The YDL Sports Network is counting down the Top 25 moments, events, performances, games, etc from the 2023-24 school year.
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS, Pa. – Cambridge Springs hadn’t won a District 10 football title since Bill Clinton was president.
But the Blue Devils rallied in both the District 10 semifinal and District 10 championship games to claim the 1A title, their first since 1996.
In the semifinals, Cambridge Springs trailed Eisenhower, 20-8, in the fourth quarter before scoring twice in the final 8:36 to move into the title game with a 22-20 win at Titusville.
The game-winning touchdown came on a 22-yard Moran Applebee to Preston Gorton touchdown pass with just 26 seconds left.
It happened on a fourth-and-12 play when Applebee took the shotgun snap, rolled to his right, stepped up to avoid pressure, and hit Gorton just outside the 5-yard line. Gorton had to fight through a tackle before extending the ball across the goal line for the score.
The Blue Devils had clawed within six with 8:36 to play when Josh Gorton scored from five yards out and Preston Gorton added the conversion run.
Rewatch the semifinal game
In the championship game, Cambridge Springs found itself down 22-16 before Brandon Hoover took over.
Hoover accounted for two touchdowns in the second half to help the Blue Devils turn the six-point deficit into a 10-point, 32-22, lead.
First, he threw a 51-yard pass to Daniel Brown that set up his 13-yard touchdown catch from Josh Gorton that coupled with Brett Kania’s 2-point conversion put Cambridge Springs up, 24-22.
Then, after Josh Gorton recovered a fumble, Hoover caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Applebee with 11:12 left that made it 32-22 following the 2-point try.
If the two scores weren’t enough, Hoover than had an interception on the ensuing Lakeview drive that helped keep the momentum with the Blue Devils.
Watch the highlights of the game
Cambridge Springs’ run came to an end in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs against a talented Redbank Valley squad, which beat the Blue Devils, 44-0, but it was still a banner season for the group.
