CURWENSVILLE – As the second season of high school football gets underway in the form of the District IX Class A playoffs, the Curwensville Area squad is feeling a little like the season is just getting started. The Golden Tide hasn’t suited up against an opponent since October 21 when they defeated Elk County Catholic 38-6 in what turned out to be the final regular season game. After three weeks of being idle, Curwensville will travel to Coudersport to battle the 8-1 Falcons.
“It’s really good to be preparing for a game this weekend,” said Tide coach Andy Evanko. “There’s been focus and purpose in practice this week because there was a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Curwensville enters district play as the AML’s fourth seed while the Falcons stand in the league’s second spot. Other bracket fillers include the KSAC’s top team in Clarion playing the eighth seeded Elk County Catholic; Port Allegany, the AML’s top seed, meets Union, and the KSAC runner-up, Redbank Valley hosts number AML’s number three in Brockway.
In a season that seemed to have Curwensville playing for a playoff spot every week, the Golden Tide isn’t being picky about their opponent, but is simply feeling fortunate for the experience.
“We’re just glad to be there,” said Evanko about the brackets. “Where we’re at is where we’re at. We are just glad to be able to participate.”
A quick look at the scores of both teams shows many common opponents. Curwensville’s second loss was a 17-12 dip against Brockway while the Falcons topped the Rovers 21-10. In all, however, Coudy played only three teams with a winning record for the season, but the Tide met with just four teams who ended better than .500.
Perhaps the one game that showed the Falcons resilience was against Sheffield. The game went to overtime and ended with a 7-6 Coudersport win – but a win with cost. Coudersport star running back Caden Whitman’s season ended in the game with a broken leg. Starting quarterback Tim McCusker was also knocked out of the game and the team picked up the win. McCusker would return for the next game.
“You don’t get to be 8-1 by accident,” Evanko said of the Falcons. “Being able to accomplish that without one of their top players is outstanding. They’re a good football team and are not 8-1 by chance.”
Whitman had amassed 476 yards in five games before his injury. Since that time Mitch Freeman has become the premier back and has handled the ball 145 on the season for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns. McCusker has run the ball 21 times and gained 91 yards with a single rushing score with Jason Gibson also covering 66 yards on 19 carries.
McCusker and Gibson have shared the passing duties. McCusker has thrown the ball 97 times, connecting on 34 passes for 536 yards with eight TD’s and five interceptions. Gibson has found his target 6-of-11 times for one score and two picks.
The top receiver for the Falcons is Gibson who has 19 grabs foe 257 yards and two scores. Alex Hutcheson is also a threat with seven receptions for 144 yards and four touchdowns.
“They obviously want to run the ball, but the loss of Whitman has forced a good blend of pass and run,” mentioned Evanko. “They have a good line up front, a good quarterback and receivers for us to be leery of.
“Defensively, they don’t give up a lot of points, and the linebackers are some of the best we’ll face.”
Coudersport has held five opponents to seven or less points this season, and before the last two weeks no foe has scored more than 13 points in a game. Last time out the Falcons gave up 49 points to the Gators, and Otto-Eldred managed 26 points before that.
“They are very stingy as a defensive team,” said Evanko. “We have to dust off the cobwebs quickly after the two-hour trip and be ready to play.”
The Golden Tide has liked to run the ball this year as well – for the most part, on the legs of senior Alex Holland. Holland has carried the ball 263 times this season for 2038 yards and 24 touchdowns. His support group consists of juniors Josh Greslick and Brad Coudriet. Greslick has relieved Holland 31 times for 182 yards and two scores while Coudriet has handles the rushing duties 24 times for 116 yards and two scores.
Sophomore quarterback Hunter McCracken has thrown the ball 86 times and connected on 40 of those for 634 yards with five TD’s and seven interceptions.
The leading receivers for the Tide are Jesse Zorger and Jordan Russell. Zorger has 21 catches for four scores and 390 yards. Russell has covered 209 yards and a touchdown on 14 receptions.
Defensively, both teams have 11 interceptions on the season. Zorger has four for the Tide while Kyle Johns has added three. The Falcons’ Forest Tuttle has made life miserable for quarterbacks all season with six sacks.
The weather for Friday night in Coudersport is supposed to be cold and windy to make the game even more interesting.
The winner of Friday night’s game between the Tide and the Falcons will have the winner of the Clarion – ECC game. Next week’s contests will be at neutral sites to be determined after the outcomes. Kick-off in Coudersport is set for 7:00 p.m.