Redbank Valley's speed too much for Cambridge Springs to handle in PIAA Class 1A playoff

MEADVILLE ― District 9 has never experienced a champion over the PIAA football tournament's 35-year history.

The 2023 Redbank Valley Bulldogs, based on Friday's performance against Cambridge Springs, could be that unprecedented team.

Redbank Valley used a spread offense to create breaks on offense during the teams' Class 1A quarterfinal.

Conversely, its defense also took advantage of the Blue Devils' mistakes for some generous drive starts.

Mesh those factors, and it's understandable why mercy rules were invokved for the second half of the Bulldogs' 44-0 victory at Meadville's Bender Field.

The one-sided loss concluded Cambridge Springs' otherwise spectacular 12-2 season. The Blue Devils, who competed in the PIAA's inaugural 1A final in 1988, participated in state play for the first time since 1996.

That's also the last year they were a district titlist.

"I'm super proud of these boys," Cambridge Springs coach Nate Liberty said. "They came together all year and they fought together all year. This game right here, we've got to use it as a teaching tool for the underclassmen if we want to get to (Redbank Valley's) level."

Redbank Valley (12-1) will face Fort Cherry, the WPIAL champion, come next weekend's state semifinals. Should the Bulldogs win, they'd advance to a 1A state final for the second time in three seasons.

Bishop Guilfoyle beat Redbank Valley 21-14 in that 2021 game at Hersheypark Stadium. Those Bulldogs were District 9's third team that vied for a PIAA title and the first since Smethport (1A) in 1992.

Patience no virtue for Blue Devils

Redbank Valley (12-1) contained Cambridge Springs to 107 yards in total offense. The Bulldogs also blanked an opponent that averaged 40 points per game.

"We were so happy to get a shutout," Redbank Valley coach Blane Gold said. "We believe defense wins championships, and the main statistic we look at is scoring defense. You can look at yardage, but for us it's keeping teams out of the end zone."

"Obviously, we did a good job of that (Friday)."

Quarterback Braylon Wagner, out with an injury for Redbank Valley's 26-7 victory vs. Port Allegany in District 9's 1A final, was efficient in his return behind center. He passed for four touchdowns amid his 203 yards.

Ashton Kahle accounted for two of those scoring receptions. He's the Bulldogs' first receiver to exceed 1,000 yards in a single season.

"We know there's times where we're not going to outmuscle guys," Gold said, "so we try to put our guys in the best positions possible to use their speed to their advantage. In high school football now, you see teams defer (receiving) the opening kickoff. Not us. We want to score and we want to get up early on teams."

Drew Byers also rushed for two touchdowns for Redbank Valley, which led 14-0 after the first quarter.

That early deficit was the Blue Devils' worst-case scenario, according to Liberty.

"Our M.O. all year has been coming slow out of the gate," he said. "We preached all week to the kids, 'You can't wait until the second quarter with this team. They're too explosive.'"

"Hopefully, we'll learn from this, come back and fight next year."

Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Redbank Valley runs away from Cambridge Springs for PIAA playoff win