COUDERSPORT –With a 35-6 win over Youngsville Friday night combined with Port Allegany's 21-0 win over Eisenhower Saturday, the Coudersport Falcons clinched the AML North title. 

The Falcons (6-1) will make their first appearance in the AML Title game in two weeks against Kane (6-1), the AML South title winner, at a site and time to be determined. It is also Kane's first ever trip to the AML Title game, so a first-time AML title winner will be determined.

In front of a homecoming crowd, Coach Paul Simcoe's Falcons struck for a pair of early touchdowns and never let the Eagles into the game.

Senior tailback Zach Hershey rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns including a 35-yard jaunt on Coudersport's first play from scrimmage.

On his team's first possession, Youngsville coach Conrad Danielson, not one to stick to the conventional textbook, gambled deep in his own territory on a fourth-and-one. He lost.

Coudersport's defense stacked up Jamie Blum inches short of the first down marker, and the Falcons took over at Youngsville's 35. Hershey proceeded to sweep the left end and run to pay dirt.

Later in the first quarter, Coudersport's Paul Strayer halted a modest Eagle drive by intercepting a Blum aerial near midfield.

Hershey caught a couple of Ben Cary passes for 20 yards and ran for 18 more to set up Zach Pucci's 5-yard TD run. Freshman place kicker Caleb Morris nailed his second of five extra points.

Sophomore Mike Kehr's interception halted Youngsville's next possession.

The Falcons marched 47 yards on four plays, the last one a 14-yard TD toss from Cary to Strayer.

Later in the first half, Hershey picked off a Blum pass and rambled 30 yards to Youngsville's 23. Four plays later, junior fullback Ross Simcoe bulled into the end zone from four yards away and it was 28-0 at the break.

With diminutive sophomore Nathan Williams as the workhorse, the Eagles launched a long drive that consumed much of the third period. Blum completed a couple of short passes to former quarterback Andy Chase but went to the well once too often. His toss over the middle was tipped and hauled down by Coudersport's Craig Mancia.

Blum led the Eagles on another advance that carried into the fourth quarter only to be turned back by a Falcon defensive stand at the Coudy 15.

Hershey proceeded to break away from a pack of would-be tacklers in the middle of the field and race down the sideline for a 65-yard touchdown run.

Blum finally reached the Coudersport end zone with less than three minutes left in the game, scoring on a 28-yard run against the hosts' reserves.

Prior to the game, the Coudersport Football Boosters and the Fighting Falcon Marching Band honored Coach Simcoe for his 150th career victory, which took place two weeks earlier at Smethport.

Scoring by quarters

COUDERSPORT 35, YOUNGSVILLE 6

Youngsville 0 0 0 6 – 6

Coudersport 14 14 0 7 – 35

Statistics:

First Downs: Coudersport 14, Youngsville 14

Rushing: Coudersport 34-255, Youngsville 34-183

Passing: Coudersport 17-10-0-98, Youngsville 18-9-3-71

Total Yards: Coudersport 353, Youngsville 254

Fumbles Lost: Coudersport 0, Youngsville 1

Penalties: Coudersport 2-20, Youngsville 5-40

Individual Leaders:

Rushing: Coudersport-- Zach Hershey 16-159, Ross Simcoe 9-61; Youngsville-- Jamie Blum 16-94, Nathan Williams 11-71.

Passing: Coudersport-- Ben Cary 17-10-0-98; Youngsville-- Jamie Blum 17-9-3-71

Receiving: Coudersport Zach Pucci 5-69, Paul Strayer 3-21; Youngsville: Steve Anthony 4-37, Andy Chase 3-31.