Ryan Chappell
SOMERSET — Central Cambria never led in regulation against Somerset, but it didn’t matter.
Junior running back Ryan Chappell punched in a 4-yard touchdown to start overtime, and the Red Devils’ defense stood tall on fourth down, stopping Somerset quarterback Colt Hagans short to come back from 28 points down and steal a 35-28 victory Friday night in a Week 9 Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference matchup.
Plays of the game: The Red Devils needed a wild sequence of plays just to force overtime. Chase Sinosky had a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown that trimmed the deficit to 28-14. Chappell came up with the most significant play in regulation when he took a handoff 65 yards for a touchdown that helped even the score at 28-all.
Player of the game: Chappell rushed 208 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime.
Unsung hero: CC quarterback Mason Pittsinger threw a red-zone interception in the third quarter, but also had two critical touchdown tosses, including a 71-yard score to Cam Stevens that made it 28-21 with nine minutes remaining.
Most vital statistics: Zero –the number of seconds Central Cambria held a lead through four quarters and the number of points Central Cambria allowed in the second half and overtime after digging itself a 28-0 hole. Three — the number of times Chappell carried the ball in overtime, the last carry giving Central Cambria its first lead of the game.
Somerset coach Jeff Urban on the difference in the game: “No. 21 (Chappell) is a great running back. He’s leading the league in rushing, and there’s a reason why. We missed some tackles, and the fatigue factor caught up to us.”
Central Cambria coach Wade Klezek: “That was a special one. For them to face that kind of adversity and really have that gut check and have to battle back on the road in the Laurel Highlands –that was special. I’m really, really proud of these guys.”
Chappell on the goal line stop: “It felt like the Super Bowl. That was the most intense game I’ve ever been a part of. It was just an amazing feeling.”
Notable: Hagans threw three touchdowns to three different receivers — all of them coming in the first half. Somerset forced two red-zone turnovers, including an interception from Garret Reese, that stymied two potential Central Cambria scoring drives.
Records: Somerset (2-7), Central Cambria (4-5).
Next week: Central Cambria will visit Bald Eagle, while Somerset travels to Central next Friday. Both contests are LHAC crossover matchups.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Central Cambria 0 7 0 21 7 — 35
Somerset 14 14 0 0 0 — 28
First Quarter
S–Dunmyer 8 pass from Hagans (Antram kick), 9:10
S–Sherbine 35 pass from Hagans (Antram kick), :40
Second Quarter
S–Miller 7 run (Antram kick), 6:15
S–Stephens 25 pass from Hagans (Antram kick), 3:09
CC–Galli 18 pass from Pittsinger (O’Brien kick), :52
Fourth Quarter
CC–Sinosky 25 interception return (O’Brien kick), 11:50
CC–Stevens 71 pass from Pittsinger (O’Brien kick), 9:03
CC–R. Chappell 65 run (O’Brien kick), 3:46
Overtime
CC–R. Chappell 4 run (O’Brien kick)
TEAM STATISTICS S CC
First downs 17 24
Total yards 305 402
Rushes-yards 35-180 42-272
Yards passing 238 165
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-yards 9-100 10-110
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
(Note: individual stats are not complete)
RUSHING–Somerset, Miller 24-109. Central Cambria, R. Chapell 26-208.
PASSING–Somerset, Hagans 17-30-3-238. Central Cambria, Pittsinger 14-30-2-165
RECEIVING–Somerset, Parry 5-86, Dunmyer 1-8, Sherbine 3-59, Stephens 2-35, Miller 6-50. Central Cambria, Stephens 3-102, Chappell 3-62.