BRADFORD – The Smethport Area High School football team took one more step to perfection in District IX play this season after defeating Curwensville 28-0 Friday night in semi-final action in Bradford.
The Hubbers (11-0) will face Coudersport in next week’s title game at a time and place to be announced later this weekend. The Falcons scored 22 unanswered points in the second half of their contest with Clarion-Limestone last night in Brockway. Coudersport won the game 22-12.
Against Curwensville, Smethport used a very effective ground attack to control the ball and the game. The balanced ground game was spurred by senior running back Blake Kinner who powered the bulk of the yardage on the night with 185 yards on 32 carries. However, while Kinner led the running attack, Nathan Hollowell put most of the points on the board.
Hollowell scored three times for the Hubbers on runs of one, 21, and nine yards. As the holder for the team’s kicker, Hollowell also turned a fake PAT into two points with a pass to Kinner. Hollowell aslos broke the century mark with 141 yards on 21 carries.
The game’s initial score came on the Hubbers’ first drive. After stopping the Tide on their opening drive, Hollowell capped off a long drive with a one-yard plunge at the 5:04 mark of the first quarter. Late in the second quarter, Hollowell broke loose from 21-yards out at the 1:46 mark. Curwensville blocked the PAT and went to the intermission trailing 13-0.
Late drives in both the third and fourth quarters sealed the Hubbers first finals appearance since 1998. Holloway rumbled in from nine yards out with 1:34 left in the third quarter. The fake PAT to Kinner then set the score at 21-0. Quarterback Grant Ognen finished the scoring with :36 left in the game on a one-yard plunge. Noah Costa kicked the PAT for the 28-0 final.
Cole Bressler led the Tide rushing attack with 68 yards, while Avery Francisco had 52 yards, and Blake Passarelli added 43.
The Golden Tide finished its season with a record of 7-5
SCORING SUMMARY
CURWENSVILLE 0 0 0 0 0
SMETHPORT 7 6 8 7 28
1ST QUARTER
SMETH 5:04 Nathan Hollowell 1 yard run. Noah Costa PAT 7 0
2ND QUARTER
SMETH 1:46 Hollowell 21 yard run. Kick failed 13 0
3RD QUARTER
SMETH 1:34 Hollowell 9 yard run. Hollowell to Blake Kinner two point conversion pass 21 0
4TH QUARTER
SMETH :36 Grant Ognen 1 yard run. Costa PAT 28 0