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By Rich Rhoades

BROCKWAY – While one team limped out to a 1-3 start, the other was piling big rushing yards trying to get back to the top of the district. Saturday afternoon, both teams will clash for the District 9 Class A title.

Curwensville (10-1) and Port Allegany (7-4) square off for the second time this year at Brockway’s Varischetti Field Saturday at 1 p.m. It’s a rematch of Curwensville’s 35-6 win over Port Allegany in Week 3.

It’s the third time in the last five years that there’s been a rematch — the only three in-season rematches in at least the last 14 seasons — of Allegheny Mountain League teams in the Class A final. Kane beat Cameron County twice in 2007 and Coudersport beat the Tide three times in 2006 on the way to the Class A crown.

Even though history, both recent and older, says that perhaps the Gators don’t have a chance against the Tide on Saturday, Curwensville head coach Andy Evanko isn’t buying into those trends at all.

“It’s so difficult to beat the same team twice in a season,” said Evanko, whose team is two weeks removed from grinding out a first-round win over Smethport after beating the Hubbers earlier in the season. “That was a good wakeup call for us. We have to play every play hard because it could be your last.”

The Gators needed a wakeup call early on. They got a tough draw out of the gate as it turned out by playing the top three teams in the AML-South — Brockway, Curwensville and Elk County Catholic — in the first four weeks.

Gators head coach Mike Bodamer knew his team was better than the record showed.

“As a coaching staff, we knew that, but it’s hard to convince the kids,” Bodamer said. “We look at those three losses early and they were legitimately strong teams. In two of those games, we were in it.

“We definitely never quit. The games we’ve lost we’ve been outsized big-time, Brockway, Curwensville and Cameron County, which was more physical, but these kids have never quit.”

The only loss the rest of the way for Port Allegany was to Cameron County in overtime in Week 8, costing it an AML Championship game berth. From there, it’s been quite a postseason ride for Port, starting with a four-overtime, 47-40, win at Elk County Catholic followed by last week’s come-from-behind 24-17 win over Redbank Valley.

“The ECC game could have gone either way and we made a lot of mistakes against Redbank Valley, but we did enough to win,” Bodamer said.

Curwensville has won five straight games since falling, 41-26, at unbeaten Brockway in Week 6. Last week, the Tide beat Cameron County, 22-13. It’s the first time the Tide will play for a Class A title since 2006 and they’ll try to win their first championship since 2004.

“It’s great to be back in the finals,” Evanko said. “Every kid wants to be here. It’s the ultimate goal. We’re thrilled and happy to be where we’re at.”

It’ll be the Golden Tide’s power running game featuring 2,000-yard back Alex Holland against Port Allegany’s spread offense led by sophomore quarterback Matt Bodamer.

Holland, still a junior, became the third running back in District 9 history to eclipse the 2,000-yard milestone in last week’s win over Smethport. At 2,229 yards to go along with his 26 rushing scores, Holland needs 283 yards to break the district record held by another Tide runner Nate Sipes (2,511) in 2004. Clearfield’s Dave Richards rushed for 2,506 yards in 2002.

“Alex is a heckuva athlete with great vision and is explosive,” Evanko said. “He sees the holes and creases and he’s done such a great job at what we’ve asked him to do. Alex works hard for it too. He never misses a practice in the offseason. It’s a net result of a lot of hard work and dedication.”

Holland, who also went over 3,000 career yards last week, rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns against the Gators. He’s gone over 200 yards in six games, including four of the last five games, including a 419-yard effort against Kane in Week 5, and he’s averaging 33 carries a game over the last four weeks.

Holland’s doing that with teams knowing full well that he’s getting the ball, leading them to stack the line of scrimmage with nine and 10 defenders.

“We’re going to call the PIAA and see if we can put 15 players on the field,” Bodamer joked. “We’re going to have to put guys in the box. When Curwensville does throw, it’s effective because everyone’s biting on the run. We’re going to have to pick our poison. With them, it’s definitely the running game, so we have to stop that.”

“You can be successful no matter how many players teams put in there,” Evanko said. “But they still have to balance it out, where the point of attack is, and if you can get that one crease or hole … I knew we run him a lot, but you have a horse in a big game, who are you going to hand the ball to? Our line is capable of finding holes.”

Senior right guard Kyle Kyler and sophomore left tackle anchor a Tide line that also includes junior center Todd Munchak, senior left guard Jake Pentz, sophomore right tackle Brad Stubbs and senior tight end Kyle Barrett.

“We’ve seen our line growing each and every week,” Evanko said. “Fullback Zach Dimmick does a lot of blocking. They’ve done well and made critical lead blocks at the point of attack. Alex will tell you he hasn’t done it alone, although he’s had some amazing runs.”

The Tide’s passing game includes a quarterback rotation of senior Alec Starr (25-of-46, 397 yards, 4 TDs, 4 Ints.) and sophomore Hunter McCracken (37-of-76, 567 yards, 11 TDs, 7 Ints.). Seniors Shane Hoover (23 catches, 395 yards, 7 TDs) and Shae Best (18 catches, 391 yards, 6 TDs) are the top receiving targets.

For Port Allegany, Bodamer’s son Mike has started to build a strong career already as a sophomore. He’s completed 91 of 153 passes for 1,807 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions, with his yardage ranking second in the district behind Brockway’s Derek Buganza. He’s also rushed for 562 yards and a team-leading 10 touchdowns.

“He’s very poised there, nothing seems to rattle him,” Coach Bodamer said. “Sometimes I’d like to see him play with more enthusiasm. It’s more internal for him. Last Saturday, it bugged him (wasn’t throwing well). He’s very poised and makes very few mistakes.”

Bodamer threw for just 37 yards against Redbank Valley, completing just 4 of 11 passes with three interceptions. But the Gators adjusted in the second half while trailing, 17-7, and Bodamer helped a Gators running game and finished with 78 yards on 14 carries.

Senior Seth Lowery leads the Gators with 935 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Bodamer’s receiving targets are senior Camrin Stuckey (27 catches, 635 yards, 11 TDs), sophomore Tyce Miller (21 catches, 371 yards, 2 TDs) and junior Charlie Buchanon (11 catches, 312 yards, 3 TDs).

“Port’s an explosive team,” Evanko said. “Coach Bodamer does an excellent job. They have a dynamic offense with a lot of formations … and they come at you at many different angles. That’s a huge concern. Defensively, we’ve always had trouble moving the ball against them. We’re not going to take them lightly.”

NOTES: Saturday’s winner advances to the PIAA playoffs to play the District 10 champion. Mercyhurst Prep (12-0) and Farrell (11-1), who rank No. 4 and 7 respectively in the Pennsylvania Football News state rankings, meet Friday night in Erie. … Defensive statistics leaders — Curwensville: Holland at inside linebacker (89 tackles), Dimmick at linebacker (63 tackles), linemen Starr and Barrett (4 ½ sacks each), cornerback Best (3 interceptions). Port Allegany: Lowery (55 tackles) and Zach Ramadhan (53 tackles) at linebacker, linemen Benn Baxter and Alex Gular (2 sacks each) and safeties Bodamer (5 interceptions) and Stuckey (4 interceptions). … Curwensville has won titles in 2000 and 2004 while losing in the finals in 2001 and 2006. Port Allegany’s only finals appearance was 2003 in a loss to Clarion-Limestone. … Since Curwensville entered the AML in 1999, the Golden Tide are 10-0 against the Gators, including a 42-7 win in the first round of the 2005 playoffs and a 33-21 win in the AML Championship game in 2000.