Mitch Blackwell was one defender that opposing players did not want to see coming their way on the gridiron, especially quarterbacks.
Central Cambria’s fierce senior defensive end finished the season with an area-high 17 sacks. Blackwell had 99 tackles including 83 solo stops, earning him The Tribune-Democrat Defensive Player of the Year nod.
“He’s a kid that falls into the high-motor category,” Central Cambria coach Ken Bussard said. “He was relentless in his pursuit to the ball. He had a real passion for tracking quarterbacks down. He had a little bit of a mean streak as a football player and could turn it on when he was playing and off when he wasn’t on the field.”
Bussard said the 6-foot-2, 203-pound Blackwell wasn’t the Red Devils most vocal player.
“Mitch was a quiet leader, who led by example not by his words,” the Central Cambria coach said. “Whenever we needed a play to ignite the defense, whether it was a quarterback sack, a hurry or a slowdown, he seemed to be the one to provide the play.”
Blackwell was one of the nine senior leaders on a Central Cambria squad which finished with a 7-3 regular-season record.
“All the seniors are my best friends,” Blackwell said. “I will never forget them. We all worked hard together. We definitely proved a lot of people wrong this year because they didn’t think we would do as well as we did.”
The Red Devils defensive end, who also played on the offensive line this season, has some vivid memories regarding this season.
“Beating Forest Hills at their field was probably the highlight of the season,” Blackwell said, noting that it was the first time in 12 years that the Red Devils prevailed over the Rangers.
In the District 5-6 Class AA playoffs, Central Cambria recorded victories over Penns Valley (7-6) and top-seeded Tyrone (21-10).
“Penns Valley was the first playoff game that anyone on the team had experienced,” the Central Cambria player said. “They were a tough and physical team. Beating Tyrone which was ranked No. 2 in the state was also one of the highlights of the year.”
The Red Devils advanced to the District 6 championship for the first time since 2000, falling to Bishop McCort 28-21 in overtime to end their season with a 9-4 mark.
“It’s definitely an honor to be named (defensive player of the year),” Blackwell said. “What probably got me noticed by opposing coaches is that I basically wreaked havoc since I was a sophomore. I play at 110 percent on every play. I tried doing what I could to help the team win football games.”
Blackwell, who was a First-Team All-Area selection last season, also as the area’s sack leader, attributed this year’s coaching staff for the team’s success.
“It made a big difference to have Coach Bussard back,” said Blackwell, who had 43 sacks in the past three seasons. “And having coaches like Chris Villarrial and John Sikora come to Central Cambria definitely helped a lot.”
The Red Devils’ lineman is looking to continue his playing career in college and has narrowed his choices to IUP, Slippery Rock, Clarion and Waynesburg.
High School Sports
Devils’ Blackwell lets his play do the talking
- High School Sports
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Richland's Lumley settles for pair of silver medals
Paige Lumley was on an emotional roller coaster and seeing silver on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Richland senior had state record jumps twice during the triple jump competition, but ended up with a silver–medal leap of 40 feet,
1¾ inches.
Defending state champion, second-seeded junior Lanae Newsome of Brookville, won with a jump of 40-3½. -
Ridge’s Dull takes second with school-record time
Matt Dull finished his athletic career with his best on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Chestnut Ridge senior ran a career-best time of 38.12 to finish second in the 300 hurdles final, also setting another school record. -
Young takes silver in state triple jump
Chestnut Ridge senior Michael Young capped six years of triple jumping with a silver medal Friday on the first day of the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Seth Grove Stadium on the campus of Shippensburg University.
Young had a career-best leap of 45-9¼ just behind Jared Horne of Schuylkill Valley whose winning jump was 46-9. -
Forest Hills’ Smay places fifth in Class AA long jump
Brooke Smay is moving on up.
The Forest Hills junior earned a fifth-place position in the Class AA long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 3 ½ inches Friday on the first day of the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University. -
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There were more than a few huge plays. Of course a number of individuals stepped up to secure a 3-1 victory over LHAC rival Bishop Guilfoyle. -
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Hollidaysburg pitcher Dom Viduya and his Golden Tigers teammates beat defending champion Somerset 3-1 in Thursday’s District 6 Class AAA championship game at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
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Pitcher's 'bad day' results in no-hitter
Bridgit Yothers struggled on the mound on Thursday.
But the Chestnut Ridge right-hander was able to persevere through her issues, throwing a no-hitter against Bedford in their District 5 Class AA semifinal and helping the Lions to a 5-0 victory. -
Local athletes look to shine at PIAA track and field meet
Each of the nearly 50 area athletes who will be competing at this weekend’s PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University, will be looking for his or her best performance of the season, but only the top eight finishers in each event for both boys and girls will stand on the podium in front of the crowd at Seth Grove Stadium.
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Westmont, Somerset represented at PIAA Class AA tennis tourney
The PIAA Class AA tennis tournament showcases the top players in the state, which includes three area athletes, when it begins today at the Hershey Racquet Club.
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Corridini’s hit propels Shade
Tasha Corridini had been having a tough time at the plate on Wednesday.
The Shade leftfielder had struck out twice in her prior two at-bats against Shanksville-Stonycreek pitcher Kayla Stockenus.
But in the bottom of the seventh of a scoreless game with Kaily Karl on first, Corridini clubbed a triple out to the fence, scoring Karl and giving the Panthers a walk-off 1-0 win over the Vikings in a District 5 Class A softball quarterfinal. - More High School Sports Headlines
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