CURWENSVILLE – Clarion-Limestone came to Riverside Stadium in Curwensville on Friday night and ended the Golden Tide’s four game winning streak in a big way, by blasting the Tide 46-14 in a District 9 Small School South Division contest.
And one could say the Tide got “Newked” in this one, as junior Lion running back Austin Newcomb scored five touchdowns, while amassing 412 yards on the ground which is believed to be the second highest total in D9 history behind Curwensville’s Alex Holland’s 417, and making good on two point conversion attempts twice.
Newcomb ended the evening scoring 34 of the Clarion-Limestone 46 points.
Curwensville is now 6-3 on the year while the Lions improve to 7-2.
The first quarter went scoreless for six plus minutes until Newcomb scored from 22 yards out, and then made it 8-0 on a two point conversion pass from quarterback Colby Himes.
With just 37 seconds remaining in the first 12 minutes Newcomb scored from the two yard line. The two point conversion run was successful by Ayden Wiles and after one quarter was in the books the Lions were up 16-0.
Neither squad scored in the second quarter until 2:53 was left before halftime, and again it was Newcomb carrying it into the end zone from six yards out with Himes running in the two point conversion attempt.
Curwensville now trailed 24-0 but was able to make it interesting with 1:06 to go before the break when Noah Von Gunden tossed a 43 yard scoring strike to Jake McCracken. Jacob Mullins added the point after cutting the Lion lead to 24-7 going into the third quarter.
If the Tide had hopes of a second half comeback those hopes were quickly dashed when Clarion-Limestone’s Wiles found pay dirt on a four yard run with 8:52 to play in the third. The successful two point conversion run by Newcomb had the Lions up by 25 points at 32-7.
The Lions then proceeded to put the game on ice, scoring two more times before the final frame thanks to TD’s by, you guessed it, Mr. Newcomb.
One was an 18 yard run and the other an 80 yard journey.
Wiles added the two point conversion run after the 80 yard score, and after three quarters in was 46-7 Clarion-Limestone.
Curwensville scored the final points of the game on a 36 yard touchdown strike from Von Gunden to freshman Thad Butler with just 1:06 left before the final whistle. Mullins was perfect on the PAT.
The Tide are home again next week against the Rovers of Brockway with kick-off set for 7 pm. The Rovers crushed Clarion Friday night 48-19 to run its record to 7-2.
Listen to the Curwensville-Brockway clash on WOKW-FM, 102.9, with the pre-game show starting at 6:45 pm.
SCORING SUMMARY
CLARION-LIMESTONE 16 8 22 0 46
CURWENSVILLE 0 7 0 7 14
1ST QUARTER
C-L 5:18 Austin Newcomb 22 yard run. Colby Himes pass to Newcomb for two point conversion 0 8
C-L :37 Newcomb two yard run. Ayden Wiles two point conversion run 0 16
2ND QUARTER
C-L 2:53 Newcomb six yard run. Himes two point conversion run 0 24
CUR 1:06 Noah Von Gunden 43 yard pass to Jake McCracken. Jacob Mullins PAT 7 24
3RD QUARTER
C-L 8:52 Wiles four yard run. Newcomb two point conversion run 7 32
C-L 6:56 Newcomb 18 yard run. Two point conversion attempt failed 7 38
C-L 2:02 Newcomb 80 yard run. Wiles two point conversion run 7 46
4TH QUARTER
CUR 1:58 Von Gunden 36 yard pass to Thad Butler. Mullins PAT 14 46