Combs sparks Fort LeBoeuf's comeback win over North East

Source: Erie Times-News, Pa.self storageSept. 28--WATERFORD -- Austin Combs is quickly becoming a household name in Waterford.Combs scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns Friday as Fort LeBoeuf rallied for a thrilling 20-14 Region 4 win over North East in front of a Homecoming crowd of more than 500 at Carm Bonito Field."We just need to keep playing Bison football," Combs said. "We have to stay confident, and who knows, maybe we'll pull off a win next week."Fort LeBoeuf improved to 4-1 overall and 4-0 in Region 4, setting up a showdown in Albion next week against Northwestern. The Wildcats beat Corry 42-7 on Friday to remain in a first-place tie with the Bison.After rallying from a 14-point deficit, Fort LeBoeuf was able to drive down to the North East 20-yard line with 28.4 seconds left. With the game tied 14-14, the Bison lined up for a 30-yard field-goal attempt that had the distance but hooked just left of the goal post.Instead of letting the miss deflate them, the Bison came up big on defense."I think Anthony Rivera stripped the ball, and I saw it lying on the ground," Combs said."I picked it up and was just thinking to run as hard as I could," Combs said.Combs returned the fumble 20 yards for a touchdown to give the Bison an improbable comeback win.Fort LeBoeuf was able to move the ball in the first half, but North East (2-3, 2-2) kept coming up with defensive stops and turnovers. Justin Galvin threw two interceptions in the first half, one that led to a Grapepickers touchdown on the ensuing drive. North East took a 14-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.Galvin earned hmini storages payback in the second half. He led the Bison down the field to start the third quarter, and plowed in from 5 yards out, taking two tacklers with him, to cut the North East lead to 14-7.The Bison defense, led by Nate Conti and Justin Kula, then came up with a huge defensive stop to force a punt late in the fourth quarter. The Bison front seven made itself at home in the North East backfield in the second half as the 'Pickers finished with just 190 yards of total offense.With time running out and Fort LeBoeuf facing third-and-long on its 25-yard line, Galvin threw a 20-yard pass to Combs, who took off for the end zone."We knew time was running out and we wanted to get 15-20 yards," Fort LeBoeuf coach Jeff Nichols said about the 75-yard touchdown. "Austin was able to get behind the defense and Justin threw a great ball. We work on it all the time, and the kids worked hard to come back. They didn't quit, and that's been our motto all year, to play until the end."Garrett Owens led North East with 74 yards on 19 carries, including a 25-yard touchdown, while Brendon Tinko hauled in a 26-yard touchdown pass and had an interception on defense.Cy Carroll paced Fort LeBoeuf with 51 rushing yards, followed by 50 from Combs and 44 from Collin Fish.TOM REISENWEBER can be reached at 870-1707 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNreisenweber. Read the Varsity blog at GoErie.com/blogs/varsity and post comments.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Erie Times-News (Erie, Pa.) Visit the Erie Times-News (Erie, Pa.) at .GoErie.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉