COUDERSPORT – In a road statement game, the Curwensville Golden Tide High School football team did just that in downing the Falcons of Coudersport 14-6 in a District 9 crossover game.
The Tide defense was more than up to the challenge against a Falcon team that came in averaging 48.6 points per game and had scored 71 against Cameron County and 61 each versus Sheffield and Port Allegany.
Curwensville now improves to 4-2 in the District 9 Small School South Division while Coudersport drops to 4-2 in the North Division.
In this low scoring contest Curwensville struck first, thanks to a bad snap on a Falcon punt that gave the ball to the Tide at the Coudersport 30 yard line.
Blake Passarelli found the end zone from 15 yards out a few plays later at the 6:33 mark of the first quarter and the successful PAT attempt was tacked on by Jacob Mullins that gave Curwensville a 7-0 margin.
Passarelli ended up leading the Tide in rushing, gaining 48 yards on 14 carries. Cole Bressler tacked on 45 yards on 13 carries.
The next quarter and half found neither squad able to mount a serious offensive threat, and the first half ended with the Golden Tide hanging on to its one touchdown lead.
Curwensville was scheduled to receive the second half kick-off and it sure made it worthwhile as sophomore Jake McCracken traveled 85 yards to pay dirt that pushed the Tide lead to 14-0 after senior Madison Weber was good with her PAT attempt.
Coudersport finally found the end zone when senior running back and team leading rusher Stephen Kelly went across the goal line on a seven yard run with 4:16 to play in the game. Kelly was the leading ground gainer for the game, totaling 63 yards on 24 rushes.
The Falcons went for the two point conversion but came up short as Curwensville pulled out the big win.
The Golden Tide have now defeated Coudersport six straight times, dating back to 2012. The Falcons, however, lead the series between the two schools 13-9.
After two straight weeks on the road the Golden Tide return home to Riverside Stadium on Friday to play Redbank Valley with kick-off set for 7 pm. The Bulldogs lost for the second straight week on Friday evening, this time to Smethport 20-7, and dropped to 4-2 on the year.
As always, listen to Golden Tide football each and every game on WOKW-FM, 102.9, starting with the pre-game show at 6:40 pm.
SCORING SUMMARY
CURWENSVILLE 7 0 7 0 14
COUDERSPORT 0 0 0 6 6
1ST QUARTER
CURW 6:33 Blake Passarelli 15 yard run. Jacob Mullins PAT 7 0
3RD QUARTER
CURW 11:44 Jake McCracken 85 yard kick-off return. Madison Weber PAT 14 0
4TH QUARTER
COUD 4:16 Stephen Kelly 7 yard run. Two point conversion attempt failed 14 6
