BROOKVILLE HOSTS DUBOIS IN EARLY "BIG GAME"

DuBois (1-1 overall, 1-0 D9 League) at Brookville (2-0, 1-0)

Week Three - 7 p.m. Friday Sept. 12

BROOKVILLE – Call it an early "big game" for the DuBois Beavers and Brookville Raiders in their District 9 League encounter Friday night at Brookville Area High School.

For Brookville (2-0 overall, 1-0 D-9 League), it’s a chance to knock off the Beavers for the first time ever on its own field and start a season 3-0 for the first time since 1989. The Raiders have never beaten DuBois twice in a row either.

For DuBois (1-1 overall, 1-0 D-9 League), it’s an opportunity to build on the success it achieved in last week’s streak-busting 14-6 win over Punxsutawney that snapped a 15-game losing streak.

And for either team, it’s a chance to take possession of first place in the District 9 League or at least a share of it with Bradford, assuming the favored Owls can beat Punxsutawney at home Friday night. St. Marys hasn’t played a league game yet.

Kickoff Friday is set for 7 p.m. in what should be a packed facility at Brookville. A Raiders home game with DuBois generally is the team’s biggest draw of the season and this year should be no exception.

Three radio stations will carry the game live: WDBA (107.3 FM), WCTR (Kool 103.3) and WOWQ (Q102, 102.1).

Both teams are coming off victories. Brookville edged Clearfield in an unusual 14-12 decision at a muddy Bison Sports Complex last week. The defense and return teams scored all four touchdowns.

A 50-yard interception return for a touchdown by Cliff Park in the third quarter provided the winning margin as Brookville successfully defended a two-point conversion try by Clearfield late in the third quarter to hold on for the win. The Raiders were outgained, 121-62, yet grinded out the hard-fought win.

DuBois got two touchdown runs from quarterback Joe Wanson from 16 and 24 yards out. Wanson completed 5 of 10 passes for 59 yards and rushed for 68 yards on 11 carries. The DuBois defense limited the Chucks to 139 yards of offense and held off a handful of Punxsutawney penetrations deep into Beavers territory. The Beavers recorded four sacks from four different players.

Statistically speaking, the Raiders don’t have impressive offensive numbers. QB Nick Heschke has completed 9 of 19 passes for 188 yards. Matt Gilbert has rushed for 59 yards on 23 carries. Josh Rakovan has rushed for 44 yards and two touchdowns. Four receivers have two or more catches, led by Brent Puller (3-70, 1 TD) and Cliff Park (3-64).

Six different Raiders have scored touchdowns.

Defensively, the Raiders have given up only 102 yards rushing in two games, but have yielded 398 yards passing. Brookville has intercepted three passes.

For DuBois, much of the offense revolves around Wanson, who has passed for 158 yards, completing 12 of 21 passes. Wanson also leads the team in rushing with 109 yards on 18 attempts. He’s scored three of the team’s four touchdowns. Vance Newell has gained 105 yards on 31 carries. Michael Pistner has caught 3 passes for 57 yards, Newell 4 receptions for 50 yards.

Defensively, DuBois has yielded only 115 yards passing in two games and 203 yards rushing.