Raiders get Johnsonurg rematch

With rain in the air and mud underfoot, Cameron County and Johnsonburg battled for home field advantage in the PIAA District 9 football playoffs last Friday night in Emporium. The visitors capitalized on two big plays to edge the Raiders, 13-7.

Now, the same two teams square off in a do-or-die playoff clash next weekend on the Johnsonburg gridiron. The winner moves on to the D9 semifinals, while the loser is eliminated.

Both defenses were stifling against the run last week, thanks in part to a big assist from the slippery turf.

However, Johnsonburg (7-2) star quarterback Calvin Grumley lived up to his advance billing with a solid performance.

His 20-yard touchdown pass to John Yonker after a costly Red Raider miscue midway through the fourth quarter lifted the Rams from a 7-6 deficit.

Faced with fourth-and-two at the Johnsonburg 35, Raider Coach Tony Defilippi opted to put the game in the hands of his defense, which had hounded Grumley endlessly throughout the night.

But the center snap soared over punter Dan Slottje's head,

resulting in a 29-yard loss that put the visitors in business at the Raider 36.

Grumley fired a 16-yard strike to Yonker. On the next snap, he dodged defenders and lofted another pass in Yonker's direction. The ball was underthrown, but Yonker adjusted, hauled in the ball at the one, and lunged in for the TD.

Cameron County (6-3) had its chances down the stretch, including one possession that started near midfield after a Grumley fumble. Johnsonburg dodged the bullet when a fourth-down pass missed the mark.

Grumley had to work for everything he got. The Rams' ground game netted negative 39 yards, due in large part to Cameron County's relentless pursuit of the signal-caller.

The Raiders, usually potent on the ground, finished with just 60 yards on 39 rushes, as Johnsonburg stacked the line of scrimmage. Cameron County had just 23 yards of total offense in the second half, most of it on a long drive that ended with the fateful high snap.

Things started out on a positive note for the Raiders. After a fumble recovery by

Charlie Holjencin, Jordan Crane rolled right and found Abram Zoschg in the front right corner of the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown play. Slottje's kick tacked on an extra point that loomed large as the game progressed.

Grumley brought the Johnsonburg crowd to life when he fielded a Cameron County punt at his own 41, bolted through a gap in the middle and then accelerated down the right sideline for a touchdown. However, Grumley's potential gametying kick sailed wide right.

Johnsonburg Coach Tom Launer had high praise for Cameron County.

"They dominated us in the first half," Launer said. "They were outstanding defensively." He was especially impressed with the work of Raider nose guard Chad Schatz.

Coach Defilippi said early this season that the Red Raiders' success would hinge on how well they rebounded from the inevitable adversity.

With last week's game as "the one that got away," the true test will come when they try to avenge the loss and extend an already successful season.