Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Penn Cambria players Thomas Plunkett (left) and Brady Jones come off the field together after Friday’s loss to Avonworth.
IRWIN — The final chapter wasn’t what the team had hoped for, but Penn Cambria put together a historic, unprecedented and storied 2024 high school football season.
The Panthers, who became the school’s first District 6 football champion and the first in school history to advance to the PIAA football semifinals, advance to Friday night’s PIAA Class 3A semifinals, where they will clash with WPIAL champion Avonworth, the Penn Cambria football team. He boasted his first undefeated record. During the 1989 season, I encountered an opponent who simply played more games than I did.
And Avonworth junior scatback Luca Neal made the biggest play of the night, rushing for 261 yards on 27 carries and two second-half touchdowns as Avonworth defeated Norwin High School in the snow. The Knights fielded a 16-6 victory.
Neal, 5-10, 190 pounds, broke off a 65-yard touchdown run from right tackle with 4:39 left in the third quarter to give Avonworth (12-3) a 9-6 lead and give the Antelopes a 9-6 lead. Su never let go of it.
Neal also set up the score with a 43-yard scamper from right edge and ran 2 yards for a touchdown with 1:08 left to help Avonworth win and advance the Antelopes to Class 3A next Saturday afternoon. obtained the right to participate. The state championship game was played at Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley High School.
“We’re struggling right now, but it’s been an unbelievable season,” said Penn Cambria coach Nick Fels, who led the Panthers to a 14-1 record. “They just made more plays than us tonight, that was the story.”
Neal’s quickness and speed out of the Wildcat formation proved too much for the Panthers to handle, especially in the second half.
“All our linemen did a great job tonight, we had some great blocks, we hit some holes,” Neal said. His older brother, Nico, a senior, also joins Avonworth’s backfield, giving Lopez a strong one-on-two running tandem. . “It’s surreal (to be in the state championship game). It’s a very special feeling to have the opportunity to be there with my brother.”
Avonworth coach Duke Joncourt knows Luca Neal is a special back.
“He’s an all-around tough kid, quick, quick, great physical player,” Joncourt said. “He had a great game tonight.”
After Avonworth took a 3-0 lead in the second quarter on sophomore kicker Calder Mahan’s 31-yard field goal, Penn Cambria senior standout Gavin Harrold ran 62 yards along the left sideline. , scoring the Panthers’ only points of the night. He scored a touchdown on a jet sweep with 2:30 left in the first half, giving the Panthers a 6-3 lead heading into halftime.
“It was wide open outside,” Harold said. “A lot of guys made great blocks that allowed me to go all the way.”
After Penn Cambria drove to the Avonworth 23 midway through the third quarter, the Panthers were unable to connect on junior quarterback Brady Jones’ fourth-down pass to the senior tight end in the back of the end zone.
Avonworth got the ball back and three plays later, Luca Neal darted down the right side of the field for a 65-yard touchdown run.
After defeating Central Valley in last Saturday’s WPIAL championship game, that would prove to be enough for the Antelopes on another great night from the defense.
With 9:16 left in the game, junior defensive back Blake Rielly made an interception near the goal line, keeping coach Penn Cambria’s hopes alive and giving the Panthers the ball back at their own 28.
But in the end, Penn Cambria was forced to punt the ball away at midfield, and with less than five minutes left, Abouise took over at its own 18, driving 82 yards in just six plays and running back Luca Neal. His 2-yard scoring run paid off.
“Our kids are resilient and athletic, so that last drive sealed the deal for us,” Joncourt said.
Nevertheless, nothing took away from Penn Cambria’s watershed 2024 campaign.
“You have to give them credit. They just made more plays than we did,” Harrold said. “But our team definitely set the standard for football at Penn Cambria this season. Even though things didn’t go our way tonight, I couldn’t be more proud of our team and the way the season went.” I can’t do that.”
How the game played: Luca Neal’s 65-yard touchdown run gave Avonworth the lead for good, 9-6, in the third quarter, and Neal’s 43-yard run and 2-yard TD burst in the final minute sealed the deal for Avonworth. Ta.
Player of the game: Luca Neal.
The unsung hero: Avonworth’s defensive unit held Penn Cambria’s high-powered offense to just six points.
Most important stat: Avonworth rolled up 335 of its 376 yards on the ground.
Penn Cambria quarterback Jones: “We fought tonight, but we can’t rest our heads. This game was decided by them making a few more big plays. We continued our tradition. and set the standard for Penn Cambria this season.”
Mason Mento, senior running back/linebacker, Penn Cambria: “I know it didn’t end well tonight, but we had a great season. This year, we did more than any school football team has ever done. I did some things I’ve never done before. I’ll never forget them.”
What to watch: Sophomore linebacker Bryce Metts recovers fumble for Avonworth, who has allowed just 12 total points in the past three playoff games…Northwestern Lehigh advances to the 3A semifinals Friday night They defeated Danville 31-14 and advanced to the state title game.
Record: Penn Cambria (14-1) at Avonworth (12-3).
Next week: Penn Cambria’s season completes. Avonworth will play Northwestern Lehigh in the PIAA Class 3A championship game next Saturday.
Score per quarter
Penn Cambria 0 6 0 0–6
Avonworth 0 3 6 7–16
2nd quarter
A-Mahan 25 FG, 4:06.
PC-Harold 62 runs (missed pass), 2:30.
3rd quarter
AL. Neal 65 runs (missed kick), 4 minutes 39 seconds.
4th quarter
AL. Neal 2 runs (Mahan kick), 1:08.
Team statistics PC A
First down 7 17
Total yards 202 376
Rush Yards 29-160 46-335
Passing Yards 42 41
path (comp.-att.-int.) 6-11-0 4-9-1
Punt/Average 4-29 2-39.5
Lost fumble 2-1 1-0
Penalty Yards 6-35 9-55
personal statistics
Rushing – Penn Cambria, Harold 11-93, Mento 6-28, Mento 6-28, Plunkett 6-21. Avonworth, L. Neal 27 wins, 261 losses, N. Neal 17 wins, 60 losses, Dellinger 1 win, 8 losses, Verisalis 1 win, 6 losses.
Passing – Jones, Penn Cambria 6-11-0-42. Avonworth, Bellinger 4-9-1-41.
Reception – Penn Cambria, Harold 4-11, Vinglish 2-31. Avonworth, Getz 1-12, Harding 1-10, Scharding 1-0, Krull 1-9.
