CURWENSVILLE – After suffering their first loss of the season last week, the Curwensville Golden Tide football squad returned to its winning ways on Friday night with a convincing 54-20 victory over the Wolves of St. Joe’s Academy from Boalsburg.
It was the first ever visit to Riverside Stadium by St. Joe’s (1-5), who started their football program last year.
The Tide used eight rushing touchdowns to pick up win number five on the season against one defeat.
Junior running back Hunter Johnson scored four times, freshman tailback Nick Stewart added three and sophomore Kaleb Witherite had one.
Curwensville’s defense also had a big night with four interceptions, a fumble recovery and a blocked punt in the non-league rout.
The Tide scored three times in the first quarter on two TD’s by Johnson on 27 and 12 yard runs. Stewart had a 35 yard journey to the end zone and Heather Thorp hit on all three extra point attempts to give Curwensville a 21-0 lead after the first 12 minutes.
St. Joe’s picked up a score with 7:06 remaining in the second quarter on a 16 yard touchdown pass from Mike Kresovich to Mike Jabco on a fourth and goal. The two point conversion attempt failed.
Not holding back, the Golden Tide would put three more scores on the scoreboard before the halftime break essentially putting the game away at 42-6.
Stewart scored from 65 yards and then four minutes later from 50 yards while Johnson added a five yard rushing score with just eight seconds left before intermission. Thorp hit all three extra point attempts.
With a 36 point Curwensville lead to start the third quarter the mercy rule came into play.
Johnson scored the lone touchdown of the third frame on a one yard run while the extra point attempt failed.
St. Joe’s scored twice in the fourth quarter on two more touchdown passes from Kresovich. The first a six yard toss to Elisha Lipscomb and then a 21 yard pass to Jabco.
The Wolves attempt for two failed on the first score, but Kresovich ran into the end zone on the second two point try.
The final score of the night went to sophomore Kaleb Witherite of the Tide on a 10 yard run with 1:11 left in the game.
The two point conversion attempt failed.
The Tide will play the final contest of a four game home set next Friday evening when another Wolves team enters Riverside Stadium. This time it will be Kane as the opponent in a key Allegheny Mountain League South Division encounter as kick off is scheduled for 7 pm. The Wolves are also 5-1 after beating Brockway Friday night, 9-7.
Listen to Curwensville-Kane football on WOKW-FM, 102.9, with the pre-game show starting at 6:45 pm.
ST. JOE’S 0 6 0 14 20
CURWENSVILLE 21 21 6 6 54
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER
CURW 8:54 Hunter Johnson 27 yard run
Heather Thorp PAT 7 0
CURW 5:01 Nick Stewart 35 yard run
Thorp PAT 14 0
CURW :34 Johnson 12 yard run
Thorp PAT 21 0
2ND QUARTER
ST. JOE’S 7:06 16 yard pass Mike Kresovich to Mike Jabco
Two point attempt failed 21 6
CURW 6:45 Stewart 65 yard run
Thorp PAT 28 6
CURW 2:49 Stewart 50 yard run
Thorp PAT 35 6
CURW :08 Johnson 5 yard run
Thorp PAT 42 6
3RD QUARTER
CURW 4:57 Johnson 1 yard run
PAT attempt failed 48 6
4TH QUARTER
ST. JOE’S 11:53 6 yard pass Kresovich to Elisha Lipscomb
Two point attempt failed 48 12
ST. JOE’S 6:25 21 yard pass Kresovich to Jabco
Kresovich run for two point conversion 48 20
CURW 1:11 10 yard run by Kaleb Witherite
Two point attempt failed 54 20