KANE BEHIND BIG GAME FROM TYLER SMITH CAPTURES AML TITLE 

AML TITLE GAME OCT. 26 - Kane 35, Coudersport 19

COUDERSPORT-- Kane High School's storybook 2002 football season continued Saturday night, as the Wolves (8-1) captured their first-ever Allegheny Mountain League championship with a 35-19 win over Coudersport.

The same two teams meet in a rematch at 7 p.m. Saturday night at Kane in the District 9 Class A semifinals.

Veteran quarterback Tyler Smith ran for two TDs, passed for two more and completed 18 of 21 passes for 231 yards to lead the Wolves.

Kane rose to the challenge each time the Falcons (7-2) drew closer.

Smith's continued success on rollouts and superior field position were the keys to Kane's offensive success, while the Wolves defense slowed Coudersport's running game and put relentless pressure on Falcons quarterback Ben Cary late in the game when Coudy's hopes were dimming.

Kane scored on its first three possessions, but Coudersport remained very much in the game with some heroics of its own.

Cary connected with Mike Kehr on a 33-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter, then hit the speedy Zach Hershey on a 51-yard scoring strike to keep the Falcons within reach, 21-13, at the intermission.

Disaster struck for the hosts just after the break, as Justin Jefferds intercepted a pass at Coudy's 23, and Smith ran the ball in from three yards away for a 28-13 advantage.

Coudersport responded with an 80-yard drive that consumed much of the third quarter and ended on Cary's 21-yard scoring strike to Paul Strayer. The extra point attempt was blocked, preserving Kane's nine-point lead, 28-19.

The Wolves sealed the win with a time-consuming 66-yard drive that ended with Tyler Smith's three-yard TD toss to Tim Smith.

The difference in field position was a major factor. Kane launched its first drive from Coudersport's 47. Nine plays later, Steve Chittester scored from five yards away.

A Coudersport punt put the Wolves in business at Coudy's 44, and Tyler Smith found Andy Cecchetti open for a 28-yard TD pass to make the score 13-0.

At the same time, seven of the Falcons' 10 possessions began at their 20-yard-line or even deeper. That was simply too much real estate to cover on a night when the rain-soaked turf was slick and the Kane defense was determined.