Central at Central Cambria Game Preview
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Hunter Myers | October 10, 2025
Sometimes all it takes is one big play from one big player to turn the tide of a game. Central and Central Cambria both know this well. Each team has relied on a special player capable of carrying their teams through a tough stretch. Central’s star athlete, Carter Schenk has time at quarterback, receiver, running back, and tight end, making an impact wherever he goes. On the other sideline, the Red Devils dynamic rusher Ryan Chappell has rushed for over 200 yards in three games this season, and multiple touchdowns in two of those. This matchup could hinge on how the stars play and how much space their respective lines can give them.
Despite their close distance, these two teams have only met 17 times with their first matchup being in 1963. In those seventeen games Central has won 12, with their recent matchups being mostly one sided. Their last trip to Ebensburg in 2022, during the height of their dominance, where they rolled to a 41-10 victory. Central has won the last three matchups with an average win margin of 34 points. However, this season Central is in a rebuilding stage, giving the Red Devils an opportunity to make a statement.
The story of Central’s season has revolved around Carter Schenk and his do-it-all playmaking. Central Cambria head coach Wade Klezek noted, “Schenk is their leading rusher and is capable of throwing the ball”. So far this season, the Dragon athlete has rushed for 334 yards, added 239 yards receiving, and found the end zone seven times. Throughout this season, the star has flashed his big play ability, going for a 70 -yard receiving touchdown in week 1 and catching a game winning screen pass last week with only 23 seconds remaining. However, Central Cambria is not without star power of their own, as Ryan Chappell totes explosive potential on every play.
“Ryan Chappell has been so close to breaking big runs for us that you just feel like he’s due to make one of his game-changing types of plays” Klezek said. Chappell’s production backs that up: three 200-yard games this season, including in wins against Penns Valley and Johnstown. In their last three games, the Red Devils have cooled down, averaging just 95 rush yards, down from their 289 in their three games before that. That dip came against their toughest stretch of opponenets, taking on Penn Cambria, Chestnut Ridge, and Forest Hills. Still, Coach Klezek believes that “you become battle-tested when the teams are that good and the margin for error is that small”.
With each Friday night, players get the chance to etch their names into history. For Central, it’s an opportunity to gain valuable experience for their young players. For Central Cambria, it’s a chance to prove they’re better than their record. Under the lights, it may all come down to whose stars shine the brightest.
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