KANE LOOKS TO STAY UNBEATEN WHEN IT HOSTS CURWENSVILLE

Curwensville (3-2 overall, 3-2 AML South) at Kane (5-0, 5-0)

Week Six - 7:30 p.m. Friday Oct. 4

KANE – A lot is at stake when Curwensville heads north to Kane Friday night for a 7:30 p.m. contest.

Kane (5-0) can clinch a share of the AML South title and put itself within one game of going to its first-ever AML Title game. The Wolves are on of only two District 9 teams (Clarion-Limestone is the other) who are still unbeaten this year.

Curwensville (3-2), on the other hand, needs a win if it wants to keep its District 9 Class A playoff hopes alive.

Kane, which has never beaten Curwensville in AML play (0-4), is coming off a big 27-20 win at Cameron County last week, while the Golden Tide knocked off Brockway 14-8.

The Wolves offense is one of the most highly regarded in the district averaging (32.2 ppg), which is tied with Clearfield for the second most points in the district behind Clarion-Limestone. Kane’s defense has been tough as well allowing just 10.4 ppg.

The offense for Kane has been a balanced one. The Wolves have passed for 642 yards while rushing for 821 yards. Seven of Kane’s touchdowns have come through the air and 15 have come on the ground.

Quarterback Tyler Smith is a key player in the Kane offense. Smith has completed 62.7 percent of his passes (52-for-83) for 642 yards and seven touchdowns while throwing just three interceptions. His NCAA quarterback rating is 148.23. Smith has also shown talent with his legs rushing for 156 yards and four touchdowns.

Smith isn’t the only talented player on the Kane offense.

Running back Mike Jamerson has rushed 76 times for 364 yards and seven touchdowns. He is averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He has also caught 11 passes for 90 yards.

The top receivers for the Wolves are Tim Smith and Hugh Rich. Smith has caught 10 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown, while Rich has 16 grabs for 185 yards and two scores.

The Kane offense will have its hand full with a strong Curwensville defense. The Golden Tide are allowing only 13 ppg and if you take away the 33 points Coudersport scored Curwensville has allowed just 32 points (8 ppg) in its other four games.

Curwensville’s defense has needed to be strong, because the offense has struggled to score. The Golden Tide are averaging only 12.6 ppg.

Curwensville has done much of its damage on the ground rushing for 681 yards while throwing for 375.

Quarterback Travis McDonald is completing nearly 50 percent of his passes (49.1 percent). He is 26-for-53 for 360 yards and five touchdowns. He has thrown nine interceptions.

Greg Gilbert has been McDonald’s primary target catching 11 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns.

On the ground Doug Swatsworth and Brooks Collins have carried the bulk of the load.

Swatsworth has 53 rushes for 273 yards, while Collins has rushed 72 times for 269 yards and one touchdown.

Last season Curwensville topped Kane 45-11. In 2000, the Golden Tide beat the Wolves 52-26, and in 1999 Curwensville was victorious 21-0.