Cambridge Gets by Creek

Photo by Joe Catullo
Cambridge’s Justin Bartlett attempts to break Indian Creek’s David Ferroni during Friday’s game.

WINTERSVILLE — Indian Creek was unable to make a play on offense when it needed the most, capping a rough night on the side of the ball.

Facing a fourth-and-9 at the Cambridge 18 with 1:06 remaining to play, the Redskins had one final chance to pull out the victory. However, the pass fell incomplete, allowing the Bobcats to take over downs and run out the clock, en route to a 24-20 come-from-behind win in the season opener on a rainy Friday night at Kettlewell Stadium.

“I thought our effort was great,” Indian Creek coach Andrew Conner said. “Our kids battled. I am proud of them. We knew we were inexperienced and it showed. We wish somethings that happened did not happen, but ultimately that falls on me. I am going to have to work on some things to make sure our kids are more prepared for the rest of the season.”

The Redskins recorded 215 yards of total offense. They amassed 62 yards on the ground on 35 carries, while gaining 153 through the air.

Matt Schaefer finished with a team-high 38 yards and a touchdown on the ground to lead the way. Quarterback David Ferroni finished 8 of 17 for 153 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions. Sam Coleman collected five catches for 113 yards a touchdown, while Schaefer snagged three receptions for 40 yards.

The Bobcats struck first in the second quarter. Justin Bartlett tallied a 27-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Caden Moore, and Kaden Whaley ran in for the 2-point conversion to give Cambridge an 8-0 lead with 10:05 left to play before halftime.

Schaefer bounced to the outside and scored on a 21-yard run, but the Redskins’ 2-point conversion pass fell incomplete, keeping the score 8-6 with 6:56 left to play in the quarter.

Schaefer’s touchdown provided the first six points in a run of 20 points in just 25 seconds.

After the ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, Kaden Kentowrthy rumbled 65 yards down the sideline on a screen pass on the first play of the drive to increase Cambridge’s advantage to 14-6. Conner Theodosopolus kicked the extra point to make the score 15-6.

Coleman then returned the Bobcats’ kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, and Austin Herald booted the extra point to cut Indian Creek’s deficit to 15-13 with 6:31 still to play in the first half.

A safety resulted in two points for the Bobcats, as the Redskins were called for illegal touching of the ball in the end zone, enabling the visitors to take a 7-13 with 10:32 remaining in the third quarter.

The hosts answered when Ferroni hooked up with Coleman on a 64-yard touchdown catch, and Herald’s extra point once again was true, giving Indian Creek its first lead of the game at 20-17 with 7:16 left in the third.

Kentowrthy hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass from Moore, and Theodosopolus split the uprights with the extra point giving Cambridge a 24-20 lead with 9:29 left to play in the game.

This was the sixth straight season Indian Creek has opened the season against Cambridge. The Redskins are 4-2 in those games. The Bobcats beat the Redskins, 26-19, back in 2016 for their first win in the series.

The game was delayed for 35 minutes due to lightning with 2:03 left in the first quarter.

BEALLSVILLE — Heading into Friday night, Conotton Valley was riding a seven-game season-opening losing streak, so …

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