DISTRICT 9 CLASS A SEMIFINALS BREAKDOWN

DATE: Saturday, Nov. 18 

TIME: Noon

LOCATION: Clarion University's Memorial Stadium – Click for directions

WINNER PLAYS: For D9 Title vs. either Curwensville or Redbank Valley Nov. 24 or 25.

ROSTERS: Johnsonburg, Coudersport

STATS: Johnsonburg, Coudersport

THE COACHES: Johnsonburg – Tom Launer; Coudersport – Paul Simcoe

ABOUT THE GAME: This is a rematch of an Oct. 13 game won by Coudersport 24-0 in Coudersport. In that game, Coudersport led 8-0 at halftime before scoring late in the third quarter and then again late in the fourth quarter. Chris Cavallari had a huge night for the Falcons carrying the ball 28 times for 260 yards and three touchdown. Coudersport’s defense forced five Johnsonburg turnovers while also coming up with a safety. Calvin Grumley, the Rams’ quarterback, was intercepted four times in the game … This is the first postseason meeting between these two AML schools.

ABOUT JOHNSONBURG: The Rams beat Cameron County 17-6 last week to reach the semifinals. It was Johnsonburg’s first playoff win in 10 years … Johnsonburg is looking for its first trip to the District 9 title game since the 1996 season … The Rams one their only D9 title in the first year of the championships in 1987 … Grumley is the straw that stirs the drink for Johnsonburg. The senior has accounted for 68 percent of Johnsonburg’s offense this season and has been involved in 18 of the Rams 26 offensive touchdowns. Grumley is 75-for-167 passing for 1,078 yards, eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions while also running 138 times for 522 yards and 10 scores. He ranks fourth in D9 in passing and 21^st in rushing, which is the third highest total among quarterbacks. Other players to keep an eye on include Jesse Dennis (423 yards rushing, 3 TDs; 21 catches, 314 yards, 2 TDs), John Yonker (27 catches, 439 yards, 5 TDs) and Judd Zilcosky (16 catches, 191 yards, 1 TD). Yonker is fifth in D9 in receiving and Dennis is 16^th. The Rams rank 13^th in D9 in scoring offense (20.7 ppg) but 2^nd in scoring defense (8.0 ppg). The 24 points Coudy put on Johnsonburg in the first game account for 30 percent of the points the Rams have allowed this year.

ABOUT COUDERSPORT: The Falcons are the defending District 9 Class A champions … Coudersport, which beat Clarion 32-14 in a closer-than-the-score looks game last week to advance to the semifinals, has won 23 straight games against District 9 opponents last losing to Clarion-Limestone in the 2004 Class A semifinals … Boomer Wetzel (29-for-66, 468 yards, 6 TDs, 5 Ints) and Justen Kinder (19-for-56, 229 yards, 2 TDs, 1 Int) have been splitting time at quarterback with the players alternating on almost every other play last week vs. Clarion … Cavallari got banged up in the first half of the Clarion game but returned midway through the second half and finished with 124 yards and three touchdowns. He is the second leading rusher in District 9 this season with 226 carries for 1,522 yards and 18 touchdowns. Additional players to watch for the Falcons are Kyle Gee (217 yards rushing, 1 TD), Carin Knight (215 yards rushing, 2 TDs), Adam Foust (196 yards rushing, 4 TDs) and Logan Hathaway (15 catches, 265 yards, 5 TDs) … Coudersport’s defense has been a key all season. The Falcons rank first in D9 in points allowed (5.2 ppg) and have allowed double digits just three times including a season-high 14 points to Clarion last week. On offense, Coudy ranks 7^th in D9 in scoring (26.5 ppg).

GAME: (3) Curwensville (9-2) at (2) Redbank Valley (8-3) at Clarion University

DATE: Saturday, Nov. 18

TIME: 2:30 p.m. (Note change)

LOCATION: Clarion University – Click for directions

WINNER PLAYS: For D9 Title vs. either Johnsonburg or Coudersport Nov. 24 or 25.

ROSTERS: Curwensville, Redbank Valley

STATS: Curwensville, Redbank Valley

THE COACHES: Curwensville – Andy Evanko; Redbank Valley – Ed Wasilowski

ABOUT THE GAME: This is the first meeting between these schools … Curwensville is looking to get back to the District 9 title game for the second time in three years and for the fourth time since 2000. The Golden Tide won the title in 2000 and 2004 and lost in 2001 … Redbank Valley is in the Class A Playoffs for the first time after going to the Class AA playoffs nine times between 1991 and 2005. The Bulldogs are in their first year as a Class A team. Last year they lost in the Class AA semifinals.

ABOUT CURWENSVILLE: The Tide are led by a pair of seniors who have been instrumental to their success over the past four years. Nick Sipes is the all-time leading rusher (5,716 yards) and touchdown scorer (81) in District 9 history setting the touchdown mark in last week’s 35-12 win over Ridgway in the first round. In that game, he ran 32 times for 163 yards and three touchdowns. On the season, Sipes is the leading rusher in District 9 with 294 carries for 1,740 yards and 28 touchdowns … Sipes’ right-hand man is quarterback Shawn Sopic. Sopic ran for 120 yards and a TD and threw for 82 and another in the win over Ridgway. He is the top running QB in D9 this season and ranks 15^th in the district with 725 yards and five touchdowns. He is also the 12^th leading passer in D9 (35-for-82, 718 yards, 6 TDs, 4 Ints). In his career, he is 32-8 as a starting quarterback while going 128 of 299 passing for 2,247 yards, 26 TDs, 22 Ints. He also has run the ball 240 times for 1,375 career yards and 18 touchdowns … Curwensville has won 29 of its past 34 games vs. D9 opponents and 32 of its past 38 overall … The Golden Tides only loses this season have come to Coudersport (Week One and Week 10) … Curwensville ranks third in both scoring offense (29.8 ppg) and scoring defense (11.2 ppg) in District 9.

ABOUT REDBANK VALLEY: The Bulldogs shutout Keystone 34-0 last week to advance to the semifinals. Jake Smith had a monster week rushing for 142 yards and three touchdowns and throwing for 115 and two more. On the season, Smith is second in rushing yards among QB’s behind Sopic with 539 yards and 10 TDs, which is good for 20^th in D9. He is also the third leading passer in D9 going 79-for-165 for 1,092 yards, 14 TDs, 9 Ints. Smith isn’t a one-man show. Running back Alex Bladel is one of the top sophomores in D9 and ranks third in rushing (184 carries, 1,315 yards, 14 TDs) in the district while adding 229 yards receiving (31^st best) and three scores. Other skill players to watch for Redbank Valley are Mike Booher (29 catches, 361 yards, 4 TDs; 11^th in D9 in receiving) and Jerrett Magagnotti (16 catches, 202 yards, 3 TDs) … The Bulldogs three loses have come to Class AAA Titusville, Class AA Karns City and Class AA Marion Center, all teams that qualified for the playoffs in their respective districts … Redbank Valley is looking for its first D9 title since winning the Class AA championship in 1996 … The Bulldogs rank 8^th in D9 in scoring offense (26.4 ppg) and 8^th in scoring defense (14.2 ppg).