RIDGWAY – It was a game that will go a long way to determine the seeding in the upcoming District 9 Class A playoffs that begin the first weekend in November.
After 48 minutes of play Friday night in Ridgway it was the Elkers getting the upper hand in a 28-0 victory over Curwensville.
Ridgway is now 6-1 on the year with five shutouts.
The Golden Tide have dropped three straight games and have fallen to 4-3 on the 2016 season.
Curwensville received the opening kick-off and appeared to have everything working on its first drive of the evening.
Starting at their own 30 yard line, the Tide, aided by two 15-yard Ridgway penalties, drove down to the Elker 20 yard line, only to fumble and end a possession with no points that used 5:44 of the first quarter clock.
It just never seemed the same for Curwensville for the remainder of the game as the Elkers immediately drove down for a four yard touchdown run by Neil MacDonald. The extra point was missed but Ridgway had a 6-0 lead. It was a lead that would stand up all night long.
Ridgway had its best offensive quarter in the second 12 minutes, scoring twice, one on another 4 yard MacDonald run and one on a one yard dive by Jacob Zimmerman.
After the MacDonald touchdown Elker sophomore quarterback Johnny Mitchell completed a pass to Andy Brier for the two point conversion.
Jonathan Francis tacked on the point after following the TD by Zimmerman and the Elkers took a 21-0 lead into halftime on homecoming night in Ridgway.
The only score in the second half came in the fourth quarter when MacDonald found the end zone for the third time with a six yard run. Francis added the extra point.
Curwensville’s deepest drive came in the second half when it drove down to the Ridgway 10 yard line but turned the ball over on downs.
The deep drive into Ridgway territory was set up by a screen pass from Tide quarterback Bryce Timko to Nick Stewart that went for 60 plus yards, the biggest play of the night for Curwensville. otherwise, Stewart was held to just 50 yards rushing on 20 carries.
After two straight weeks on the road the Tide will be at home next Friday to play the Elk County Catholic (ECC) Crusaders. ECC is 5-2 on the year after losing 30-25 to unbeaten Brockway (7-0) Friday night in St. Mary’s.
The Tide and Crusaders will kick-off at 7 pm at Riverside Stadium.
Listen to Curwensville-Elk County Catholic Friday on WOKW-FM, 102.9, with the pre-game show beginning at 6:40 pm.
SCORING SUMMARY
CURWENSVILLE 0 0 0 0 0
RIDGWAY 6 15 0 7 28
1st QUARTER
RIDG 4:35 Neil MacDonald four yard run. PAT failed 0 6
2nd QUARTER
RIDG 9:32 MacDonald four yard run. Johnny Mitchell pass to Andy Breier – two pt conversion 0 14
RIDG 3:08 Jacob Zimmerman one yard run. Jonathan Francis PAT 0 21
4th QUARTER
RIDG 10:45 MacDonald six yard run. Francis PAT 0 28
Golden Tide Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 08/26 | CAMERON COUNTY | 37 – 20 | 1 – 0 |
| 09/02 | SMETHPORT | 41 – 21 | 2 – 0 |
| 09/10 | @ Sheffield | 43 – 0 | 3 – 0 |
| 09/16 | PORT ALLEGANY | 63 – 6 | 4 – 0 |
| 09/23 | KANE | 12- 43 | 4 – 1 |
| 09/30 | @ Brockway | 20 – 56 | 4 – 2 |
| 10/07 | @ Ridgway | 0 – 28 | 4 – 3 |
| 10/14 | ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC | ||
| 10/21 | @ Bradford |
