District 9 Class A Playoff Home

KANE – For the second week in a row, Coudersport (7-2) and Kane (8-1) will meet up in a football game with the only difference being the location and that the stakes are higher.

Last week the two teams met in the AML Title game at Coudersport with Kane coming out with a 35-19 win and the AML Title. This week the two will collide in the opening round of the District 9 Class A playoffs at 7 p.m. Saturday at Kane.

Not only will this game be in Kane, but unlike last week when both teams knew no matter who won the game that they would be playing in the playoffs this week, this week’s loser will see its season come to an end. The winner, meanwhile, will advance to the District 9 Class A championship game against the winner of the other semifinal game between Clarion-Limestone and Ridgway.

"I think both teams are pressured," Kane head coach Rick Bouch said. "Now if you lose you are done. Sure we are the AML champs and just defeated Coudy, but Coudy is still the defending district champion. So maybe they are pressured just as well to defend their title."

This game also gives Coudersport, last season’s District 9 Class A champions, an opportunity to get some revenge on Kane for coming into Coudy’s CARP Field and knocking off the Falcons.

"That players are disappointed and disgusted at their performance (last week) and want a chance to show better," Coudersport head coach Paul Simcoe said.

Having beaten Coudersport in the AML Title game, Kane needs to avoid a letdown this week. And history isn’t on their side. Last year Smethport beat Curwensville to win the AML title but lost to the Golden Tide in the opening round of the District 9 Class A playoffs a week later.

"There is always a worry about a letdown after a big emotional win," Bouch said. "But we’ve had several of those (emotional wins) already this season and have not let it bother us. We enjoyed the weekend, but Monday we got down to business and started our preparation for Coudy in the D9 semi’s."

Bouch said he didn’t even mention the Smethport-Curwensville situation to his players.

"I referred our kids to the difficulties involved in playing someone twice in one season," Bouch said. "For example, the pros must play division teams twice, and sometimes in the college ranks teams will meet in the regular season and then face the same team in a bowl game. I will also mention the number of times we played teams twice in a season while I was at IUP. It is a difficult task to defeat someone twice. But it can be done."

While Bouch didn’t want to think about last year and Curwensville’s playoff win, Simcoe wasn’t so shy about it.

"That is a good example of what can happen," Simcoe said. "I think them beating us last week could be an advantage or disadvantage either way. What really matters is how does each team respond and play during the upcoming game? Last week is history."

In last week’s game, Kane quarterback Tyler Smith was the difference. Smith was an incredible 20-for-23 for 225 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for two more scores.

In order to beat Kane this week, the Falcons will need to find a way to slow down Smith and the rest of the Wolves offense.

"Kane is a very well-balanced, well coached team," Simcoe said. "We have to do a better job on defense and challenge them more. Also we have to do a better job in the field position battle. We showed the ability to move the ball against them at times, but we need to be more consistent."

Smith has had a very solid season for Kane completing 60.4 percent of his passes (90-for-149) for 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns to go along with six interceptions. Smith has added an additional 280 yards on the ground and seven touchdowns.

But he isn’t the only reason the Wolves are averaging 29.3 ppg.

Tailback Matt Burton has emerged as a force the past three weeks. Replacing Mike Jamerson (87 carries, 391 yards, 8 touchdowns) at tailback just a couple of weeks ago, Burton has rushed 71 times for a team-leading 425 yards and six touchdowns.

Wide receiver Hugh Rich and Tim Smith as well as Jamerson have all had outstanding seasons catching the football.

Rich has 31 catches for 329 yards and two touchdowns, while Tim Smith has 20 catches for 254 yards and two scores. Jamerson has added 14 catches for 140 yards and one touchdown.

On offense, quarterback Ben Cary, running backs Zack Hershey and Ross Simcoe and a host of wide receivers lead Coudersport.

In the AML title game last week, Cary was 11-for-26 passing for 191 yards and three touchdowns while throwing two interceptions. On the season he has completed 73-for-162 passes for 1,152 yards and 11 touchdowns to go along with 5 interceptions.

Hershey, meanwhile, is a threat to both run and catch the football. Last week he had eight carries for 20 yards but also caught five passes for 98 yards and a score.

On the season he has 144 carries for 780 yards and 18 touchdowns and 17 receptions for 223 yards and one touchdown.

Cary and Hershey are a large reason why the Falcons are scoring 26.8 ppg, but they are not the only reasons.

Simcoe, the coach’s son, has toted the ball 64 times for 248 yards and two touchdowns, and Zach Pucci has 196 yards rushing and a touchdown and 261 yards receiving.

"Coudy is a great football team," Bouch said. "We played good run defense when we had to (last week) and forced them into a situation where they had to throw. That made it easier for us in the second half. Coudy still has a great trapping game, and Cary can hurt you if he has time. We need to tackle better in the open field. We had people around the ball on both long TD passes."

Bouch said his game plan won’t change much now that he has played Coudersport already.

"Offensively we will continue to utilize our weapons … a strong running game and a good passing game to try to move the ball and score," Bouch said. "We need to run the football, tackle well and stop their ground game. At the same time, we need to be able to control their receivers and the QB with the passing game."