Highlanders roll over Stingers @MCStingersFB @CH_Highlanders

Tagged under: District 6, Game Photos

Greg Ricupero | November 1, 2020

PIAA D6 2A Playoffs

#7 Cambria Heights Highlanders (4-3) @ #3 Marion Center Stingers (6-0)

@CH_Highlanders @HeightFootball1 @MCStingersFB

October 31, 2020

By Greg Ricupero Twitter @GregoryRicupero

This one was never in doubt. Marion Center received the opening kickoff and on the games second play turned the ball over. Stinger senior quarterback Ty Ryen was picked off by junior back Tanner Hite. CH starting at the MC 23 picked up one first down before being pushed back. Senior place kicker Brett Harrison 32 yard field goal was wide. That was the bright spot of the game for Marion Center. The Stingers second drive was three plays for minus four yards and a punt. The Highlanders who seemed to be in Marion Center territory all night started this drive at the Stinger 49. CH would take 10 plays to cover the distance, all on the ground. They converted one fourth down and received a first when Marion Center jumped offside. Junior fullback Ray Haluska smashed into the end zone from two yards out to cap the drive. Marion Centers third drive was three plays for eight yards and a punt. This time the Highlanders would drive 70 yards for the touchdown. Again on this drive they converted a short fourth down and pick up one on a Stinger penalty. Tanner Hite would finish the drive with a touchdown catch on the right sideline from senior quarterback Ryan Bearer. With almost a quarter and a half gone it was 14-0 CH. Marion Centers fourth drive was three plays for one yard and a punt. This time the Highlanders would drive 45 yards in just over five minutes to score again. This drive was capped with a Bearer to senior Jared Fox touchdown pass. Marion Center had just one minute to go in the half. On third down and long Ryen running for his life was able to escape and get the Stingers first ,first down of the game. A personal foul took the ball inside CH territory. The Stingers had just eight seconds and the Highlanders were deep in a prevent defense, so Ryen dumped it underneath the coverage for their second first down as the half ended. A couple of first half stats that jump out at you are first downs: CH 12 MC 2 and Haluska 27 carries MC 15 offensive snaps.

The second half was more of the same. The Highlanders went 51 yards in three and a half minutes converting another fourth and short. Fox caught his second touchdown from Bearer and raced down the left sideline. Marion Center ran two plays and fumbled it back to CH. The Highlanders would go 20 yards in just over a minute and a half with Haluska bulling into the end zone for his second touchdown. Only a bad snap on the fourth touchdown prevent the mercy rule. Marion Centers next drive would pick 58 yards on five plays. Ryen hit senior receiver Justin Peterson on a long pass. Peterson took it away from two defenders and then took off only to be caught at the CH 15. The pass and run covered 60 yards. But four plays later they turned it over on downs. Cambria Heights next drive went a total of 45 yards but two penalties loss them 15 and they were forced to punt for the only time in the game. Marion started the fourth quarter with the ball but three plays saw them lose a yard and they punted. CH now ran out the last ten minutes 34 seconds of the game. They started at their own 16 and slowly move inside the Stinger 20 as the game ended.

This was a very good game. A lot of people want a 49-48 game where both teams make great plays and big mistakes. It is nice to see a team run it’s game plan to perfection, even if it’s three yards and a cloud of dust. I’m sure Marion Center is disappointed by the results. The Stingers deserve credit they made the Highlanders take three or four plays every series to get the first down. This should be eye opening for the Heritage Conference as CH will join next year and be a force.

Player(s) of the Game

The entire Cambria Heights offensive line:

#52 Bailey Horvath junior guard

#53 Braden Miller senior tackle

#58 Zachary Weakland senior guard

#72 Zane Miller sophomore tackle

#73 Hayden Malloy senior center

No one ever mentions the big guys. GENTLEMEN WELL DONE!

CH 7-14-13-0 =34

MC 0– 0- 0-0 =   0

CH- Ryan Haluska 2 run xp Brett Harrison (7-0)

CH- Ryan Bearer 17 pass to Tanner Hite xp Harrison (14-0) (video my Twitter)

CH- Bearer 19 pass to Jared Fox xp Harrison (21-0) (video my Twitter)

CH- Bearer 39 pass to  Fox xp bad snap (27-0) (video my Twitter)

CH- Haluska 5 run xp Harrison (34-0) (video my Twitter)

Cambria Heights will play Richland for the D6 2 A championship next weekend.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews