CURWENSVLLE – Coming into Friday night’s road game at Riverside Stadium against Curwensville, the Smethport High School football team looked to stay unbeaten and stay atop of the District 9 Small School North Division.
The Hubbers did just that on both counts, knocking off the Golden Tide by a score of 20-7 and in the process breaking a 12 game losing streak against Curwensville dating back to the 2001 season when the Hubbers defeated the Tide in the Allegany Mountain League title game 27-14.
Smethport is now 4-0 with the victory while the Tide saw its record go to even, at 2-2.
The Hubbers drew first blood in the “grind it out” contest on a 41 yard run by its big bruising running back, Blake Kinner, a 6’3” 215 pound senior, with 9:44 of the first quarter.
The extra point attempt by Noah Costa was good and Smethport had a 7-0 advantage heading into the second frame.
Smethport scored what turned out to be the game winner with 10:20 remaining in the first half on a short three yard pass from quarterback Grant Ogden to sophomore Braedon Johnson. The extra point kick by Costa was good and the Hubbers had a two touchdown edge over the Tide at 14-0.
The Tide then made a game out it at the 6:02 point of the second quarter when senior running back Cole Bressler rambled 35 yards to pay dirt to keep Curwensville’s victory hopes alive and well.
Freshman Jacob Mullins was perfect on the extra point attempt and at the half it was just a touchdown lead for Smethport, 14-7.
The Tide received the second half kick-off, but as it did throughout the second 24 minutes, its offense just couldn’t find much success against a tough Hubber defense.
For whatever reason, Smethport decided to go with freshman quarterback Noah Lent most of the third quarter and the back-up QB didn’t disappoint the Hubber faithful in attendance, scoring on a four yard run with just 55 seconds left before the final quarter.
The extra point attempt by Costa was blocked and the final score was set at 20-7 in favor of Smethport as the fourth quarter was a scoreless one.
Kinner ended the night for the Hubbers with 171 rushing yards on 13 carries.
For Curwensville on the year placekicker Mullins is a perfect eight of eight on PAT’s.
Curwensville returns to the road on Friday with a trip to Keystone to play the Panthers in a District 9 Small School South Division game.
This will be the first meeting ever between the two schools.
Keystone is 2-2 on the 2018 season after blanking Cameron County Friday night 46-0.
Listen to the Golden Tide-Panther contest on WOKW-FM, 102.9, with the pre-game show starting at 6:40 pm with the kick-off set for 7 pm.
SCORING SUMMARY
SMETHPORT 7 7 6 0 20
CURWENSVILLE 0 7 0 0 7
1ST QUARTER
SMTHP 9:44 41 yard run by Blake Kinner, Noah Costa PAT 0 7
2ND QUARTER
SMTHP 10:20 Grant Ogden three yard pass to Braedon Johnson, Costa PAT 0 14
CURW 6:02 Cole Bressler 35 yard run, Jacob Mullins PAT 7 14
3RD QUARTER
SMTHP :55 Noah Lent four yard run, PAT attempt blocked 7 20