| By Rich Rhoades
BROCKWAY -- Quietly, the Curwensville Golden Tide (5-1) are a big win
away from playing in the Allegheny Mountain League Championship game for
the second straight year.
Curwensville, the defending AML and District 9 Class A champions, are tied
with Brockway (5-1) atop of the AML South Division. A win over the Rovers
would give the Tide the title thanks to a head-to-head tiebreaker with one
game left on the AML regular-season schedule.
But it won't be easy in perhaps the best matchup of the week in District
9. Brockway has won five straight games after a season-opening loss at
home to Smethport. The Rovers have allowed only seven points in the past
two games, including a 38-0 win at Otto-Eldred last week.
Leading the Rovers are running backs Jon Cantafio (353 yards, 3 TDs) and
Jeremy Sickeri (511 yards, 3 TDs). Both sat out last week's game with
injuries, but should be ready to go Friday.
Curwensville has won four straight games since losing an overtime decision
at Ridgway on Week Two, including a 36-6 win over Cameron County last
week.
Leading the Tide this year are running backs Joe Bennett (567 yards, 8 TDs)
and Ryan Bilger (511 yards, 5 TDs), quarterback Jim Thompson (308 yards
passing, 8 TDs) and lineman Cory Bailor.
The Golden Tide would also clinch a District 9 Class A playoff berth with
a win over Brockway. Even with a loss, the Tide would be a win by four
points or more away from a playoff berth in their final AML regular season
game against Kane next week.
A win would also give Curwensville a shot at the top seed in the
District 9 Class A playoffs. The two ways the Tide could get that top seed
are with a Smethport loss this week or next week or by winning the AML
Title game. |
