CURWENSVILLE – With constantly decent field position throughout most of the contest, Elk County Catholic (ECC) opened the 2018 high school football season with a convincing 34-14 victory over Curwensville Friday night at Riverside Stadium in Curwensville.
It was the fourth time in the last five years that the Crusaders have defeated the Golden Tide under head coach Tony Gerg.
Sophomore ECC quarterback Mason McAllister hit Leo Gregory on a 30 yard scoring strike to open the scoring with 4:41 to go in the first quarter that gave the Crusaders a lead they would never lose. Gregory also added the PAT.
Curwensville, struggling a bit on offense, didn’t get its initial first down until 9:35 of the second frame.
And a little over four minutes later Elk County Catholic was on the board once again. This time on a five yard run by Stephen Bobby as Gregory once again added the point after.
However, the Golden Tide would make a game of it before the first 24 minutes ended as senior quarterback Noah Von Gunden tossed a 21 yard TD pass to sophomore wide receiver Jake McCracken. Freshman kicker Jacob Mullins tacked on the extra point and at the half it was a ball game, with ECC leading just 14-7.
Curwensville received the second half kick off with hopes of keeping the momentum going it had gained at the end of the first half. But that didn’t happen, as the Tide just couldn’t get into any type of offensive rhythm.
The lone score in the third quarter was an 18 yard touchdown pass from McAllister to Hunter Cashmer with Gregory this time having his PAT attempt blocked.
ECC put the game out of reach when it scored the first two TDs of the fourth quarter on two runs by Bobby. One a 20 yard trip and the other a 41 yard scamper. Bobby ended the evening with 166 yards rushing. Gregory added the two PATs and with 3:22 remaining it was all Crusaders at 34-7.
The Tide’s Blake Passarelli, a senior who finished the night with 89 yards on seven carries, scored the final touchdown of the evening on a 15 yard run with just 2:55 left in the season opener. Mullins tacked on the extra point to set the final at 34-14 in favor of the visitors from St. Marys.
This was the first game for both teams in the newly formed District 9 Small School South Division. The four other South Division teams are Clarion-Limestone, Keystone, Redbank Valley and Union/AC Valley.
The District 9 Small School North Division consists of Cameron County, Coudersport, Otto-Eldred, Port Allegany, Sheffield and Smethport.
The Tide travel to Emporium next Saturday night for a battle with Cameron County at 7 pm. Coudersport dismantled Cameron County Friday night, 71-0.
Listen to Curwensville football on WOKW-FM, 102.9, starting with the pre-game show at 6:45 pm.
SCORING SUMMARY
ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 7 7 6 14 34
CURWENSVILLE 0 7 0 7 14
1ST QUARTER
ECC 4:41 Mason McAllister 30 yard pass to Leo Gregory
Gregory PAT 0 7
2ND QUARTER
ECC 5:03 5 yard run by Stephen Bobby
Gregory PAT 0 14
CURW 3:28 Noah Von Gunden 21 yard pas to Jake McCracken
Jacob Mullins PAT 7 14
3RD QUARTER
ECC McAllister 18 yard pass to Hunter Cashmer
PAT attempt blocked 7 20
4TH QUARTER
ECC 9:23 20 yard run by Bobby
Gregory PAT 7 27
ECC 3:22 41 yard run by Bobby
Gregory PAT 7 34
CURW 2:55 15 yard run by Blake Passarelli
Mullins PAT 14 34
