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By Rich Rhoades
Here were go again.
Probably no other matchup in at least the state if not more has been featured more
than Curwensville and Coudersport, as the two Allegheny Mountain League football rivals square off for
the seventh time in just over three seasons Friday night in Coudersport.
Both teams enter the game 2-0 and figure to be the favorites to win their respective
divisions. It’s the only matchup in the district this week featuring two unbeaten District 9 teams.
Historically, the Falcons have had their way with the Golden Tide since Curwensville
entered the AML back in 1999. Coudersport has won 10 of the 12 games, including the 2005 and 2006 AML
Championship games and in the 2006 District 9 Class A title game.
In 2006, the Falcons beat the Tide three times – in the regular season game, in
the AML title game and in the District 9 Class A final. Last year, Coudersport blasted Curwensville 48-0
in the season opener.
Coudersport is coming off a 55-20 rout of Brockway where it piled up 511 yards of
offense without standout running back Dirk Cowburn, who had knee surgery and will miss at least a couple
of weeks. Tim Thomas stepped in nicely and ran for 149 yards and three touchdowns.
Curwensville quarterback David Kalgren is coming off a RRR Roadhouse D9Sports.Com
Player of the Week performance when he completed 10 of 11 passes for 163 yards and four touchdowns in the
Tide’s rout of Otto-Eldred.
Thanks to Kalgren, the Tide’s offense is unusually balanced, as opposed to the
historically heavy running approach (328 rush, 288 pass).
This week, 15 games involve District 9 teams.
Also in the AML, Brockway (1-1) travels to 2-0 Cameron County, and the Rovers are
trying to bounce back from the loss to Coudersport. Brockway quarterback Derek Buganza’s passing
numbers should be interesting to watch this year in the new Rovers’ spread offense. He’s 44-for-73
passing for 507 yards already. Cameron County quarterback Jason Blose has passed for three scores and
leads the team in rushing with 155 yards.
In the other AML games, Otto-Eldred (0-2) hosts Ridgway (1-1), Sheffield (0-2)
visits Kane (1-1), Elk County Catholic (1-1) hosts Smethport (0-2) and Johnsonburg (2-0) hosts Port
Allegany.
Clarion and Keystone highlight the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference’s
schedule. Both teams are 1-1 heading into Friday night’s game at Clarion University. The game probably
has more Class A playoff implications than anything as both will likely battle for the two automatic KSAC
playoff spots with Redbank Valley.
Keystone has won the last two meetings with Clarion, the first time it had done that
in nearly 20 years, but the Panthers have never beaten the Bobcats three straight times.
In the other KSAC games, Karns City (2-0) travels to Brookville (1-1), Moniteau
(2-0) hosts Punxsutawney (0-2) and Redbank Valley (2-0) visits Union (0-2). It’s the 76th
meeting between the Bulldogs and Golden Knights. Redbank owns the series lead, 44-28-3.
In the “something has to give” game, Clarion-Limestone hosts A-C Valley in a
matchup of 0-2 teams. The Lions have won the last eight straight against the Falcons, who have lost 24
straight games. C-L has lost 17 of its last 21 games.
Two other District 9 teams are on the road in league games as Bradford (1-1) heads
to Erie Central (0-2) in a District 10 Region 6 matchup. St. Marys (1-1) is on the road at District 6’s
Bald Eagle Area (2-0) in a Mountain Athletic Conference-Nittany Division game.
In non-conference games, DuBois (2-0) hosts Ere Cathedral Prep (1-1) while
Clearfield (1-1) hosts Indian Valley (1-1).
It’ll be a good measuring stick for sure for the Beavers against the District 10
Ramblers, who are coming off a win over St. Joseph’s of New York. Prep lost its season opener, 43-23,
to arch-rival McDowell.
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