Raiders pitch another shutout

Tom Jack (far right) led a pack of Red Raider tacklers who took care of business during last week's win, yet another shutout for Cameron County.

Cameron County moved closer to its upcoming Allegheny Mountain Football League championship showdown with Kane, putting on yet another dominating defensive performance against visiting Elk County Catholic.

The Crusaders' offensive starters finished with negative yardage in the Red Raiders' 37-0 win. Four of Cameron County's wins have been shutouts.

ECC standout running back Eric Mastrogiacomo finished with negative 10 yards on 17 carries. The hosts also picked off three Crusader passes.

"Our defense played very well," Raider coach Tony Defilippi said. "Any time you shut someone out, you're doing something right. Our offensive line also controlled things when we had the ball."

Defilippi saw that the visitors were stacking their defense to stop Cameron County's versatile running game, so he sprinkled in some pass plays. Jordan Crane found Sean McManigle three times, including a touchdown strike.

Three first-half turnovers by the Red Raiders (7-0) kept the game from being a blowout until after the intermission.

"We played a lot better offensively in the second half and found a way to make some things happen," Defilippi said.

Cameron County finally broke a scoreless tie on its third possession. After Crane scrambled for a nine-yard gain, Abram Zoschg ripped off a 64- yard touchdown run on a trap play. Crane's 21-yard pass to McManigle set up Zoschg's four-yard TD run on the Raiders' next possession.

Darrick Mason's fumble recovery set up a 59-yard drive that included pass receptions by McManigle and Taylor Songer. Crane then found Cameron Clingan on his knees in the front right corner of the end zone and fired a TD pass, upping the score to 18-0.

After the intermission, Jarek Holjencin and Marcus Mullens sacked Mastrogiacomo in shotgun formation to force a punt that set up Crane's 26- yard touchdown pass to a sprinting McManigle, who won a wrestling match for the ball in the end zone.

Charlie Holjencin's second pass interception of the night set up Clingan five-yard touchdown run. Holjencin's kick made the score 31-0.

Two plays later, Mike Baker intercepted a pass and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown.

The Raiders head over to Sheffield to face the feckless Wolverines Saturday afternoon at 1:30. They meet a shorthanded Johnsonburg team in the regular season finale next Friday in the Paper City, followed by the AMFLchampionship game the following weekend against Kane.

Defilippi said his boys are not about to rest on their laurels.

"We're excited about being 7-0, but at the same time we have to keep working," he said.

AML Standings

North: Cameron County 7-0, Coudersport 6-1, Port Allegany 4- 3, Sheffield 1-6, Otto-Eldred 1-6, Smethport 1-6.

South: Kane 7-0, Brocjway 5- 2, Ridgway 4-3, Elk County Catholic 3-4, Curwensville 2-5, Johnsonburg 1-6.