No. 1 Cambridge falters vs. OFA in regional final
Indians’ 18-game winning streak snapped as Devils dominate line of scrimmage
After his team suffered a 16-6 regional final loss to Ogdensburg Free Academy under the canopy of cold rain at Potsdam High School, Cambridge/ Salem football coach Doug Luke was asked what part luck played in the outcome of the game.
He answered “We had some fumbles at the wrong time which hurt, but they made their own luck at the line of scrimmage. They beat us up at the line and they didn’t make any big mistakes.”
A strong night in the trenches anchored an OFA defensive effort which limited the previously undefeated and No. 1 state-ranked Indians to a single touchdown on an electrifying 41-yard run by Thomas English with 6:01 left in the game. Cambridge came into the contest riding an 18-game win streak.
The Indians’ hopes to produce a onepossession game were vanquished on a fumbled snap from center and OFA was able to recover an onside kick and run out the clock to advance to next weekend’s state semifinals in Middletown.
“All of our linemen did a great job on offense and defense. We all have assignments and we carried them out very well,” said OFA two-way senior tackle Chris Garcia.
“It was just a great win for our team.” The Devils’ offense and defense established themselves immediately in the contest.
On Cambridge/salem’s first offensive play after the opening kickoff, English was dropped for a 2-yard loss as linebacker Mason Tabolt knifed into the backfield.
Cambridge/salem was forced to punt and OFA answered with a nine-play, 59yard drive climaxed by Stephen Morley forging straight ahead into the end zone from three yards out.
Quarterback Mesean Johnson followed with a two-point conversion pass to wide receiver Jackson Troiano.
Three fumbles stymied the Indians in the first half and the Devils delivered the first of two fourth-down red zone stops and blocked a 24-yard field goal attempt before taking a 16-0 lead with 1:37 remaining in the half. Johnson lofted a rollout pass to Troiano, who outjumped a defensive back for the ball and raced free to the end zone to complete a 56-yard touchdown connection. Johnson followed with a two-point conversion pass to wingback Hayden Ives.
“This game was all about momentum and we just couldn’t sustain momentum when we got it,” said Luke.
“We had some mistakes and they stopped us when they had to. But we had a great year and we had great seniors. I don’t think a lot of people expected us to get this far after moving up to Class C. But we did.”
The Indians’ defense held OFA scoreless in the second half and English (93 yards on 13 carries) and Tyler Linendoll (70 yards on 13 carries) led the offensive effort. Running back Wyatt Kirby provided a major spark for OFA with 102 yards on 17 carries.
“This was just a great victory. I told the guys to embrace the weather and they did,” said OFA coach Matt Tessmer, who led a Devils team to the state final in 2016.
“We got big plays on offense, defense and special teams. Four Section X teams have ever made the Final Four and we are going for the second time in three years.”