Published: August 30, 2008 12:39 am      

Bishop Carroll bounces Central Cambria

LORETTO — Bishop Carroll used an outstanding defensive effort, along with some key offensive production to surprise Central Cambria in the backyard brawl played at St. Francis University.

The Huskies rushed out to a 12-0 lead only to see the Red Devils charge back later in the third quarter to narrow that advantage.

However, Bishop Carroll held the Red Devils in check with an outstanding defensive effort to avenge a 44-7 thrashing that they absorbed last year in Ebensburg and earn the 12-7 win.

Coach Craig Sponsky, whose team did not make the District 6 playoffs the past two years, was pleased with the win.

“In the first game, what we’re most proud of was the kids’ heart and the fact that they did not give up and responded,” Sponsky said. “They did good things defensively. They bailed us out at the beginning of the game, and they did it at the end of the game.”

The game started inauspiciously for the Huskies, as they mishandled the opening kickoff deep in their territory.

The fumble gave Central Cambria possession at the Bishop Carroll 8-yard line.

However, the Huskies’ defense rose to the occasion, pushing the Devils back and stopping the threat.

“Any time that you go into the first game of the year with new personnel at various positions, and you squander opportunities, you’re going to be in a struggle,” Sponsky said.

The Huskies finally scored when they put together a 63-yard, nine-play drive culminated with a 4-yard Brendan Julock touchdown with just 1:31 left before halftime.

The kick for the PAT failed, but Bishop Carroll held a 6-0 lead.

The Huskies increased that lead to 12-0 after pouncing on a Central Cambria fumble on the first scrimmage play of the second half.

Julock, who led all rushers with 165 yards on 19 carries, scored his second touchdown as junior quarterback Shawn Perich pitched to him on an option for a 5-yard score.

The run for the extra point was stopped by the Central Cambria defense, but the Huskies held a 12-0 advantage with 9:37 left in the third quarter.

The Red Devils put together a scoring drive in the third quarter, taking advantage of a 15-yard personal foul penalty that gave them possession at their own 49-yard line.

Central Cambria put together a 51-yard, 13-play drive to score on a 6-yard run.

Tyler Delauter kicked the extra point to narrow the advantage to 12-7.

Junior linebacker Derek Semetosky recorded five sacks for the Huskies.

“We figured before the game that we were going to come hard because they have some good players on their team and we had to stop them from the get-go,” Semetosky said.

The Huskies had a 203-85 advantage on the ground, but Central Cambria recorded a 56-12 advantage through the air.

Bishop Carroll will travel to Bedford next week while Central Cambria will host Richland.