CURWENSVILLE – It was showdown time Friday night at Riverside Stadium in Curwensville for the lead in the South Division of the Allegheny Mountain League (AML) between Curwensville and visiting Kane.
Both squads came in unbeaten at 4-0.
One remains unbeaten and the other needs to regroup for next weeks action.
When the key battle ended it was the Kane Wolves coming up with a strong second half to win 43-12.
The Wolves picked up the first points of the game, on a safety, when Tide punter Zach Marshall was tackled in the end zone after a high snap with 7:04 to go in the first quarter.
On Curwensville’s next possession another errant punt attempt gave Kane great field position deep in Golden Tide territory were Austin Labesky eventually found the end zone on a 11 yard run with Joe Johnson tacking on the extra point with 1:53 left before the second twelve minutes.
Kane moved into the second quarter up 9-0, a score that remained that way up to the intermission.
A 34 point second half explosion fueled Kane to up it’s record to 5-0 and maintain a share of the AML South Division lead.
On Kane’s first offensive position of the third quarter Erik DeLong went 44 yards to pay dirt on first down. Johnson’s PAT had the Wolves up 16-0 with 8:39 left in the third.
Curwensville showed poise and mounted a touchdown drive of it’s own to make the game a little more interesting as junior running back Nick Stewart took it 11 yards to the end zone at the 3:20 mark.
The Tide’s attempt for two failed but now only trailed 16-6.
Unfortunately the Wolves would score the next three touchdowns to ice the game.
Before the final seconds of the third frame Kane running back Frank Truden scored from 13 yards out with Johnson adding the PAT and giving the Wolves a commanding 23-6.
The first two scores of the final quarter belonged to Kane as DeLong went 15 yards for a score and quarterback Reed Williams throwing to Davis Gardner on a 35 yard TD pass.
Johnson made one of two PAT attempts but Kane basically iced the game at that point with a 36-6 margin and just 5:26 left before the final gun.
Tide senior running back, Kaleb Witherite, added a one yard score with 1:56 to go. The extra point attempt failed.
The Wolves added a final touchdown with just 51 seconds left on a 53 yard Truden scamper and Johnson adding the PAT.
The Golden Tide, now 4-1, travel next Friday when it plays at Brockway against the Rovers.
Brockway also moved to 5-0 on the year by beating previously unbeaten Ridgway Friday night 36-16.
Fans are reminded that kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm.
Listen to the Curwensville – Brockway game on WOKW, 102.9, with the pre-game show starting at 7:10 pm.
SCORING SUMMARY
KANE 9 0 14 20 43
CURWENSVILLE 0 0 6 6 12
KANE CURW
1ST QUARTER
KANE 7:04 Zach Marshall tackled in end zone for safety 2 0
KANE 1:53 Austin Labesky 11 yard run
Joe Johnson PAT 9 0
2ND QUARTER
NO SCORING
3RD QUARTER
KANE 8:39 Erik DeLong 44 yard run
Jonson PAT 16 0
CURW 3:20 Nick Stewart 11 yard run
Two point conversion attempt failed 16 6
KANE 1:27 Frank Truden 13 yard run
Johnson PAT 23 6
4TH QUARTER
KANE 8:28 DeLong 15 yard run
PAT failed 29 6
KANE 5:26 35 yard pass Reed Williams to Davis Gardner
Johnson PAT 36 6
CURW 1:56 Kaleb Witherite 1 yard run
PAT failed 36 12
KANE 0:51 Truden 53 yard run
Johnson PAT 43 12
