CLARION – It didn’t take long this year to come up with a probable District 9 Class A Championship game matchup: two-time defending champion Clarion-Limestone and Allegheny Mountain League champion Curwensville.

Clarion-Limestone and Curwensville rolled through their respective schedules. Not until a late-season injury to C-L senior quarterback-linebacker Hayden Johnston was a likely Lions-Golden Tide showdown put in doubt.

Without Johnston in the lineup, the Lions dropped their regular-season finale to Moniteau, putting serious doubts of a three-peat. But two playoff wins later, which included an improbable come-from-behind 21-14 win over Coudersport last week, the showdown is going to happen.

Curwensville (10-0) and Clarion-Limestone (10-1) square off for the District 9 Class A title Friday night at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Curwensville is seeking its second D-9 title and first since it won the 2000 title after a stunning 23-0 rout of Clarion. That year, the Bobcats came in as the favorite, boasting big numbers and a number one state ranking. This year, it’s almost the reverse scenario as the Golden Tide are ranked fourth by the Pennsylvania Football News.

The Golden Tide boast a powerful running game that’s churning out an average of 405.4 yards per game. The Sipes brothers -- senior Nate and sophomore Nick -- have combined for almost 3,300 yards. Nate leads District 9 with 1,925 yards and 28 touchdowns while Nick has 1,355 yards and 19 touchdowns. Both average 9.5 yards per carry.

Head coach Andy Evanko’s team leads the state in scoring (49.2 points per game) and average scoring differential (42.8 per game). The Tide went a span of eight games and one quarter without trailing. After trailing in their season opener at Smethport, the Tide did not trail an opponent until Coudersport took an early second-half lead in the AML title game. For the year, the Tide have trailed for 16:52.

Curwensville have other playmakers. While not called on to pass much this year -- only 47 attempts in 10 games -- sophomore quarterback Shawn Sopic showed the ability to throw in last week’s 42-0 romp over Clarion, completing 6 of 7 passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. Dean Swatsworth has caught three TD passes from Sopic and returned two kicks for scores. He leads the team with 10 receptions for 183 yards.

Defensively, the Tide have limited opponents to 149 yards of offense per game (72.5 rush, 76.7 pass). While the Tide boast just a plus-3 turnover ratio, they have induced seven turnovers the past two games against Coudersport and Clarion.

A big and physical Tide team that blends in a little speed boast intimidating statistics for most playoff opponents, but it’s hard to think that Clarion-Limestone will be overwhelmed with anything coming into its third straight district championship game appearance.

Three weeks ago, the Lions learned that they would lose do-it-all senior Hayden Johnston for the season with a spleen injury he suffered in an overtime win over Redbank Valley. A week later, the Lions fell to Moniteau, 21-7, ending a 34-game regular season winning streak.

Perhaps the Lions needed a week to adjust from a devastating loss of the reigning D9Sports.Com Offensive Player of the Year. Head coach Todd Smith’s squad bounced back with a 27-6 win over Elk County Catholic in the quarterfinals and then last week’s win over Coudersport.

The Lions trailed 14-7 going into the late moments of the fourth quarter before scoring twice within a span of 3:12 to steal the game away from the visiting Falcons. Quarterback Scott Davis threw TD passes of 63 and 43 yards to Erik White and Kaleb Klosky. Davis’ pass to Klosky won the game with 10 seconds left on the clock.

Even without Johnston, the Lions have players who can make the big plays. Davis leads the way. At 5-foot-7, 141 pounds, the diminutive Davis has stepped up when the Lions needed him to. He’s passed for 406 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions in his three starts. Against Coudersport, Davis completed 13 of 24 passes for 230 yards. Davis is also a running threat. He’s the team’s leading rusher with 595 yards. He also has 400 yards receiving on 20 catches.

Senior Erik White leads the Lions and D-9 in receiving with 38 catches for 783 yards and 17 TDs. White has also rushed for 292 yards. Junior David "Tuffy" Brooks has 470 yards receiving. He leads the team with five interceptions and has 16 career interceptions since debuting on the varsity squad as a freshman. Senior Nate Tote has four interceptions, two of them coming in last week’s win over Coudersport. His second pick set up the game-winning score.

C-L gives up 202.3 yards per game defensively (142.7 rush, 59.6 pass).