Citizen Staff/Jim Kelsh
Hustisford quarterback Austin Neu (12) launches a touchdown pass during Friday's victory.
CAMBRIA — As Austin Neu relished the cake on his 18th birthday Friday night, it was Wade Falkenthal that provided the icing.
Neu was dazzling after spending the week on crutches with a high ankle sprain. He threw for 296 yards before leaping for the game-winning score with 2 minutes, 25 seconds to play.
But you're not likely to see a better play than the gem Falkenthal turned in on the final play of the first half. His 73-yard touchdown reception highlighted his 11-catch, 222-yard night in Hustisford's riveting 26-20 football win at Cambria-Friesland to open Small Trailways play.
"Oh my God," Neu said of the touchdown catch. "That's the best run I've ever seen him have.
"He just wanted it so bad. It was pretty crazy."
Neu rolled to his right to heave the ball to Falkenthal, who slipped behind the Topper secondary.
Not only did Falkenthal make the catch despite being interfered with (crashed into is more like it) but he slipped his way through three C-F defensive backs.
He got his hand down just before his knee hit to keep the play alive. For good measure, he put a move on a final Topper defender to complete the miraculous score.
"I was shocked we ran it," Falkenthal said of the play. "I caught my balance and saw the pylon."
Without its starting offensive backfield due to injury, the Toppers (0-3, 0-1) rallied from a 20-7 halftime deficit to pull even with 8:50 to play. C-F, without eight ineligible players as well, almost overcame four fumbles (two lost) and 12 penalties.
"Of our four kids back there on that play, three of them wouldn't be starting," C-F coach Jim Bylsma said of Falkenthal's score. "We haven't had a practice with our full team yet.
"That's making excuses and I don't want to take anything away from Hustisford. They played a very good ball game."
Led by the gritty Neu, Hustisford (2-1, 1-0) picked up its first win in Cambria since 1991. The Falcons and Toppers have had a hand in every league title but three since that year.
"We bent but we didn't break," Hustisford coach Dan Simon said. "It's been a long time since we won here and it's a win we needed to get."
Neu either healed quickly or adrenaline took over. He completed 7 of 10 passes on the opening drive, capped by a 4-yard bubble screen to Falkenthal.
"Whatever he's on, I wish I was on it," Bylsma said of Neu.
Jose Hernandez, who finished with 111 yards on 10 carries, bolted 65 yards on a counter early in the second quarter to tie the game. Hustisford capitalized immediately on Kyle Pitz's fumble recovery as Neu took the next snap, rolled left and found Falkenthal behind the C-F secondary for a 51-yard strike with 4:26 before halftime.
"I worked really hard with icing and heat this week," Neu said. "I didn't want to miss this."
C-F, despite Neu being inserted defensively, marched down the field in eight plays to open the second half, capped by a 25-yard burst from Hernandez. When the Falcons turned the ball over on downs at the 2, the Toppers marched 98 yards in 14 plays, capped by Jonathan Cupery's 42-yard run. A bad snap led to a missed extra point and the score remained tied at 20.
Neu led the Falcons down the field with the aid of three Topper penalties. He tried to sneak it in up the gut twice before turning the corner with his fourth down leap.
C-F reached the Falcon 37 with its final drive but fumbled on an option play that, fittingly, had a penalty. The Toppers piled up 312 rushing yards but couldn't stay with Hustisford's deadly tandem.
"Austin played great, especially on a bad ankle to scramble around like that," Falkenthal said. "He played a great game."
He's got a pretty good receiver to help him on his way. The Falcons host Randolph next week while C-F should have some reinforcements for Rio's visit.
HUSTISFORD 26, C-F 20
Hustisford 7 13 0 6 - 26
Cambria-Friesland 0 7 7 6 - 20
H - W. Falkenthal 4 pass from Neu (Hildebrandt kick), 1st 06:35
CF - Hernandez 65 run (Klatt kick), 2nd 11:26
H - W. Falkenthal 51 pass from Neu (Hildebrandt kick), 2nd 04:26
H - W. Falkenthal 73 pass from Neu (kick failed), 2nd 00:00
CF - Hernandez 25 run (kick failed), 3rd 08:04
CF - Jon. Cupery 42 run (kick failed), 4th 08:50
H - Neu 1 run (kick failed), 4th 02:25
H CF
First downs 17 13
Total Net Yards 386 321
Rushes-yards 28-90 44-312
Passing 296 9
Comp-Att-Int 19-30-0 1-2-0
Penalties-Yards 7-55 12-80
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 4-2
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS: RUSHING - H, Connolly 7-37. CF, Hernandez 10-111. PASSING - H, Neu 19-30-0-296. CF, Prochnow 1-2-0-9. RECEIVING - H, W. Falkenthal 11-222. CF, Klatt 1-9.