SMETHPORT ROUTS OTTO-ELDRED 41-6

WEEK THREE

SMETHPORT - It was a night made for football in Smethport as temperatures dipped into the 40's by game's end. Special pre-game ceremonies were scheduled with a moment of silence observed. Stirring renditions of the National Anthem and God Bless America followed as fans lit candles and sang along.

Thoughts then turned to football as the Hubbers won the opening toss and deferred. Otto-Eldred couldn't sustain a drive and was forced to punt on the opening possession. Taking the first snap from center, Jeff Shostak, Hubber quarterback, sprinted to his right on the classic Hubber option. A crushing block from fellow tri-captain, Dan Mitchell, sprang Shostak for a 56 yard touchdown run. The extra point failed.

The first half was all Smethport as evidenced by the large disparity in field position. The Hubbers average staring point on offense was the visitor's 32 yard line while the Terrors found themselves starting from inside their own 25 every time they touched the ball.

Later in the first quarter, Dan Mitchell set up his own field goal attempt with a nifty 16 yard carry then, as the drive stalled, promptly booted a 29 yard field goal down the middle. The Hubbers scored 32 unanswered points in the second quarter - the first of which came on an Eric Raydo 16 yard burst, capping a 3 play, 44 yard drive. The Hubs' kicking woes continued as the the extra point sailed wide right, making the score at that point, 15-0. With 6:36 left to go in the quarter, Shostak returned a punt from the 50 yard line, dodging several tacklers and emerging unscathed in the end zone. Coach Defilippi then trotted out a new kicker and junior, Craig Kandare, nailed the extra point try to make it 22-0.

The Terror's problems on offense continued as Shostak picked off a pass and once again returned it deep into Otto-Eldred territory. He later teamed up with receiver, Cody Roberts for an 18 yard touchdown pass to make the score 28-0. A fumble recovery by newly returned senior defensive end, Shawn Dunkle set up another Hubbers score - this time by junior Scott Ayers who ran in from two yards out. Once more the conversion failed but the score was a comfortable 34-0. Then with 41 seconds to play in the half, Shostak scored on a sweep to his left from four yards out and the third kicker of the night, Nick Vandermark, booted the ball straight, true and nearly out of the stadium.

That was all for the Hubbers first string as they sat out the second half. The Mercy Rule was implemented during the entire second half with the clock only stopping for time-outs and changes of possession. Typical of Hubber teams of the past decade, underclassmen enjoyed a lot of playing time under the lights before a large crowd. Otto-Eldred continued to struggle until midway through the fourth quarter when they made their initial first down of the game. Dan Fetzer scored for the Terrors with 4:15 to go in the game and then both squads simply ran out the clock.