CURWENSVILLE – It was a battle of two mid-season unbeatens Friday night at Riverside Stadium in Curwensville.
When it was over, the Elk County Catholic Crusaders came up with a 20-13 victory over the Curwensville Golden Tide to remain undefeated at 5-0.
The Tide are now 4-1 on the 2014 season after the Allegheny Mountain League South Division battle.
Neither team found the end zone in the first 12 minutes, but the Crusaders scored the lone first half touchdown on a fourth and goal from the Tide 13 on a Mitchell Smith pass to 6’ 5” Ryan Seelye with 6:29 to go before the break. The extra point attempt failed.
Elk County Catholic (ECC) went for the on-side kick to start the second half only to have the ball travel backwards and give Curwensville the ball with great field position at the ECC 37 yard line.
The Tide took advantage of the Crusader blunder and scored with 9:34 left in the third quarter on a one yard run by Nick Stewart. The extra point attempt failed on a high snap to the holder keeping the score at 6-6.
A blocked punt by the Tide’s Seth Sloppy gave Curwensville the ball, once again, with terrific field position at the Crusader 17 yard line.
With 4:54 to go before the fourth quarter would start, Stewart scored from the 2 yard line, putting the Golden Tide in the lead 13-6 after the PAT by Heather Thorp.
ECC would score what proved to be the game winner at the 10:43 mark of the final 12 minutes on a Smith to Dan Singer 33 yard TD toss. The Crusaders’ try for two was good as Smith hit Seelye to give ECC the one point margin at 14-13.
Smith scored with 21 seconds left in the game on a 2 yard run and after the attempt for two was stopped the Crusaders had the 20-13 win.
The Tide are home for the third straight Friday night next week when they play host to St. Joseph’s Academy with kickoff set for 7 pm.
Listen to Curwensville Golden Tide football with the pre-game show starting at 6:45 pm on WOKW-FM, 102.9.
ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 0 6 0 14 20
CURWENSVILLE 0 0 13 0 13
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER
NO SCORE 0 0
2ND QUARTER
ECC 6:29 13 yd pass – Mitchell Smith to Ryan Seelye
PAT attempt failed 0 6
3RD QUARTER
CURW 9:34 1 yard run by Nick Stewart
PAT attempt failed 6 6
CURW 4:54 2 yard run by Stewart
Heather Thorp PAT 13 6
4TH QUARTER
ECC 10:43 33 yard pass – Smith to Dan Singer
2 point conversion – Smith to Seelye pass 13 14
ECC :21 2 yard run by Smith
2 point conversion attempt failed 13 20