Big plays help Struthers topple Red Devils, 19-14
Justin Penson had 126 yards receiving and scored twice for the Wildcats.
CAMPBELL -- Struthers High managed just 10 yards on the ground, but a kickoff return and two long touchdown passes enabled the Wildcats to defeat Campbell Memorial 19-14 on John Knapick Field Friday night.
The win was the first for Struthers after three losses while the Red Devils fell to 1-3.
The Wildcats also won the Steel Helmet Trophy for the second straight season.
A 15-yard punt return by Terrance Phillips gave Campbell the ball on the Struthers 49-yard line with just under four minutes to play in the opening quarter. On the next play Dominique Lucky scored on a 49-yard run. Ryan Lopez kicked the extra point and the Red Devils led 7-0.
On the kickoff Larry Wylie fielded the ball on the 20-yard line and raced up the right sideline 80 yards to score the first Struthers touchdown. Mike Duponty tied the contest with his PAT.
Duponty, the Struthers quarterback, was injured on the final play of the first quarter and did not return.
Key play
With just over a minute to play in the first half, Struthers recovered a fumble by Lonnie McQueen at the Campbell 46. On the next play, backup quarterback Aaron Young hit Justin Penson with a scoring strike. The extra point kick was wide right and Struthers had a 13-7 lead.
The Red Devils appeared to tie the contest just before halftime, but a 64-yard scoring run by McQueen was called back by a personal foul penalty. Penson then intercepted a McQueen pass to end the threat.
Struthers controlled the ball for all but six plays in the third quarter and held on to its lead entering the fourth.
Twice in the fourth quarter Struthers was turned away by the Campbell defense as Joe Faunda intercepted two passes, the second coming with 5:48 to play in the game at the Campbell 38.
The Red Devils then moved down the field in six plays with McQueen tying the contest with a 4-yard run on a third and goal play. Lopez kicked the point after for a 14-13 lead with 3:34 to play.
Game-winner
The Campbell kickoff went out of bounds and Struthers started on its 35. On the first play, Young found Penson wide open down the left sideline for a 65-yard game-winning score.
Struthers had just 10 yards on 29 rushing attempts, while Young was 4-of-9 passing for 129 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. Penson had three catches for 126 yards and two TDs. Overall the Cats had 152 yards of total offense and seven first downs.
Campbell did not complete a pass in five attempts and had one interception. The Red Devils also lost two fumbles and had two punts blocked. Lucky finished with 152 yards rushing on 20 carries, while McQueen added 126 yards on 14 tries. Campbell had 303 yards, all on the ground, with 11 first downs. The Red Devils were penalized nine times for 61 yards while Struthers had just two penalties for 22 yards in the contest.