CAN ANYTHING TOP WEEK ONE'S EXCITEMENT? COUDERSPORT-BROCKWAY AND A HOST OF OTHERS WILL GIVE IT THEIR BEST TRY

WEEK 2 PREVIEW - Sept. 5-6
This Week's Schedule On-the-air this week Our Predictions  
 

Dirk Cowburn scored two touchdowns last week for Coudersport - Photo by Paul Burdick

Tyler Armagost will lead Moniteau into C-L with the Warriors looking to go 2-0 - Photo by Debbie Arner

Jason Blose and Cameron County are getting ready to take on Ridgway Friday night - Photo by Randy Frey

Mark Myers and Johnsonburg take on ECC this week
 
 
 

By Rich Rhoades

The opening of the high school football season got off to a rousing start last weekend in District 9 as five games were decided in the last three minutes of regulation or overtime.

Which one was the best?

Perhaps it was Cameron County’s 27-26 overtime victory over Kane in a rematch of last year’s Class A Championship game. But it was hard to overlook DuBois’ goal-line stand to hold off Clearfield as time expired in regulation. And don’t’ forget about Brockway’s 22-point fourth quarter in a come-from-behind win over Smethport that ended on a scoring pass with just 11 seconds to play.

The other nail-biters featuring District 9 teams were Moniteau’s win at Clarion and St. Marys’ loss at Bellefonte.

This week, 15 games involving District 9 teams make up the Week 2 schedule. Four games feature two 1-0 teams – Cameron County at Ridgway and Coudersport at Brockway in the Allegheny Mountain League, Keystone at Redbank Valley in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference and Brookville’s non-conference road trip to Bellefonte.

Of those matchups, perhaps the Coudersport-Brockway matchup is the most intriguing.

The Rovers have actually never lost to the Falcons since they entered the AML in 1999, something that is impressive considering Coudersport’s dominance in recent years.

The last meeting came in 2003 when the Rovers beat the Falcons in the AML Championship game 21-13.

Rovers quarterback Derek Buganza claimed a share of the RRR Roadhouse D9Sports.Com Player of the Week honor thanks to his passing performance against Smethport. Running in the Rovers’ spread, no-huddle offense, Buganza completed 25 of 38 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. He threw two TD passes to Mike Vervoort in the final five minutes including the game-winner with 11 seconds on the clock.

Dirk Cowburn is the Falcons’ top player. He scored two rushing touchdowns including a 75 yarder in Coudy’s 29-16 win over Elk County Catholic and finished with 127 yards on only seven carries.

Redbank Valley has won seven straight games against Keystone and 17 of the last 19 including a 13-12 grinder last year at Knox.

Ridgway and Cameron County haven’t met since 2005 when the Elkers downed the Red Raiders 17-6 for their only win in their final game of the season.

It’s a battle of Raiders in Bellefonte as the Red Raiders of District 6 host Brookville head coach Chris Dworek’s Raiders. It’s also coach vs. former quarterback. Bellefonte is led by second-year head coach Zac Wynkoop, who was Dworek’s first starting quarterback in his first two seasons at Brookville in 1996 and 1997.

Two longtime rivalries get renewed Friday night as DuBois travels to Punxsutawney for their 94th meeting. DuBois leads the all-time series, 58-32-3. The Chucks have lost 12 straight games and must contend with the RRR Roadhouse D9Sports.com Co-Player of the Week Garrett Malmgren of DuBois. The Beavers back rushed for 300 yards and four touchdowns in the DuBois’ 35-28 thriller over Clearfield.

Bradford hosts Olean N.Y. for their 111th meeting. The Owls hold a 60-43-7 edge in the all-time series.

In other Friday games, Curwensville (1-0) hosts Otto-Eldred (0-1) in the AML. Clarion (0-1) travels to A-C Valley (0-1), Moniteau (1-0) visits Clarion-Limestone (0-1) and Karns City (1-0) hosts Union (0-1) in the KSAC.

Karns City won its 21st straight KSAC game without 12 players who were either injured or suspended including starting quarterback Anthony Stimac, running back Markus LaVan and wide receiver Josh Callender – it wasn’t reported if these players were suspended or injured. Some will probably be back in uniform for the Gremlins this week.

In the Mountain Athletic Conference’s Nittany Division, Clearfield (0-1) travels to Philipsburg-Osceola (0-1) and St. Marys (0-1) treks to Lewistown (0-1). The Bisons are playing the Mounties for the first time in five years in what used to be an annual non-conference affair. Now they’re in the same division.

Two AML games are scheduled for Saturday. Port Allegany (0-1) hosts Elk County Catholic (0-1) at 1:30 p.m. as does Sheffield (0-1) when it hosts Johnsonburg (1-0).