Don't start the buses just yet, the Blue Devils aren't done

Sometimes the chants to "start the bus" are a bit premature. The hollered superfan staple is usually directed toward the opponent to rub in the fact they are about to lose.

Saturday night in the fourth quarter of the District 10 semifinal game between the Cambridge Springs Blue Devils and the Eisenhower Knights you could almost hear the Blue Devil's buses starting up after the Knights' Kris Bunk hauled in a pass from Shawn Pascuzzi for a 50-yard touchdown putting Eisenhowers up 20-8 with 8:38 left in the game. 
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In the third quarter Cambridge couldn't get anything going and every time they seemed on the verge, a penalty killed their momentum.

The 10-1 Blue Devils were staring down the barrel of trading in their shoulder pads and helmets for basketball shorts and wrestling singlets if they couldn't  get something moving and stop those danged yellow flags from flying all over their backfield.

And they did.

Boy did they, and in dramatic fashion too. Down two scores they needed a quick hit. Starting with good field position on their own 42 they pitched out Brett Kania who nearly broke it all the way, but was driven out of bound 31 yards later on Eisenhower's 27.

Five plays later Josh Gorton took it five yards for a score and Preston Gorton added the 2-point conversion. The Blue Devils were back in business with 6:10 still left in the fourth quarter only down 20-16.

"You just don’t give up, you stay focussed,” Cambridge coach Nate Liberty said. His team isn’t used to having to come from behind like this. They usually beat their opponents by 20 or more points.
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Now only down four they needed a big stop.

Ike ate up a little clock but was forced to punt pinning Cambridge back at their own 15 with 3:37 left to mount an 85 yard drive.

They did start to move the ball but the clock was not working in their favor They had to convert two third downs. On the second conversion they were aided by an Eisenhower personal foul that sent the ball down to the Ike 19 with nearly a minute left on the clock.

But a penalty, an incomplete pass and a sack left them with a third and 25 with only 39 seconds left.

Morgan Applebee, Cambridge's play caller found Dan Brown in the flat and the receiver got out of bounds setting up a fourth and 12 at the 22.

​Eisenhower called a timeout.

With the season on the line Applebee rolled out, stepped up and fired a strike to Preston Gorton hitting him in stride at the 10. Gorton, with first down yardage didn't want to take a chance on getting another play off went hard for the end zone. He was met with some serious opposition at the one, but reached the ball over the line for the go ahead score with just 24 seconds remaining.

He also scored in the first half on a 17-yard run where he dived into the end zone for the team's first score.

“That was a great pass, a great catch,”  said Liberty who in his fourth year with the program. “What a way to fight to the end.”

Eisenhower came into the game hoping to avenge an early season loss to the Blue Devils.

They came out swinging taking the opening drive over 70 yards culminating in a Pascuzzi 7-yard keeper. 

Though Cambridge responded right away with a 68-yard drive ending with Preston Gorton's diving TD with 2:45 left in the first quarter, the Blue Devils struggled to finish off opportunities due to penalties.

They took an 8-7 lead into the half after failing on two attempts to score from within the 10-yard line.

Eisenhower had a long third quarter drive that ended with an 18-yard keeper by Pascuzzi, but Cambridge couldn't muster anything.

Preston Gorton combined for 113 yards while Josh Gorton ran nearly 50. Morgan Applebee threw for 100 yards and Brett Kania ran for 67 including a big 35 yarder that really ignited Spa’s second touchdown drive.

“They came back right at the right time. To come back and win this game, it was huge,” Liberty said.

“Kids fought hard, every kid fought hard. Good job by the coaches, good job by the kids and now we’re ready to go into the District 10 Championship.”
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They will now have a chance to avenge the only blemish to their record. Cambridge lost 28-22 back in week seven to Lakeview. 

They will meet again at 7 p.m. Saturday at Bender Field in Meadville.
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“I’m going to enjoy this win tonight and then I’m going to get focussed for that,” Liberty said. “Blue Devil pride better be in these people’s veins because these kids are playing hard and we love this community.”

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Notes: The Gorton twins teamed up for a first half interception that should've led to a second Cambridge touchdown. Preston Gordon was defending an Eisenhower receiver.

​He pummeled the player right as the ball arrived sending it into the air where Josh Gorton did his best Franco Harris impersonation grabbing out of midair before heading toward the goal line.

​He was stopped at the five, but Cambridge went backwards due to penalties and eventually turned the ball over on downs. 

​Had they scored this play would be highlight reel worthy in the Blue Devil history books.

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