BROCKWAY WINS AML TITLE

BROCKWAY – Seth Rhed scored two touchdowns, and Brockway took advantage of two Coudersport interceptions to win the AML Title 21-13 over the Falcons in the AML Title game Saturday night at Brockway.

"It has been a long time coming," Brockway head coach Ray Reckner said about the Rovers first AML Title since joining the league in 1999. "There always seemed to be someone just a little bit better than us in the (AML) South. This is a tribute to the kids and to the coaching staff. It is also wonderful for the community. I am really happy for the kids."

For Coudersport, it was another disappointment in its quest for its first AML Title. It marked the second year in a row the Falcons lost the AML Title game. Last season Coudersport fell to Kane 35-19 in the championship game.

"It is a little different this year," Coudersport head coach Paul Simcoe said. "Last year Kane played a super game. This year turnovers were the difference in the game. Tonight it was a different type of game."

Both of Coudersport interceptions came in the first half, and they resulted in possible a 21-point swing.

The first interception came with Coudersport at looking at third-and-goal from the Brockway 11-yard line after getting great field position after a 9-yard Brockway punt.

John Gerhart, who alternated at quarterback with Scott Easton on nearly every play for the first three and a half quarters, dropped back to pass looking for a receiver in the end zone. But the Rovers put heavy pressure on him, and he lofted a pass in the general direction of the goal line. Jeremy Sickeri jumped in front of the wounded duck and picked it off at the 1-yard line. Sickeri then proceeded to return the interception 51 yards to the Coudersport 48-yard line.

The interception helped set up a 5-yard touchdown run by Andy Martino that gave Brockway a 7-0 lead with 1:34 left in the first quarter.

The game remained 7-0 until midway through the second quarter when a second Brockway interception set up another Rover touchdown.

This time it was Ben Donlin picking off an Easton pass with a sliding catch at the Coudersport 31-yard line giving the Rovers great field position.

"Those two interceptions early really hurt us," Simcoe said.

Five plays following the interception, Brockway made the miscue really hurt when Seth Rhed scored on a 1-yard plunge with 6:04 left in the half giving Brockway a 14-0 lead.

"Coming into the game I told our defensive backs we needed three interceptions to win," Reckner said. "I figured if we got three interceptions we would win the game. Getting those two was really the key in the game. Coudersport doesn’t make many mistakes."

Reckner wasn’t kidding when he said the Falcons don’t make many mistakes. With the two turnovers without a takeaway, it marked the first time all season Coudersport was on the negative side of the turnover battle.

"Fortunately we have been on the plus side of the turnover (battle) all season," Simcoe said. "This was the first game we were on the minus side. When you play a good team, you are going to have a hard time winning when you turn the ball over."

Despite the early turnovers, Coudersport continued to be aggressive.

That aggressiveness paid off when the Falcons used a trick play to get back into the game.

A 33-yard halfback option pass from Jeremiah Wagner to Jeremiah Sasala moved the ball from the Coudersport 44-yard line to the Brockway 23. Five plays later, David Babcock scored on a 4-yard run cutting the Rover lead to 14-7 with 2:17 left before halftime.

But Brockway responded with what might have been the defining drive of the game going 59 yards in nine plays before halftime to extend its lead to 21-7. The drive was set up by a 27-yard kickoff return by Sickeri and was capped on a 3-yard run by Rhed. The touchdown came with just 22 seconds left in the first half.

Coudersport didn’t quit, coming out in the second half and playing evenly with Brockway in the third quarter with neither team getting on the board.

The Rovers had a chance to put the game away midway through the fourth quarter, but a 25-yard field goal attempt by Rhed was wide right giving Coudersport new life with 5:21 left in the game trailing by two scores.

The Falcons then went on their best drive of the game going 80 yards in nine plays scoring on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Scott Easton to Mike Kehr. The extra point was no good, but the Rover lead was just a touchdown and two-point conversion at 21-13. Kehr had two other key receptions on the drive including passes of 32 and 11 yards from Easton as Coudersport went to the hurry-up offense.

"I think they caught us a little off guard with the hurry-up," Reckner said. "We were a little flat footed. Then Kehr made a great catch in the end zone. He was doubled teamed, and found a way to make the catch. He is such a great athlete."

Coudersport attempted an on-side kick, but Brockway recovered near midfield. The Rovers were then able to run the clock out sealing their first AML Title.

Simcoe while disappointed was proud of how his kids never quit.

"We had a chance to win," Simcoe said. "The kids didn’t quit. They battled back. We played a good football team, and they shouldn’t hang their heads. They played well."

Simcoe said he hopes his team performance inspires confidence heading into next week’s District 9 Class A playoff game with Port Allegany.

"If the kids come back and know they played well tonight, we should be in good shape next week," Simcoe said. "Hopefully they won’t hang their heads."

On the statistics sheet, Brockway dominated out gaining Coudersport 316-194. But the Coudersport defense employed a bend but don’t break tactic most of the night.

"Our defense has played well all year," Simcoe said. "If you take away the two turnovers that gave them a short field (the game could have been different. But give Brockway credit, they took advantage of our mistakes."

Reckner realized winning the AML Title was just one step in a longer journey that he hopes sees the Rovers repeat as District 9 Class AA champions.

"This was a good test against a good team," Reckner said.

Rhed led Brockway with 20 carries for 109 yards and the two touchdowns. Martino had 20 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown, while Sickeri had 18 totes for 90 yards.

Easton was 5-for-11 passing for 89 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Coudersport. Ross Simcoe ran 11 times for 44 yards, while Kehr had three catches for 61 yards and the touchdown.

BROCKWAY 21, COUDERSPORT 13

Score by Quarter

Coudersport 0 7 0 6 – 13

Brockway 7 14 0 0 – 21

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

B – Andy Martino 5 run (Seth Rhed kick), 1:34

Second Quarter

B – Rhed 1 run (Rhed kick), 6:04

C – David Babcock 4 run (Nick Keagle kick), 2:17

B – Rhed 3 run (Rhed kick),:22

Fourth Quarter

C – Mike Kehr 18 pass from Scott Easton (Kick failed), 3:52

TEAM STATISTICS

C B

First Downs 9 21

Rushes-Yards 25-72 60-287

Passing Yards 122 29

Passes: Comp-Att-Int 6-19-2 4-7-0

Total Yards 194 316

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-0

Penalties-Yards 4-35 8-50

Punts-Avg. 5-39.6 4-26.3

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing – Coudersport: David Babcock 9-27, Ross Simcoe 11-44, Jeremiah Wagner 1-1, John Gerhart 3-5, Scott Easton 1-(-5). Brockway: Jeremy Sickeri 18-90, Seth Rhed 20-109, Andy Martino 20-95, Matt Foradora 1-(-8), John Himes 1-1.

Passing – Coudersport: Scott Easton 5-for-11, 89 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception; John Gerhart 0-for-6, 0 yards, 1 interception; Jeremiah Wagner 1-for-2, 33 yards. Brockway: John Himes 4-for-7, 29 yards.

Receiving – Coudersport: Ross Simcoe 1-21, Jeremiah Sasala 1-33, Brad Austin 1-7, Mike Kehr 3-61. Brockway: Andy Martino 1-11, Brent Carnahan 1-15, Seth Rhed 2-3.

Interceptions – Brockway: Jeremy Sickeri, Ben Donlin.