BLAIRSVILLE – Over the past several years the Curwensville Area High School football team has mostly traveled north for their away games.
On Friday night the Golden Tide ventured west to scuffle with the Bobcats of Blairsville in both teams’ final regular season contest.
It was certainly worth the change of travel directions for the Tide as it came up with a 45-14 victory to finish the campaign at 7-3.
The Golden Tide wasted little time showing the Bobcats its muscle, as sophomore Nick Stewart took the opening kick-off 85 yards to pay dirt. With Stewart then running in the two-point conversion the Tide were quickly out in front 8-0 with just 13 seconds off of the clock.
Stewart scored again in the first quarter on a 68 yard run, and scored the two-point conversion on a pass from senior signal caller Jake Terry.
End of one quarter, and Curwensville was in control 16-0.
At the 11:55 point of the second frame Stewart scored his third touchdown of the game, this time on a two-yard run, and then added his third two-point conversion making it 24-0 in favor of the Tide.
Terry found the end zone with 3:50 to play in the first half on a two-yard quarterback sneak. Jared Bakaysa added the extra point giving the visitors from Curwensville a commanding 31-0 margin.
With just 37 seconds remaining before the halftime festivities Stewart added his fourth and final TD of the evening on a three yard stroll and the Bakaysa PAT made it 38-0. Stewart ended the night with 127 yards on 13 carries to give him 1500 for the season.
Blairsville finally showed some first half life as it mounted a drive that ended with a 29-yard touchdown strike from sophomore Dakota Sunday to junior Ricky Shirley as the clock struck zero. Billy McKee added the extra point and at the half it was still all Tide, leading 38-7.
The mercy rule came into play with just 3:37 left in the third quarter on a Terry 61-yard bomb to Quamone Newkirk for the score. And after the successful Bakaysa PAT the Tide were up 45-7.
It was the 11th touchdown reception on the year for the senior wide receiver Newkirk.
The Bobcats added a late fourth quarter score on five-yard run by Orahnde Askew with 4:23 to go in the contest. The extra point by McKee set the final at 45-14 in favor of the Tide.
Blairsville ended the 2015 season with a 2-8 record after coming off a great 2014 year, going 11-0 before losing in the District 6 A semi-finals.
Stewart’s four touchdowns gives him a total of 23 on the season.
Curwensville now awaits its next opponent, which will be in the quarter-finals of the District 9 A playoffs, either next Friday or Saturday.
SCORING SUMMARY
CURWENSVILLE 16 22 7 0 45
BLAIRSVILLE 0 7 0 7 14
1st QUARTER
CURW 11:47 85 yard kick-off return by Nick Stewart
Stewart run for two point conversion 8 0
CURW 4:34 68 yard run by Stewart
Jake Terry pass to Stewart two point conversion 16 0
2nd QUARTER
CURW 11:55 2 yard run by Stewart
Stewart run for two point conversion 24 0
CURW 3:50 2 yard run by Terry
PAT by Jared Bakaysa 31 0
CURW :37 3 yard run by Stewart
PAT by Bakaysa 38 0
BLA :00 29 yard pass Dakota Sunday to Ricky Shirley
PAT by Billy McKee 38 7
3rd QUARTER
CURW 3:37 61 yard pass Terry to Quamone Newkirk
PAT by Bakaysa 45 7
4th QUARTER
BLA 4:23 5 yard run by Orahnde Askew
PAT by McKee 45 14
Golden Tide Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 09/04 | PORT ALLEGANY | 55 – 22 | 1 – 0 |
| 09/11 | @ Otto-Eldred | 58 – 20 | 2 – 0 |
| 09/18 | COUDERSPORT | 35 – 0 | 3 – 0 |
| 09/25 | @ Cameron County | 50 – 28 | 4 – 0 |
| 10/03 | @ Elk County Catholic | 8 – 12 | 4 – 1 |
| 10/09 | REDBANK VALLEY | 44 – 30 | 5 – 1 |
| 10/16 | @ Kane | 6 – 35 | 5 – 2 |
| 10/23 | BROCKWAY | 14 – 24 | 5 – 3 |
| 10/30 | @ Ridgway | 26 – 20 | 6 – 3 |
| 11/06 | ‘@ Blairsville | 45 – 14 | 7 – 3 |
| 11/13 | D9 Playoffs – TBD |