By Justin Skiba

CLARION – Three Farrell touchdowns in 3:30 early in the second half helped the Steelers make their trip to Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium a memorable one with a 35-14 win over Curwensville in the PIAA Class A quarterfinals Friday night.

Farrell (12-1) led by just six, 13-7, at halftime despite dominating a great portion of the first half. Turnovers and penalties cost the Steelers a chance to make the halftime score greater.

But two long Kevin Brodie touchdown runs in the opening moments of the second half ended any thoughts of a Curwensville (11-2) upset.

Brodie got loose down the far sideline for a 57-yard touchdown run on the first offensive play of the second half making it 19-7, and then his 72-yard scoring run less than two minutes later make it 27-7. Jamor Whitman then made the score 35-7 with a 21-yard scoring run with 8:19 left in the half causing many of the non-partisan members of the crowd to head out of the cold and snow and into their cars.

Brodie was the star for Farrell rushing 10 times for 201 yards and three touchdowns with Whitman adding 55 yards on eight carries with the score. Brodie added a pair of interceptions on defense.

Farrell dominated field position in the first quarter but only managed seven points in the quarter with those coming on a 3-yard Brodie touchdown run midway through the quarter.

Curwensville used some trickery to tie the score at seven early in the second quarter.

Hunter McCracken threw a short pass to Jesse Zorger who then lateraled the ball to Alex Holland who raced down the sideline for a 60-yard touchdown play.

But a great Farrell punt that was downed at the 1-yard line helped set up great field position for the Steelers after a nice punt return of 18 yards by D’onte Pegues that gave Farrell that ball at the 14-yard line. That led to a 1-yard Malcolm Hailstock touchdown run with 3:58 left in the half giving Farrell the 13-7 lead.

Curwensville had a great opportunity to tie the game or take the lead right before halftime driving from its own 35-yard line to the Farrell 1-yard line. But on fourth-and-goal from the 1, McCracken was stopped just inches short of the goaline with 23 seconds left in the half.

That was pretty much it for Curwensville, who didn’t reach the end zone for a second time until Holland scored a 37-yard run with 3:27 left in the game.

Holland finished with 72 yards rushing on 16 carries while adding one catch for 89 yards (he got credit for 60 yards receiving on the hook-and-lateral play but no catch per scoring rules).

The 72 yards and a score helped Holland finish the season with a District 9-record 2,599 yards and 29 rushing touchdowns.

McCracken was 7 of 10 passing for 138 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Alec Starr was 2 of 10 passing for 15 yards and two interceptions.  

The Steelers will now face Clairton, a 52-0 winner over North Star, in the semifinals at a time and place to be determined next week. It’s the third straight year Farrell and Clairton have met in the Western Finals with Clairton, the defending state champion, winning the first two meetings.  

Editor’s note – Chris Rossetti contributed to this story

FARRELL 35, CURWENSVILLE 14

Score by Quarters

F 7 6 22 0 – 35

C 0 7 0 7 – 14

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

F – Kevin Brodie 3 run (Jamar Whitman kick), 6:16

Second Quarter

C – Alex Holland 60 pass from Hunter McCracken (Taylor Bumbarger kick), 8:52

F – Malcolm Hailstock 1 run (kick failed), 3:58

Third Quarter

F – Brodie 57 run (conversion failed), 11:49

F – Brodie 72 run (Whitman rush), 9:55

F – Whitman 21 run (Jason Pinkins run), 8:19  

Fourth Quarter

C – Holland 37 run (Bumbarger kick), 3:27

                                                F                      C

First Downs                            13                    12

Rushes-Yards                          46-290             29-108 

Passing Yards                         39                    153

Passing: Comp-Att-Int                        2-6-0                9-20-4 

Total Yards                             329                  261 

Penalties-Yards                                   14-136             3-20 

Fumbles-Lost                          3-1                   2-0 

Punts-Avg.                              2-31.5              3-24.0               

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS  

Rushing – Farrell: Brodie 10-201, Whitman 8-54, Pinkins 6-20, Pegues 3-10, Hallstock 14-4, Pickens 1-1, Wested 3-1, Goudy 1 - (-1)  Curwensville: Holland 16-72, Starr 5-22, Dimmick 5-14, McCracken 3-0

Passing – Farrell: Wested 2-for-5, 39 yards. Brodie 0-for-1. Curwensville: McCracken 7-for-10 138 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions. Staff 2-for-10, 15 yards, 2 interceptions. 

Receiving – Farrell: Hallstock 1-43, Pinkins 1- negative-4. Curwensville: Best 4-45, Zorger 3-15, Holland 1-89, Hoover 1-4

Interceptions: Farrell 4 (Pegues 2, Kevin 2)