Brockway – Slow and steady appeared to be the game plan for both teams Friday night at Frank Varischetti field in Brockway. When the last confetti rained down it was the Brockway Rovers over the Curwensville Golden Tide 35-20.
In a game that didn\’t see a single pass thrown until late in the 2nd quarter, the Rovers were the first to take the ball down field and the first to score.
Taking consistent 5 and 6 yard bites out of the field on every play and finding 5 consecutive first downs it looked as though the Golden Tide defense just couldn\’t stop the Rover\’s running game. Dillon Park ran the ball in from 6 yards out with 7:17 left in the 1st quarter. With a good kick the Rovers went up 7-0.
Historically the Golden Tide likes to run the ball and tonight was no exception. Looking as good as they have all season the Tide answered back. A methodical charge to the end zone using Cory Bloom (#44) and Ben McGary (#7) ended with a David Kalgren (#16) keeper taken into the end zone from 9 yards out.
With a blocked kick this left the Tide trailing 7-6 near the end of the 1st quarter.
During the Rover\’s second possession it was obvious that Head Coach Andy Evanko made some defensive adjustments. After allowing Park a 30 yard return, the Tide were keeping Park to shorter runs.
The Rovers would prevail on their second possession as well with #5, Camdon Makay, finding the end zone with 6:37 to go in the 2nd half from 6 yards out. And the Rovers expanded their lead by 6.
After a promising 26 yard kick off return by Tide\’s #10, Sam Gardner, the Tide lost the hope of answering back with a second charge down the field on a fumbled pitch to McGary on a 3rd down and 5. This set the Tide back to a 4th and 7 in their own territory with 4 minutes left in the half.
Kicking the ball away the Tide let the Rover\’s Mike Hassan (#24) return the ball 25 yards before bringing him down. With less than 4 minutes on the clock in the 2nd quarter the Rovers opened up their passing game.
With the help of a Tide personal foul and a quick strike offense the Rovers ended their third possession of the game by sending Makay up the middle and into the end zone from 6 yards out.
The kick was good and the Rovers, having scored on each of thier possessions, led the Tide 20-6 with 3:15 left in the half.
Needing a score to stay in the game the Tide moved to a passing game. Kalgren led the Tide in an impressive drive down the field to just inside the 25. With 1:27 to go in the half Kalgren cut back, found a hole, shoved off a defender and took the football in for a much needed touchdown.
Bloom ran in for the two point conversion and the Golden Tide was back in the game, 20-14 with 1:18 left in the half.
Needing to stop a 4th possession score Kalgren picked off a Pentz pass with 14 seconds left in the half.
Overcoming poor field position resulting when the kick off went between Gardner\’s legs and was picked up at the 2 yard line by Greslick and taken out to the 10, the Tide fought back to near midfield. The ball was on the Tide\’s 47, 3rd down and 9 when Kalgren fumbled the ball forward. Brockway recovered at their own 48 and 6 plays later Fortunato took the pigskin in from the 1 yard line.
Park took the ball in for 2 points making the score 28-14 with 4:08 left in the 3rd quarter.
Despite McGary\’s running efforts taking the Tide down field they couldn\’t come up with the necessary score to stay in the game. With a Kevin Matthews (#55) sack on Kalgren on a 4th and 15 the Rovers took over at their own 20 yard line with 44 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.
The Rovers followed with their first really poor drive of the night. On a 4th and 2 and just under 12 minutes to go in the 4th quarter a botched Parks punt left the Tide with great field position.
The Tide capitalized on their great field position. Using the speed of Greslick and Opalisky the Tide moved to the 10 yard line where McGary ran right up the middle to make the score 28-20. Hopes of getting within a touch down of a win were broken up on a missed 2 point conversion with 9:19 left in the game.
What the Tide needed now was a big defensive play and on the next possession they found it. Park fumbled the ball and the Tide recovered at their own 48. But Kalgren returned the favor after fighting to the Rover\’s 18 yard line and fumbled the ball on a bad pitch to McGary. Brockway took over at the Tide 22 yard line.
Finishing off the night with a 65 yard run for the Rovers, Makay sealed the win in the last minute of the game. A good extra point attempt left the score Brockway 35 – Golden Tide 20.