It's not the first time that the Curwensville and Coudersport football teams have met this year as the two prepare for Saturday's District 9 Class A Championship game. The first time came during the preseason.

Coudersport head coach Paul Simcoe and Curwensville head coach Andy Evanko agreed somewhat on how the scrimmage plays into Saturday's game. If either team doesn't play well, they probably won't win and it's not mission impossible for either team as well.

It all adds up to what could be a smashmouth, physical game between the 8-2 Golden Tide and 9-1 Falcons at Brockway's Taylor Memorial Park. Kickoff Saturday is 1 p.m.

Curwensville comes off an emotional and physical 7-6 win at Smethport in the semifinals. The Golden Tide, defending district champions, avenged a 27-14 loss to the Hubbers the week before in the Allegheny Mountain League Championship game.

The Golden Tide limited Smethport to 54 yards, including minus-5 yards rushing. But it wasn't easy offensively as Curwensville got a 6-yard run from quarterback Jim Thompson in the first quarter.

Cory Bailor's point-after kick turned out to be the game-winner since Smethport elected to fake a point-after kick following its touchdown in the third quarter. The Hubbers came up short on that attempt and later had a 35-yard field goal attempt blocked by Nate Irwin.

Curwensville's win came over a team that routed Coudersport, 32-6, back on Sept. 21 in Week 4. Since then, the Falcons have quietly stacked up some impressive numbers. The Falcons have allowed only 66 points through 10 games, only 6.6 per game. Almost half of the points came in the loss to Smethport.

Last week's 30-14 win over Clarion-Limestone may have erased many doubts on Coudersport's legitimacy. The Falcons wore down the Lions and took control in the second half, outscoring C-L, 24-0, after trailing 14-6 at intermission.

While Coudersport's defense has set the tone for its success, the offense has balance and significant threats as well. Junior quarterback Ben Cary, running back Mike Maiuro, tight end Dane Haskins and wide receiver Steve Brink had big games in last week.

Cary completed only 7 of 24 passes, but the completions totaled 176 yards and two touchdowns. Haskins caught two passes for 81 yards, one going 47 yards for a touchdown, and rushed for 60 yards on three carries, one going 47 yards for a touchdown.

Maiuro rushed for 115 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown. Brink caught 67 yards on two receptions, one going 42 yards for a touchdown.

Cary has passed for 1,196 yards and 12 touchdowns while Maiuro has rushed for 881 yards and 10 touchdowns this year.

Curwensville's offense banks on the running game along with some big pass plays from quarterback Jim Thompson to receiver Mark Records.

Four running backs have rushed for over 300 yards this year for the Golden Tide. Joe Bennett (940 yards) leads the way and he's followed by Ryan Bilger (666), Brooks Collins (431) and Keegan Prisk (323). Prisk and Collins led the team in rushing last week with 75 and 74 yards respectively.

Thompson has passed for 730 yards and 13 touchdowns. Of that, Records has hauled in 27 passes for 527 yards and eight touchdowns.