Expectations for the Cambridge football team were high entering the season.
Ranked ninth in Division 6, the Blue Jays were dealt a difficult season-opening game against Randolph, a team ranked eighth in Division 7.
The Blue Jays, however, showed why they were deserving of the high ranking, winning 39-8 over the Rockets on Friday, Aug. 23 at Cambridge High School.
“Everyone really wanted the win,” Cambridge football coach Rob Nelles said. “When you’re in position to win conference and you're ranked, it puts a little more pressure on you. We just wanted to see how we responded with it and we responded well.”
In the first quarter, Cambridge struggled with miscues, racking up penalty yards and dropped passes. Randolph took advantage of the sloppy play, taking an 8-0 lead in the first quarter.
Randolph quarterback Levi Kok scored on a 1-yard QB sneak and then Kok converted a 2-point conversion pass to Jared Buwalda to put the Rockets up 8-0.
Cambridge “hung tough” after facing the early deficit. The Blue Jays put together a long scoring drive, converting two third downs and one fourth down to keep the scoring drive going.
Junior running back Owain Nelles then capped off the long drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. The 2-point conversion failed, keeping Randolph in front with an 8-6 lead with five minutes left in the second quarter.
The Rockets, known for a strong rushing attack, looked to put together a long drive to go up two possessions to end the half. Instead, the Cambridge defense forced a punt and got the ball back in their own territory.
After a Randolph sack backed Cambridge into a 2-and-16, Cambridge senior quarterback Matt Buckman completed two passes to junior wide receiver Clayton Stenjem and senior wide receiver Drew Holzhueter for a first down.
After a run by Owain Nelles, Buckman then found senior wide receiver Kiefer Parish open near the Randolph sideline.
Parish made the catch and then blazed past the Randolph defense, scoring a 51-yard touchdown. It was Parish’s second catch of the game after the senior wide receiver had two drops to start the game, including one on a deep pass in the first quarter.
“We worked hard all summer and trusting that,” Parish said about overcoming the drops. “Just trusting the coaches that train me and the weight room that helped me get stronger, so I can push through that and I just had faith in the team.”
Parish then caught Buckman’s 2-point conversion to put Cambridge up 14-6 with 1:11 left in the half. The two teams would trade interceptions to close out the half.
In the second half, Cambridge continued to clean up the mistakes made in the first half. Playing a clean second half, the Blue Jays scored 25 points to roll to a blowout win.
“We just sort of left it as our top players were making some mistakes, and if we eliminate those mistakes, we’ll put some points on the board and stop them,” coach Nelles said on what was said to the team at the half.
The Blue Jays opened the second half with the ball and quickly drove down the field. After Parish had a 37-yard and 6-yard catch, Owain Nelles scored on a 3-yard touchdown run.
“They were just doing their responsibilities,” Owain Nelles said of the Cambridge offensive linemen. “Hitting their guys, making it wide open for me to go right up the middle and score touchdowns.”
The Blue Jays’ defense then stopped the Rockets on fourth down and got the ball back again in Randolph territory. Taking advantage of the field position, Parish caught a screen pass on the first play and raced 30 yards for a touchdown.
Later in the third quarter, Owain Nelles caught a screen pass from Buckman and broke multiple tackles to score a 24-yard touchdown pass. Buckman then scored the sixth and final Cambridge touchdown on a 1-yard QB sneak in the fourth quarter.
The Blue Jays allowed just 116 rushing yards to a Randolph team that averaged 313 rush yards last year.
“You just have to stay home, and listen to your coach and your responsibilities,” Owain Nelles said on the defense. “The biggest thing is staying home, just trusting that they are coming back to you and trusting the other guys to make plays if they are on the other side.”
Randolph’s Ben Paul, who had 1,246 rush yards and 17 touchdowns last year, was held to just 46 rush yards and did not score a touchdown against Cambridge.
“Coach John Strohbusch has been scheming against Randolph for eight months,” coach Nelles said. "He's a big option guy. He knows how to stop the option, and we knew we had to take away (Ben Paul).”
Buckman finished the game 14 of 19 with 232 passing yards and three touchdowns. Buckman also had 25 rushing yards and one touchdown.
Owain Nelles finished the game with 117 receiving and rushing yards with three touchdowns. Holzhueter led the team with 16 tackles. Buckman and junior defensive back Jett Horton each recorded an interception.
Parish caught nine passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Parish complimented the whole team’s performance in the win.
“All the seniors have been trying to get these younger guys to step up. All the juniors and sophomores stepped up (tonight),” Parish said. “That’s what makes this team. The seniors, we have the guys, but those other guys… are making plays too.”
Cambridge (1-0) travels to Cambria-Friesland High School on Friday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. to face the Hilltoppers. The Hilltoppers won 60-8 against Fall River/Rio in week one.
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