PORT ALLEGANY LOOKING TO MAKE LONG POST-SEASON RUN

PORT ALLEGANY – A year ago, Port Allegany came as close as any District 9 team came to beating Clarion-Limestone losing 20-8 in the District 9 Class A title game.

The Gators are positioned to potentially make a run back at the title game but will have to replace some key loses.

Port Allegany has six starters returning on offense, but lost it’s the district’s second leading rusher, Claude Haskins (264 carries, 1,549 yards, 17 TDs; 13 catches, 186 yards, 2 TDs) as well as the district’s seventh leading receiver, Jeremy Niece (21 catches, 569 yards, 8 touchdowns).

Also gone to graduation is three-fifths of an offensive line that helped the Gators ranked fifth in the district in total offense and third in rushing offense including center Chad Glasgow, guard Brett Williams and tackle Fran Ludwig.

The cupboard is not all bare, though, with both of last year’s quarterbacks – Craig Flint and Willie Bova – returning along with running backs Bobby Nichols and Cody Anderson, tight end Wade Barber, guard Brian Neal and tackle Mark Wilcox.

Bova and Flint split time at quarterback last season with Bova going 30-for-68 passing for 541 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions and Flint going 25-for-58 for 485 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions.

Nichols was the second leading rusher for Port Allegany and the 26^th leading rusher in District 9 last year gaining 548 yards and six touchdowns on 99 carries, while Anderson added 28 carries for 82 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore.

Barber caught six passes for 64 yards and a touchdown.

New comers to keep an offense on include tight end Justin Gordan and center Steve Tanner.

"Our strengths on offense are split," 22^nd-year head coach Bob Haskins said. "We have some experience in the line, we have experience at quarterback and we have some experience at running back."

On defense, the Gators return five starters from a unit that allowed 12.9 ppg and held C-L to 14.7 points below its average on the season at the time of the District 9 title game.

A defensive line that returns Wilcox and Barber from last season anchors the defensive.

Anderson is the lone returning linebacker, while Bova and Flint return in the secondary.

"Our goals are the same every year," Haskins said. "We want to go undefeated and be AML, District 9 and state champions. It’s better to set lofty goals and fall short then to have short goals and fall short."

NOTE - Haskins is just one win shy of 100 in his career at Port Allegany. Entering his 22nd season coaching the Gators he has a record of 99-89-1.