CURWENSVILLE-SMETHPORT READY TO BATTLE FOR AML TITLE

WEEK 9

GET COMPLETE INFO ON THE GAME INCLUDING STARTING LINEUPS & STATS
RIDGWAY -- One team is back to defend its title, another team returns after its 11-year streak was snapped last year.

Defending champion Curwensville meets longtime power and still undefeated Smethport in the 16th Allegheny Mountain League Championship game Saturday at Ridgway's Memorial Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Curwensville defeated Port Allegany, 33-21, to win last year's championship on its way to its first-ever District 9 Class A title. Meanwhile, Smethport failed to reach the AML title game for the first time since 1987 and also missed the D-9 playoffs.

Another year, a new story. Curwensville (7-1) won its second straight South Division title while Smethport (8-0) moved back on top of the North Division to earn a trip to the AML title game.

The Hubbers have their coach back in Carl Defilippi (career 182-30-2, 20th year), who returns from a one-year hiatus. Defilippi is 6-4 in AML title games. Curwensville second-year coach Andy Evanko isn't doing too badly either. He's 18-2 so far in his early head coaching career.

Ironically, these teams were supposed to meet in the ninth week of the season anywhere. Instead of Curwensville, it's Ridgway as the location. It's also the same field where Curwensville lost its only game, an overtime decision to Ridgway.

Smethport is led by do-it-all senior quarterback Jeff Shostak, who has passed for 959 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for 599 yards and 10 touchdowns. Receiver Steve Bartas has caught 27 passes and scored seven touchdowns.

For Curwensville, it's a balanced rushing attack led by Joe Bennett (819 yards, 11 TDs) and Ryan Bilger (604 yards, 6 TDs). Quarterback Jim Thompson (547 yards, 12 TDs) and Mark Records (22 catches, 8 TDs) lead the passing game.

This is only the beginning for both teams who will enter the Class A playoffs. According to D9sports.com calculations, it appears that these teams will play again in the first round of the playoffs with only the site and time to be determined. The winner of Saturday's game would retain home-field advantage for the first round.

 

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