JOHNSTOWN —
If Friday night’s football game between Central Cambria and Greater Johnstown were a prizefight, the card would have given the Red Devils a big edge in punches landed.
But it also would have credited Johnstown (1-1) with connecting on a couple of haymakers, enough to score a 15-6 decision at Trojan Stadium.
“We’re still trying to find our identity,” Trojans coach Tony Penna Jr. said, adding that his team may have gone a long way toward finding itself with a gutty performance that saw it overcome four turnovers and a blocked punt.
For Devils coach Sam Shutty, it was an all-too-familiar scenario that saw his team play very well, up to a point.
“The guys are great. They are doing what we want them to do – except finish drives,” he said.
Indeed, Central Cambria (0-2) ran about twice as many offensive plays as Johnstown, and held the Trojans to just two offensive plays in the third quarter. But a huge play on defense gave the Trojans the momentum just before halftime.
Central Cambria got a huge break early when Brandon Long blocked Grant Noon’s punt and Scott Bauer recovered at the Johnstown 22. The Devils got as far as the Trojans’ 8 before a fourth-down sack by Dalvin Williams ended the threat.
Neither team threatened to score until the final minute of the half. The Devils took over at the Trojans’ 33 following a punt. On the first play, Nick Myers took a Will Seymour pass and was struggling to get free when Jesaiah Wilson knocked the ball loose and Kareem Gibson scooped it up and raced 72 yards for a touchdown.
Penna called the play “a game-changer,” and Shutty didn’t disagree.
“It was such a killer,” he said, adding that he couldn’t fault Myers for trying to turn the short gain into a big play.
Central Cambria was anything but rattled. The Devils opened the second half with a grinding 18-play, 68-yard drive, all but nine yards of it on the ground. Central Cambria even overcame a rare penalty for aiding the runner when Seymour apparently scored the TD from the Johnstown 1, but the sophomore quarterback found the end zone three plays later.
Johnstown’s Terrell Jones intercepted the PAT try to preserve an 8-6 lead.
The Trojans answered with a scoring drive midway through the fourth quarter. If the Devils’ march was inexorable, Johnstown’s was lightning quick. After taking over at their 48, Gibson broke free for a 33-yard dash to the Devils’ 19, and Deion Moore, playing quarterback out of the wildcat formation, broke a keeper for a 19-yard score.
HS Sports Greater Johnstown
No rest for Johnstown defense in gritty win
- HS Sports Greater Johnstown
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Subich, Dell recognized for football
Greater Johnstown High School senior Nick Subich earned the Joe Sarra Community Service Award and took a Scholar Athlete Award at the recent Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete Awards Banquet.
The Joseph D. Sarra Community Service Award is named for the long-time chapter board member and former Penn State assistant football coach. -
Johnstowners take football talents to top
Johnstown’s football tradition was on display at the highest professional levels in both the United States and Canada during 2012.
Greater Johnstown High School graduates LaRod Stephens-Howling and Geroy Simon made their marks in the NFL and CFL, respectively. Another former Trojans standout, Antwuan Reed, finished a four-year career at Pitt and signed with the NFL Cleveland Browns, attending preseason training camp before being released. -
Athlete of the Week: Roshon Fields
Name: Roshon Fields
School: Greater Johnstown
Year: Senior
Sport: Basketball -
Friday preview: Battle of unbeatens highlights slate
A battle of two 9-0, state-ranked teams highlights our weekly look at Friday-night matchups.
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Friday preview: Forest Hills concerned about Bishop Guilfoyle
Bishop Guilfoyle accomplished something not many believed possible during last week’s win against Cambria Heights. The Marauders significantly hampered the Highlanders’ high-powered run game.
Don’t be surprised if Bishop Guilfoyle’s blueprint for defensive success is copied by other members of the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference when going against Cambria Heights. -
Richland, Johnstown look to tackle bullying
Two local school districts are banding together to stop bullying.
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VIDEO | Johnstown scripts win over Westmont
Greater Johnstown offensive lineman Mike Brooks lifts quarterback Deion Moore after Moore scored a touchdown during the Trojans’ 20-17 victory over Westmont Hilltop on Friday night.
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Friday preview: Somerset basking in football success
A few more signs saying “You’ve entered Golden Eagles Territory” align the streets of Somerset these days. There are a couple more people wearing Somerset football T-shirts at the grocery store.
Funny what a couple of decisive victories can do for a program and a community seeking to move past a couple decades of mostly losing seasons. -
No rest for Johnstown defense in gritty win
If Friday night’s football game between Central Cambria and Greater Johnstown were a prizefight, the card would have given the Red Devils a big edge in punches landed.
But it also would have credited Johnstown (1-1) with connecting on a couple of haymakers, enough to score a 15-6 decision at Trojan Stadium. -
Friday night preview: It's rivalry week for Bishop McCort, Forest Hills
As Forest Hills football coach Don Bailey put it, the rivalry between his Rangers and Bishop McCort has “been good since the early 1980s.”
- More HS Sports Greater Johnstown Headlines
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Subich, Dell recognized for football
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