Published: October 31, 2009 11:41 pm      

Conemaugh Valley picks up first victory

A rough season ended on a high note for Conemaugh Valley on Saturday afternoon as the Blue Jays picked up their first win of the year with a 30-26 Senior Day victory over visiting Freedom Academy (N.Y.).

The Jays (1-8) jumped out to a three-touchdown first-quarter lead before several big plays by the Eagles (5-5) sent the contest down to the wire in the second half. Conemaugh Valley’s defense then forced three fourth-quarter turnovers, including a pair of interceptions by Ryan Siwy, to turn back the Freedom Academy rally and give coach Jim Fisher his first career win.

“These kids deserved a win,” Fisher said. “It was a great way for the seniors to go out.”

The Blue Jays gained a season-high 308 yards, all on the ground. Senior running back Alex Roberts rushed for a game-high 122 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns.

“This is such a relief,” Roberts said.

“I wanted a win for my last game so bad, and now we have something good to remember from our senior year.”

Freedom Academy, a private boarding school for troubled youth located near Watkins Glen, got a huge game from the passing combination of quarterback Brandon Camacho and wide receiver Edison Armstrong. Camacho completed 11 of 21 passes for 214 yards and three scores while also rushing for another touchdown, and Armstrong had eight catches for 183 yards and two scores.

However, two fourth-quarter interceptions thrown by Camacho proved costly.

“We made too many mistakes that cost us the game,” said Eagles coach Chris Neu.

The Blue Jays scored quickly on their initial possession and dominated the first quarter. A 35-yard punt return by Hunter Furman put Valley at the Eagles’ 31, and three plays later Jeremy Sodano found the end zone from 24 yards out. Roberts added the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

Freedom Academy fumbled at its own 14 on the ensuing series, and four plays later Roberts plowed in from the 1.

Roberts again ran in for the two-point conversion. An Eagles’ three-and-out on the next possession led to a 46-yard touchdown run by Siwy that put the Jays ahead 22-0 heading into the second quarter.

The Eagles answered with a 63-yard, 10-play scoring drive capped off by Camacho’s 1-yard sneak. Freedom Academy then blocked a punt on the ensuing Jays’ possession and recovered at the Valley 16. Four plays later, Camacho fired a 10-yard touchdown strike to Michael Lutz to pull the Eagles within 22-12 at the 5:07 mark.

Conemaugh Valley subsequently drove 65 yards in nine plays. Roberts picked up gains of 13 and 17 yards, and his 9-yard touchdown run followed by Sodano’s two-point conversion gave the Jays an 18-point halftime lead.

Freedom Academy cut the deficit to 30-20 midway through the third after Armstrong won a battle with two Blue Jays defenders on a deep sideline pass and raced 43 yards for a score. Camacho then threw to Armstrong for the two-point conversion.

The Blue Jays were in position to punch in another touchdown in the final minute of the third, but fumbled on a first-and-goal play from the Eagles 1. Freedom Academy then picked up a first down, and on the second play of the fourth quarter, Camacho hit Armstrong in stride for an 80-yard score to pull the Eagles within four with 11 minutes to play.

Conemaugh Valley’s defense then forced turnovers on three straight Eagles possessions.