MEADVILLE — The last time the Cambridge Springs Blue Devils won a District 10 title, the Redbank Valley Bulldogs were capturing their third of their six District 9 crowns. They didn’t meet in the PIAA playoffs way back in 1996 because they were in different classifications.
Some 27 years later, they will meet in the PIAA Class 1A quarterfinals at Meadville High School’s Bender Field Friday night. The Blue Devils (12-1) edged Lakeview, 32-29, on the same field last week to end their title drought while the Bulldogs (11-1) captured their third D9 crown in four years with a 26-7 win over Port Allegany in Brockway.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The winner lands in next week’s PIAA semifinals against the WPIAL champion — either South Side Beaver or Fort Cherry, who meet at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh Friday at 11 a.m.
Both teams have a trip to the state championship game on their resume, albeit Cambridge Springs’ journey came a long time ago. The Blue Devils lost in the first Class 1A final in 1998 in an 18-7 loss to Camp Hill. The Bulldogs reached the 2021 championship and lost 21-14 to Bishop Guilfoyle.
Last week, the Blue Devils squeezed out a win and avenged their only loss of the season to Lakeview. Cambridge Springs trailed 22-14 going into the late part of the third quarter before scoring two straight TDs within a span of less than two minutes to take the lead for good.
Brandon Hoover caught a pair of touchdown passes, a 14-yarder from Josh Gorton and a 15-yarder from quarterback Morgan Applebee early in the fourth quarter to build an insurmountable 32-22 advantage.
In rainy Brockway, the Bulldogs got a big lift from sophomore Jaxon Huffman, who threw for 344 yards and three TDs in his first-ever varsity start while starting quarterback Braylon Wagner sat out his second game with an injury. Senior receiver Ashton Kahle had a career-best game, catching nine passes for 249 yards and two TDs.
Head coach Nathan Liberty’s Blue Devils feature a run-first offense that uses various skill players. They average 335 yards per game — 257 rushing and 78 passing — with only 93 passing attempts all season to equal 1,010 yards.
Four players have rushed for over 550 yards, led by 1,000-yard sophomore Brett Kania (161-1,284, 19 TDs), seniors Preston Gorton (79-689, 11 TDs) and Josh Gorton (102-608, 9 TDs), and junior Jordan Washington (43-558, 5 TDs).
The junior quarterback Applebee (46-for-82, 863 yards, 10 TDs, 5 Ints.) hasn’t thrown a lot of passes, but 10 have gone to the end zone. Preston Gorton (21-388, 7 TDs) and Brandon Hoover (15-266, 2 TDs) are the leading pass-catchers.
The Blue Devils have won six straight games dating back to their lone loss to Lakeview in a 28-22 decision at home to the Sailors. In the D10 semifinals, they edged Eisenhower 22-20 after routing the Knights 48-0 in Week 2. Otherwise, it’s been a lopsided list of wins for a team averaging 39.7 points per game and giving up 11.5 points.
The status of Wagner (153-for-214, 2,541 yards, 39 TDs, 3 Ints.) at quarterback for the Bulldogs is another game-day decision for the Bulldogs.
Head coach Blane Gold’s Bulldogs average 48.1 points per game while giving up 12.5. Offensively, they’re averaging 381 yards per game — 251 passing and 130 rushing — with Drew Byers (143-848, 11 TDs) the top rusher. Kahle (55-1,125, 13 TDs) jumped over the 1,000-yard receiving milestone and Mason Clouse (54-962, 17 TDs) is close to four digits as well with Rylan Rupp (22-323, 3 TDs) also getting key catches this year. Aston George (30-478, 9 TDs), another key Bulldogs receiver, didn’t play in the win over Port Allegany.
Leading the Bulldogs’ defense are top tacklers Caden Adams (78), Brandon Ross (76), Mason Clouse (71), Owen Clouse (53) and Kahle (51), who led the team with nine tackles against the Gators last week, three for losses. Kahle leads the team with eight interceptions with Mason Clouse picking off five passes.
For Cambridge Springs, Josh Gorton (150), Zeek Carson (121) and Preston Gorton (114) are the top tacklers.
