JOHNSTOWN —
Upsets often occur late in football seasons, and what was arguably the local upset of the year took place Friday night at Trojan Stadium.
The Central Cambria Red Devils (6-3) put forth a true team effort to upset the undefeated Johnstown Trojans by a single point, 14-13, in a Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference intersectional battle.
The Red Devils parlayed an outstanding effort by senior quarterback Blake Bussard and senior wideout Mitchell Brown, a superb performance by the offensive line, a scintillating defensive job by the Central Cambria defense, and a major special teams play by senior Shane Morris to seal the win.
Coach Ken Bussard said that one aspect of the team effort stood out for him.
“Our defense was just outstanding because, athlete for athlete, when you put them out there, we can’t run with them,” Bussard said of his offense, which held the Trojans to minus-21 yards on the ground. “But that’s why it’s football. Pads and helmets are a great equalizer, and our kids just played hard.”
The Red Devils shocked the Trojans by taking a 7-0 lead when quarterback Bussard found Mitchell Brown as he sprinted past the Johnstown secondary for a 17-yard touchdown with 6:52 left before halftime.
“(The defensive back) went for the ball, and I guess that he misjudged it,” Brown said. “The pass was right there. Luckily, I caught it.”
Austin Crimmins’ kick gave the Devils the 7-0 advantage.
The Trojans finally caught fire as quarterback Gervon Simon hit Calvin Anderson in stride for a 53-yard touchdown with 1:24 left before halftime.
Michael Brooks’ kick for the PAT tied the game at 7 with 1:24 left before halftime.
The Red Devils responded, moving from their 40-yard line to a score in just four plays, with the key plays three connections between Bussard and Brown.
On the third down, Brown used great position to catch the fade pattern for an 11-yard score with just 13 seconds left before halftime.
Crimmins’ kick for the extra point turned out to be the decisive points in the contest, giving Central a 14-7 halftime lead.
Bussard completed 11 of 13 passes in the first half for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
The Trojans charged back in the third quarter, with Simon hitting Dwight Andrews in stride for a 71-yard touchdown. However, on the kick for the extra point Morris blocked Brooks’ kick.
“That was Shane Morris,” coach Bussard said. “That was just a great effort play on his part.”
The Trojans were making a comeback late in the game when a penalty nullified an apparent first down.
Then, on a fourth-and-4 play, the Central Cambria defense held, preserving the one-point win.
Johnstown will face undefeated Forest Hills next week.
“You have to regroup,” coach Tony Penna Jr. said. “We have had not what I would call an easy road, but when you’re 8-0 and everything’s going your way, it’s easy to dig in and go after you. You reveal your true character when adversity comes, and we had our share of adversity tonight.”
The stats were as close as the final score, with Johnstown holding a 180-123 edge in passing, and Central Cambria having a 45-to-minus-12 advantage on the ground.
The Devils held a 168-159 lead in total yardage.
Sports
Related Photos
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Above, Central Cambria tight end Mitchell Brown hauls in a touchdown pass in front of an unidentified Greater Johnstown defender on Friday night at Trojan Stadium in Johnstown. Andy Marchese/For The Tribune-Democrat
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Central Cambria Stephen O’Saben is brought down by the Trojans’ Malcolm Harris during Central Cambria’s 14-13 victory. Andy Marchese/For The Tribune-Democrat
Discussion
Central Cambria shocks previously unbeaten Johnstown
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