MARION CENTER–With a strong wind at their backs and an equally strong defense up front, Blairsville’s Bobcats blew away a seven-point deficit Saturday, earning a fourth-quarter 17-14 win at Marion Center. The victory over a class AA team guaranteed Blairsville (5-2) its first winning season since 1997 and improved its playoff potential. The Bobcats will look to enhance their record further as they welcome Ligonier Valley (1-6) tonight. Marion Center, which fell to 5-2, will have another home stand tomorrow against Homer-Center, also 5-2. Taking advantage of the windy conditions on Marion Center’s Hill, the Bobcats kept their Stinger hosts bottled up behind their own 40 yard line for most of the final period. ‘Special teams played a key role for us,’ Blairsville Coach Ab Dettorre noted. ‘Our punts were outstanding.’ Bobcat Rich Oswald averaged 37.5 yards on his four punts–including 53- and 49-yard efforts in the fourth quarter, both from bad snaps. ‘We had a lot of time,’ Dettorre noted. ‘The guys up front did the job on special teams. There was no penetration.’ ‘I have to give their punter credit,’ Marion Center Coach Dave Malicky said of the Cats. ‘The field position was big.’ ‘They had the fourth quarter wind, but that certainly didn’t win them the ball game,’ Malicky added. Blairsville capitalized on its good field position, closing the point gap and then moving ahead. An 18-yard punt into the wind by Stinger Jacob Kallal placed the Bobcats at Marion Center’s 46 yard line five minutes into the fourth quarter. Blairsville quarterback Casey Austin ran the option over right for a 19-yard gain and a first down at the MC 27. A nine-yard setback in the drive resulted when Jay Boone took the next handoff. Scrambling to salvage the play amid pursuing Stingers, he passed the ball back to Austin. Then Austin connected on a bomb to Matt Rebovich, who took in the 36-yard touchdown with 5:26 left to play. Bobcat Kevin Garland, who has provided points reliably for his team all season, kicked a misfired snap between the uprights, tying the score at 14-14. With just 21 seconds remaining on the clock, Garland gave the ball just enough lift to again cross the goal post, for the winning 21-yard field goal. ‘Our PAT game has been outstanding all year,’ Dettorre said. Holder Nick Dettorre also earned praise from his father for corralling some misguided snaps. On the final play of the game, Marion Center almost staged a comeback. Amid a cluster of potential receivers from both teams, Stinger Brian Haldin came down with a 39-yard pass from his quarterback, Mike Hill. But he was driven out of bounds at the Blairsville 17. Blairsville started the game with a strong drive, advancing from its own 37 yard line to the Marion Center 5 in a dozen plays. Rebovich, Austin, Boone and Rich Munsell all contributed yardage on the ground. Austin also completed a 10-yard screen pass to Rebovich. But Austin was then hit by Kallal, for a three-yard loss. His following pass attempt was snagged by the Stingers, setting up Marion Center’s initial touchdown. It was the first of two interceptions for Austin, both grabbed by Hill. The second pick-off stopped the Cats in their tracks at the top of the third quarter, soon after they crossed into enemy territory. Before any damage was done, Marion Center fumbled the ball back to the Bobcats. That wasn’t the case in the first quarter–when the Stingers cashed in the turnover, despite starting out at their own one yard line. Luke Sitosky contributed three carries to the drive, for a total of 13 yards and fellow running back Mitch Receski took a handoff for four yards. Blairsville drew a personal foul penalty, helping Marion Center to a first down at the MC 34. Then Receski broke away for a 66-yard touchdown. With 15 seconds left in the period, Hill’s two-point pass found its mark in the hands of Haldin, placing the Stingers on the board with eight points. Marion Center’s next possession ended with Kallal punting from the Stingers’ 12 yard line, after his team incurred a five yard penalty. Rebovich fielded the ball, returning it to the MC one yard line. He followed up on the opportunity, carrying the ball over the goal line. Garland provided the PAT, narrowing the gap to 8-7 with 8:11 remaining in the first half. Rebovich’s punt return was ‘awesome,’ Dettorre said, with his teammates providing good protection. Marion Center immediately responded with its second touchdown, on a 12-play series beginning from the MC 46. Sitosky and Receski shared rushing duties, with Hill contributing two short runs for first downs. Sitosky capped the drive with a two-yard TD run. Munsell broke up Hill’s two-point pass attempt.

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