Cambridge Springs' Colton Noble almost single-handedly ruined Youngsville's Homecoming.
The Blue Devils' junior tailback rushed 28 times for 260 yards and scored three touchdowns and Cambridge Springs handed Youngsville its first Region 2 loss in nearly two years with a 30-13 triumph Friday at Mike Shine Field.
The Eagles entered Friday's game looking to build on the momentum captured in a 46-41 victory over Iroquois during last week's home opener. For a while, it looked like the Eagles would be in the contest until the bitter end.
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Allen Seybert
Got speed
Youngsville’s Rocco Gatta looks for running room while carrying the ball in the second quarter of a Region 2 football game with Cambridge Springs Friday at Mike Shine Field. Cambridge Springs spoiled Youngsville’s Homecoming game, defeating the Eagles, 30-13.
A driving rain fell for much of the opening quarter with both teams struggling to put together any kind of offensive push. The Eagles fumbled four times in the first 12 minutes, but were fortunate enough to fall on every one and maintain possession.
The Blue Devils delivered the first blow of the game and -perhaps not surprisingly - it was Noble who broke through. With 6:33 left in the first quarter, the tailback rumbled 27 yards over the left side of the Youngsville line and didn't stop until reaching the end zone, giving the visitors a 6-0 lead.
It didn't take the Eagles long to forge ahead.
After Noble's touchdown, Cambridge Springs attempted an onside kick, but it was recovered by the Eagles. Taking over at their own 47, the Eagles' Jacob Lauffenburger took the very next snap and charged 53 yards to paydirt to tie the score at 6-6. T.J. Hardy's extra point gave Youngsville a 7-6 lead.
The Blue Devils methodically marched down the field during their next drive, but faced a 3rd and 20 with under a minute left in the first half. The third down play netted 11 yards and Cambridge faced a 4th and nine from the Youngsville 14 with just 19 seconds left in the second quarter.
Instead of building momentum with a huge stop, Youngsville let the visitors take full control of the game by allowing a backbreaking score. Blue Devils quarterback Devin Walker found wideout Zach Stafford in the back of the end zone and Stafford managed to get a foot down in play to put Cambridge back on top, 12-7. Noble's two-point run made it 14-7 at the break.
The third quarter couldn't have gone much worse for the Eagles.
First, Noble scored from 57 yards out with 8:49 left in the quarter and his two-point run pushed the lead to 22-7. The ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Blue Devils and Cambridge put together another deep charge into Eagles territory before fumbling.
With less than four minutes left in the quarter, Youngsville finally began its first drive of the second half only to fumble the ball away two plays later. All told, the Eagles ran four offensive plays in the third quarter, totaling three yards.
Early in the fourth quarter, Noble put the game out of reach with his third long touchdown run of the night. This score came from 56 yards out and Walker's two-point run made it 30-7.
Youngsville's Jordan Gurdak made the score slightly more respectable with a 34-yard touchdown run later in the fourth, but the Eagles would get no closer than 30-13.
Noble's big night was just part of a 349-yard rushing attack by the Blue Devils. Walker was 7-of-15 for 64 yards with a touchdown and Stafford caught five passes for 34 yards with a score.
Gurdak led Youngsville with 105 rushing yards and a touchdown. Lauffenburger chewed up 65 yards on 12 carries and Rocco Gatta finished with 32 rushing yards.
Youngsville will try to get back on the winning track Friday when they visit Region 2 foe Maplewood.
Cambridge Springs-Youngsville Stats
Cambridge01488-30
Youngsville0706-13
Second Quarter
C- Colton Noble 27 run, 6:33, run failed
Y- Jake Lauffenburger 53 run, 6:18, T.J. Hardy kick
C- Devin Walker to Zach Stafford 14 pass, 0:19, Noble run
Third Quarter
C- Noble 57 run, 8:49, Noble run
Fourth Quarter
C- Noble 56 run, 10:44, Noble run
Y- Jordan Gurdak 34 run, 4:47, run failed
---
CY
Offensive Plays6241
First downs189
Rushes-yards47-34935-202
Passing646
Total Yards413208
Comp-Att-Int7-15-01-6-1
Fumbles-Lost1-16-2
Penalties-Yards9-507-50
---
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING- C- Colton Noble 28 for 260, 3 TD, Devin Walker 9 for 66, Braden Baidime 3 for 15, Nick Pearson 4 for 11, Quentin Stafford 2 for 1, Stevie Reisenauer 1 for -4; Y- Jordan Gurdak 12 for 105, TD, Jacob Lauffenburger 12 for 65, TD, Rocco Gatta 11 for 32
PASSING- C- Devin Walker 7 of 15 for 64, TD; Y- Jacob Lauffenburger 1 of 5 for 6, INT, Rocco Gatta 0 of 1 for 0
RECEIVING- C- Zach Stafford 5 for 43, TD, Nick Pearson 1 for 15, Colton Noble 1 for 6; Y- T.J. Hardy 1 for 6