EISENHOWER SHOCKS COUDERSPORT

SEPT. 6 WEEK TWO - Eisenhower 21, Coudersport 14

COUDERSPORT – Eisenhower used a ferocious pass rush and an effective aerial game to rally from a 14-0 deficit to defeat the Coudersport Falcons 21-14 Friday night in Coudersport.

The Knights' win is causing many to reassess their early season forecasts of both Allegheny Mountain League divisions.

Quarterback Jake Curtis and wide out Ryan Irwin hooked up five times for 107 yards and a touchdown for Eisenhower (1-1 overall, 1-1 AML North), while sophomore place kicker Jason Passinger nailed a pair of field goals to lead the Eisenhower's comeback.

Coudersport (1-1, 1-1) was plagued by three lost fumbles, picking up where the Falcons left off the previous week when they turned the ball over five times to Cameron County but still held on for a 20-6 win.

The Falcons appeared to be on their way to a lopsided victory early on driving 54 yards for a TD late in the first quarter. Zach Hershey found paydirt from three yards away. Caleb Morris booted the PAT.

Moments later, Hershey's long punt return set up Coudy at the Eisenhower 23, and the senior tailback ran through left tackle for another TD five plays later. Morris's kick put the hosts ahead 14-0 with 9:00 left in the first half.

But that proved to be Coudersport's last hurrah.

Curtis clicked with Irwin for a picture-perfect 40-yard pass play that carried Ike deep into Coudersport territory only to be turned away, but moments later the Golden Knights took possession at midfield. Eric Sirianni rambled for 20 yards to set up a 5-yard Curtis-to-Irwin TD pass. Irwin also scored the two-point conversion.

With time running out in the first half, the Knights recovered a Falcon fumble at the Coudersport 35. The ensuing drive ended with Passinger's 21-yard field goal cutting the deficit to 14-11 at the intermission.

Disaster struck for the hosts when Hershey muffed a punt early in the second half and Eisenhower took over at the Falcon 4.

Bart Moon scored from two yards out and Passinger added the PAT giving Ike an 18-14 lead.

It was deja vu in the closing seconds of the third period, as the Knights recovered another muffed punt at Coudersport's 17.

The Falcon defense stiffened, but Passinger drilled an impressive 38-yard field goal to give the visitors a 21-14 advantage.

Eisenhower's defense turned things up a notch in the final quarter, dogging Coudersport quarterback Ben Cary relentlessly.

The Falcons did manage to move the ball down to Eisenhower's 28 in the closing minutes, as Cary found Zach Hetrick and Zach Hershey open on three straight pass attempts.

But Eisenhower came after Cary down the stretch recording three consecutive sacks that cost the Falcons not only 35 yards, but also possession of the football and, in effect, the game.

Stats: First Downs: Eisenhower 10, Coudy 7; Rushing: Eisenhower 37-61, Coudy 28-42; Passing: Eisenhower 20-11-0-171, Coudy 14-5-0-69; Total Yards: Eisenhower 232, Coudy 111; Fumbles Lost: Coudy 3, Eisenhower 0; Penalties: Coudy 3-20, Eisenhower 5-40.