COUDERSPORT 31, CLARION 7

Nov. 19, 2005 - District 9 Class A Championship Game

By Chris Rossetti

CLARION – Coudersport scored on each of its first five possessions and never looked back on its way to a 31-7 win over Clarion in the District 9 Class A Championship game Saturday night at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium.

It is the first D9 title for Coudersport since 2001.

"I think we did it as we have done it all year," Coudersport head coach Paul Simcoe said. "We played as a team. We have a lot of weapons and a lot of balance. People take some things away, and we are able to come back and do some other things. I think that has been a big trademark of this team all year, their versatility."

Clarion lost in the District 9 title game for the third time since 1999.

"They were better than us tonight," Clarion head coach Larry Wiser said. "I thought we had the type of schedule to prepare us for a game like this. I really don’t have any answers right now. I walk away puzzled here."

Coudersport led 12-7 at the end of the first quarter and then scored 16 unanswered points in the second quarter to put the game away by halftime.

"We don’t have the type of team that can come back from big deficits," Wiser said.

The Falcon speed – especially the speed of David Babcock and Sam Decker – played a big role in the game. Babcock rushed 146 yards, while Decker rushed for 55 and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 91 and a third score.

Coudersport’s up front people – both on offense and defense – played a big role as well. The Falcons rushed for 240 yards while holding Clarion 150 yards rushing, the second worst mark of the year for the Bobcats.

"There’s no question that was one of the better lines we have played this year," Wiser said. "That line handles us more than nay line has done this year and that includes Kennedy Catholic."

Coudersport led 12-0 thanks to a 33-yard pass from Boomer Wetzel to Decker with 7:04 left in the first quarter and a 1-yard Decker run with 2:37 to play in the quarter.

Clarion answered with a 31-yard Eric Grejda touchdown run with 22 seconds to play in the first 12 minutes to cut the Coudy lead to 12-7 going into the second quarter.

Caleb Morris, Coudersport’s all-world kicker, booted a 27-yard field goal all the way to Uni-Mart to make it 15-7 with 9:42 to play in the first half, and then two big plays helped the Falcons put the game away.

The first big play was a long punt return by Decker that set up a 14-yard touchdown pass from Wetzel to Chris Cavallari with 6:07 to play in the half.

Decker also came up with the second big play returning an interception from deep in Coudersport territory into Clarion territory. That set up a 21-yard Decker touchdown run that made it 28-7 at halftime.

"I didn’t really think we would do that (score on our first five possessions)," Simcoe said. "Their defense has been pretty good. We thought we would be able to move the ball. But you never expect that as a coach. There were two good football teams here."

Another 27-yard field goal by Morris closed out the scoring in the third quarter.

Clarion played portions of the third quarter without starting quarterback Sean Wolf, who was hurt near the end of the first half. Wolf did return to the game after Adam Bevevino played a couple of series.

Wetzel was 6 of 8 passing for 150 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Wolf was 5 of 10 passing for 81 yards and an interception. Manny Carpin had three catches for 53 yards, while Grejda ran 11 times for 97 yards. Chris McSwain was held to 57 yards on 13 carries.

"We weren’t keying on McSwain anymore than anyone else," Simcoe said. "You have to try to play it straight and not give up the big play. I thought we controlled him pretty well tonight."

Coudersport now plays District 10 champion Kennedy Catholic next week at a District 10 site and time to be determined.

COUDERSPORT 31, CLARION 7

Score by Quarter

Clarion 7 0 0 0 – 7

Coudersport 12 16 3 0 – 31

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

CO – Sam Decker 33 pass from Boomer Wetzel (kick blocked), 7:04

CO – Decker 1 run (pass failed), 2:37

CL – Eric Grejda 31 run (Chris McSwain kick), :22

Second Quarter

CO – Caleb Morris 27 field goal, 9:42

CO – Chris Cavallari 14 pass from Wetzel (kick failed), 6:07.

CO – Decker 21 run (Morris kick), 4:12

Third Quarter

CO – Morris 27 field goal, 6:40

Team Statistics

CL CO

First downs 9 17

Rushes-yards 37-150 48-240

Passing Yards 81 150

Comp-Att-Int 5-14-1 6-9-1

Total yards 231 390

Punts-Avg. 7-34 0-0

Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-1

Penalties-yards 10-86 5-35

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Clarion: McSwain 13-57, Grejda 11-97, Sean Wolf 6-(-21), Manny Carpin 5-14, Elliot Fabri 1-7, Adam Bevevino 1-(-4). Coudersport: David Babcock 22-146, Decker 10-55, Mike Cole 6-6, Cavallari 5-26, Team 2-(-3), Josh Corey 1-10, Colton Corey 1-2, Wetzel 1-(-2).

PASSING – Clarion: Wolf 5 of 10, 81 yards, 1 Int.; Bevevino 0 of 4. Coudersport: Wetzel 6 of 8, 150 yards, 2 TDs, 1 Int.; Babcock 0 of 1.

RECEIVING – Clarion: Carpin 3-53, McSwain 1-24, Blake Lantelme 1-4. Coudersport: Decker 3-91, Cavallari 2-18, Logan Hathaway 1-41.

INTERCEPTIONS – Clarion 1 (Carpin) Coudersport 1 (Decker).