw his second touchdown pass of the night to Trey Trybus.

Trybus TD catch!

The Stingers would be forced to punt again before Weiland was picked for the second time by Noah McCoy.(Turnover#3) The teams would go into the half at 14-7.

The third quarter was scoreless with both teams getting the ball twice. The Stingers Rising was sacked to end both drives, forcing two punts. The Highlanders were picked on both their possessions by Tyler Phillips and Noah McCoy. (Turnovers#4&#5) The Highlanders offense line started to take control in the fourth quarter as they had the lead and the ball for over nine minutes. Eckenrode put the game away with just under two minutes to go.

Eckenrode TD ⁦@CH_Highlanders⁩ pic.twitter.com/fITJHvjZHF

— Gregory Ricupero (@GregoryRicupero) September 8, 2024

It was a big win for the Highlanders who’s defense has allowed only three touchdowns this year, one after a big kick return, one after a huge play on a deflected pass and one on the games final play. They are still the team to beat. But it was also a big performance by the Stingers who showed they can play with the conference’s best team and should propel them to a big season. I knew the Highlanders had a lot of skilled players but the Stingers have their fair share.

CH 0-14- 0- 7=21

MC 0- 7- 0- 0= 7

H-Marshall Eckenrode 25 pass from Issac Weiland xp Cameron Abrams 11:54 (7-0)

S-Tyler Phillips 1 run xp Brady Haggerty 10:03 (7-7)

H-Trey Trybus 33 pass from Weiland xp Abrams 4:15 (14-7)

H-Eckenrode 1 run xp Abrams 1:41 (21-7)

Key players

Highlanders:

Highlanders O-Line 200 yds rushing

Isaac Weiland 100 yds passing & 2 TDs

Jaxxon Kline 75 yds rushing

Stingers:

Camden Rising 200 yds passing

Tyler Phillips rushing TD, interception & seemed to make every tackle

Players of the Game

Highlanders -Marshall Eckenrode two TDs and big game on defense.

Stingers -Noah McCoy 8 receptions & 2 interceptions

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