In the heart of Irwin, the 2024 high school football season for Penn Cambria was nothing short of extraordinary. The Panthers, having achieved the school's first District 6 football championship and reaching the PIAA football semifinals, entered Friday night's PIAA Class 3A semifinal clash with high hopes. However, they faced a formidable opponent in Avonworth.

Avonworth's Dominance on a Snowy Night

Avonworth junior scatback Luca Neal proved to be the difference-maker. Rushing for an astonishing 261 yards on 27 carries and scoring two second-half touchdowns, Neal led Avonworth to a 16-6 victory. His 65-yard touchdown run with 4:39 left in the third quarter gave Avonworth a 9-6 lead that they never relinquished. Neal's quickness and speed out of the wildcat formation were too much for the Panthers to handle, particularly in the second half.

His older brother, Nico, a senior, joined him in the Avonworth backfield, forming a potent 1-2 running tandem. "Our linemen all did their jobs tonight and I got some awesome blocks, and hit the holes," said Neal. "Getting to the state championship game doesn't feel real. It feels super special getting the chance to play in the game with my brother."

Defense Shines for Avonworth

Avonworth's defense also played a crucial role. After blanking Central Valley in last Saturday's WPIAL championship game, they continued to perform at a high level. An interception by junior defensive back Blake Lilly near the goal line with 9:16 left in the game kept Penn Cambria's hopes alive. But Avonworth eventually drove 82 yards in just six plays with Luca Neal's 2-yard scoring run being the final blow.

"Our kids are resilient and physical, and that last drive sealed the deal for us," said Avonworth coach Duke Johncour.

Penn Cambria's Valuable Season

Despite the loss, Penn Cambria's 2024 campaign was nothing to be ashamed of. The Panthers put together a 14-1 record and set a new standard for football at the school.

Senior standout Gavin Harrold accounted for the Panthers' only points of the night with a 62-yard touchdown run. "The outside was wide open," Harrold said. "A lot of guys made some great blocks to allow me to go the whole way."

Penn Cambria quarterback Brady Jones also expressed his pride in the team's achievements. "We battled tonight, and we can't hang our heads. This game came down to a couple more big plays that they made. We created a legacy, and set a standard at Penn Cambria this season."

Senior running back/linebacker Mason Mento echoed these sentiments. "I know it didn't end well tonight, but we had an amazing season. We did some things this year that no football team at our school has ever done. I'll never forget this."

Notable moments included sophomore linebacker Bryce Metz recovering a fumble for Avonworth, which has allowed a total of only 12 points in its last three playoff games. Northwestern Lehigh advanced to the state title game by winning its 3A semifinal Friday night over Danville, 31-14.Records show Penn Cambria finished with a 14-1 record, while Avonworth ended the season at 12-3. Next week, Avonworth will meet Northwestern Lehigh in the PIAA Class 3A championship game.TEAM STATISTICSPenn Cambria: First downs - 7, Total yards - 202, Rushes-yards - 29-160, Yards passing - 42, Passing (comp.-att.-int.) - 6-11-0, Punts/avg. - 4-29, Fumbles-lost - 2-1, Penalties-yards - 6-35Avonworth: First downs - 17, Total yards - 376, Rushes-yards - 46-335, Yards passing - 41, Passing (comp.-att.-int.) - 4-9-1, Punts/avg. - 2-39.5, Fumbles-lost - 1-0, Penalties-yards - 9-55INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING – Penn Cambria: Harrold 11-93, Mento 6-28, Mento 6-28, Plunkett 6-21. Avonworth: L. Neal 27-261, N. Neal 17-60, Dellinger 1-8, Velisaris 1-6.PASSING – Penn Cambria: Jones 6-11-0-42. Avonworth: Bellinger 4-9-1-41.RECEIVING – Penn Cambria: Harrold 4-11, Vinglish 2-31. Avonworth: Goetz 1-12, Harding 1-10, Scharding 1-0, Krull 1-9.