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SMETHPORT WINS KEY AML NORTH MATCH-UP WITH COUDERSPORT |
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WEEK FOUR |
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By Paul Costa for D9Sports.Com COUDERSPORT – If you want to represent the North Division in the Allegany Mountain League, you have to win the Coudersport - Smethport game. At least that's the way it has played out in 12 of the last 13 seasons. Entering Friday night's contest at C.A.R.P. field in Coudersport both schools sported identical 3-0 records. Both schools had dominating defenses and prolific offenses. In the end, however, there could only be one winner. Smethport won the battle of the unbeatens and did it all essentially in the first half. By intermission, the Hubbers led 32-6, and, as far as the scoring went, that was it for the ballgame. Coudersport received to start the first half and quickly reeled off 15 yards on its first three plays courtesy of the legs of running back Mike Maiuro. Eventually the Hubber defense stiffened and the Falcons were forced to punt. On their first possession the Hubbers senior quarterback Jeff Shostak executed the option to perfection slicing through the Falcon secondary on his way to a 52-yard touchdown jaunt. Later in the first quarter, facing a fourth-and-11 at the Coudersport 20-yard line, Shostak found senior end Ray Greene in the back corner of the end zone for a 12-0 lead capping a 12 play 68 yard drive. Smethport's extra-point woes continued as it could account for only one 2 point conversion in five tries. The Hubs tacked on six more points on a 3-yard burst by senior tri-captain Dan Mitchell to make the score 18-0. Coudersport got on the board in the second quarter following a Falcon punt. The Hubber's Dave Thomas was flagged for an illegal block on the return, and Smethport was backed up deep inside its own territory. Failing to move the ball at that point, Smethport's Craig Kandare got off a beauty of a punt which was fielded by the Falcon's Steve Brink and returned inside the Hubber's 40. After moving the ball down to the 20-yard line of Smethport junior quarterback, Ben Carey lofted a high spiral into the back corner of the Hubber end zone. Cornerback Cody Roberts of the Hubbers tipped the ball but an alert Brink was able to maintain his concentration and haul in the touchdown pass. The Coudersport faithful sensed a comeback and the stands buzzed with new life. Smethport senior fullback Eric Raydo silenced them on the first play from scrimmage after the touchdown as he blasted over the right tackle position and was on his way to a 47-yard touchdown and a 24-6 Hubber lead. Raydo later scored from three yards out with less than a minute to go in the first half to close out the scoring. For the Hubbers Shostak rushed for 102 yards on 21 carries while Raydo picked up 94 yards on 10. Shostak was 4-of-8 passing for 59 yards while his counterpart Ben Cary finished 9-of-29 for 102 yards. Next week the Falcons travel to Otto-Eldred to face the winless Terrors while Smethport hosts the Eisenhower Knights for Homecoming. SCORING SUMMARY Smethport 12 20 0 0 32 S -- Eric Raydo 47 run (Shostak run) Smethport Rushing: Jeff Shostak 21-102 1 TD, Eric Raydo 10-94 2 TD Passing: Jeff Shostak 4-for-8 for 59 yds, 1 TD Coudersport Passing: Ben Cary 9-for-29 for 102 yds, 1 TD |
