Unlike Two weeks ago, the Colts make the mistakes!

Tagged under: District 6, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

Greg Ricupero | November 12, 2023

D6 Single A Semi #1 Heritage Conference Game

The 50th Coal Bowl

#4 Cambria Heights Highlanders (8-3) at #1 Northern Cambria Colts (10-1)

Series tied 24-24-1

Last Meeting 10/27/23 NC 28 @ CH 11 Week #10

CHH PF 27.8 PA 11.9

Colts PF 31.8 PA 11.7

Cambria Heights Head Coach Jarrod Lewis jokingly told me three weeks ago as his team was winning the 5th-6th grade Championship at Shannock Valley that a third straight loss to rival Northern Cambria might get him fired. The Highlanders loss twice to the Colts last year. They loss a close one in the opener on the road and were beaten badly at home in the playoffs. One week after winning the championship, I was in Patton to see the Colts win again 28-11. The Highlanders had several chances early in the game to score but managed only a field goal and if not for an inadvertent whistle they would not have scored a touchdown for the second straight meeting. I have been following the Highlanders since that Covid season when they played their home games on Saturdays. That was the last time they played in a title game losing to Richland 27-6 in the 2A Championship. They win because they produce great linemen year after year. Their youth championship team was incredible to watch. They just blew a bigger Indiana team right off the ball and dominated the whole game on the way to a 36-0 victory.

Unlike two weeks ago the Colts made most of the mistakes. The Highlanders got the ball first and fumbled on their first offensive play. Ty Dumm recovered at the CH 31. On third and five from the 26, freshmen Daniel Farrell ran around the left side for a touchdown only to have it negated by a holding penalty. Three plays later the Colts had a fumble negated due to an illegal procedure. Facing fourth and three from the Highlanders eight the defense stuffed the Dumm-Jack Sheredy read option. The Highlanders managed just six yards on three runs before punting it back to NC.

The punt was effected by a high snap and the Colts had great field position at the Highlanders 35. They converted a fourth and short from the 25. At this point the Colts were rotating Ty Dumm & Ethan Donitalli at quarterback. Donitalli would just overthrow Farrell in the end zone. Another Colts penalty and it was fourth and sixteen from the Highlanders 26. Donitalli was force to scramble and came short. The Highlanders loss four more yards on three plays and punted again. The Colts third drive would start from their own 49. The Colts gained seven yards on three plays as the first quarter ended. The punt only went ten yards and CH had it at their own 33. Three plays later and minus one yards the Highlanders punted the ball back. The Colts took over at their 35. On the next Jack Sheredy raced straight up the middle 65 yards for the games first score.

The Highlanders immediately responded with a 64 yard touchdown drive. They mixed the short pass and power running as the drive took almost six minutes.

Jaxxon Kline capped the drive and with the conversion CH led 7-6 with just over four minutes to play in the second quarter. Colts went three and out gaining no yards thanks to another penalty. The Colts punted and the Highlanders had a minute and half plus three timeouts to go 70 plus yards. The Highlanders picked up one first down before punting. The Colts took three plays to get to the Highlanders 24 with 8 seconds to go in the half. Donitalli hit Reese Wagner for a 33 yard gain and on the final play of the half he and Ty Dumm just missed hooking up in the back of the end zone.

The Colts got the ball first to start the second half and they fumbled on their first play just like the Highlanders had in the first quarter. It took the Highlanders six plays to score aided by a facemask penalty. Kline scored his second touchdown of the game from a yard out. The Colts next drive lasted fours plays and included another penalty. The drive ended when Stephen Nelen intercepted a Donitalli pass at the CH 31. The Highlanders continued to mix the run and the pass. This time they struck from long range when Issac Weiland hit Stephen Nelen down the right sideline for a 45 yard touchdown pass. The Colts would come right back going 75 yards in six plays. Sheredy scored his second touchdown of the night this one from 36 yards out. The two point conversion failed and they were still down two scores.

The Highlanders were able to pin the Colts back and take over three and a half minutes off the clock with a six play drive. On the second play Donitalli hit Farrell behind all the defenders with a blocker. Farrell caught the ball at his own 40 and raced to the Highlanders forty on his way to an apparent touchdown before just dropping the ball. The Highlanders recovered but a CH penalty allowed the Colts to retain possession. However at their own twenty. The Colts than shot themselves in the foot again getting called for holding on the next play. They were able to overcome the penalty and continued the drive. The Colts got up near midfield when Donitalli missed a wide open Ty Dumm. The Colts were called for a chop block on the play. Facing a fourth and eight from the Highlanders 48 the Highlanders were called for holding. Three plays later the Colts had a fourth and 15 from the Highlanders 43. The pass was incomplete.

The Highlanders were able to overcome two holding calls with their ground and pound offense. They took the ball down to the Colts one yard line before taking a couple of knees. The Highlanders upset the Colts to move on to the D6 Championship against Purchase Line next Friday Night in Altoona. I’ll be there to cover the game.

CH  0- 7- 14- 0= 21

NC  0-  6- 6-  0=12

NC-Jack Sheredy 65 run xp wide left 10:00 (0-6)

CH- Jaxxson Kline 3 run xp Cameron Abrams 4:09 (7-6)

CH- Kline 1 run xp Abrams 9:17 (14-6)

CH- Stephen Nelen 45 pass from Issac Weiland xp Abrams 7:26 (21-6)

NC-Sheredy 36 run 2pt pass ng 5:12 (21-12)

For more pics and videos

Follow me on Twitter @GregoryRicupero

And on Facebook- my page is

Gregory Ricupero Sports Network

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews