SAXTON — In a game marred by turnovers and highlighted by big plays, the Curwensville Golden Tide football team ruined the Tussey Mountain Titan Senior Night by holding off the hosts 36-28.
The win for the Tide ended the season for both squads at equal 2-8 records.
The Tide received the opening kickoff and got on the scoreboard early on a Tyler Dunn 1-yard quarterback sneak. He also added the 2-point conversion, giving the visitors an 8-0 lead just three minutes into the game.
The teams then traded fumbles AND interceptions throughout the rest of the opening quarter to squelch any further scoring by either team. Connor Luzier picked up the Tide interception to close out the opening 12 minutes.
Tussey Mountain then added their second interception of the game around the mid-point of the second quarter, which led to a Noah Lucko 11-yard touchdown run. The failed 2-point conversion kept the visitors o=in the lead at 8-6.
The final two minutes of the half was highlighted by quick scoring drives by both teams, leading to a knotted 14-14 score at the break.
Curwensville’s 80-yard drive was finished off by Cael Butler. But with under a minute to play, Titan quarterback Kameron Horton threw a 15 yard touchdown pass and Isaiah Sosak scored the tying 2-point conversion.
The home squad kept the momentum to start the second half by going on an 80-yard scoring rive to take their first lead of the game. The last 51 yards were handled by Sosak once again. He also handled the 2-point conversion duties, giving Tussey Mountain a 22-14 lead.
The Tide answered the bell though as Dunn added his second TD run, this one covering 27 yards. Braden Holland added the 2-point conversion, tying the game for the second time, 22-22.
The Titans went right back to work, going on another long scoring drive, this one covering 65 yards. Lucko scored his second ground TD, this one a 48-yard dash. The all-important 2-point conversion came up short though, leaving the Titans with their second lead of the game at 28-22.
As it turned out, that would be Tussey Mountain’s last score of the game and season.
As the third quarter was coming to a close, Dunn hit Holland with a 40 yard scoring strike and Everett Addleman added the game-leading point after, 29-28.
The fourth quarter saw the Tide win the filed possession game, as most of the quarter was played on the Titan side of the field.
With three minutes remaining, the Tide finally cashed in on the field possession as Holland scored an 11-yard run. Addleman’s PAT widened the lead to eight at 36-28.
Tussey went on one final drive to go for the potential game-tying score. However, Andrew Pentz sealed the deal with a red zone interception with under a minute remaining.
The Tide then used a coach’s favorite play, the victory kneel to end the game.
GOLDEN TIDE SCOREBOARD:
Date Opponent Score Record
08/25 @ Meyersdale 20 – 39 0 – 1
09/01 WINDBER 7 – 42 0 – 2
09/08 @ Mt. Union 15 – 36 0 – 3
09/15 @ Southern Huntingdon 54 – 13 1 – 3
09/22 CLAYSBURG KIMMEL 20 – 55 1 – 4
09/30 WEST BRANCH 14 – 43 1 – 5
10/06 @ Mo Valley 7 – 34 1 – 6
10/13 JUNIATA VALLEY 21 – 35 1 – 7
10/20 GLENDALE 8 – 30 1 – 8
10/27 @ Tussey Mountain 36 – 28 2 – 8