COUDERSPORT 20, CURWENSVILLE 12

Curwensville Sipes' becomes just 4th D9 back over 1,000 yards; Coudy connects on state-record 99-yard scoring pass

Sept. 1, 2006

CURWENSVILLE – Chris Cavallari ran 21 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns to lead Coudersport to a 20-12 win over Curwensville in the season opener for both teams Friday night in Curwensville.

Curwensville’s Nick Sipes became just the fourth running back in District 9 history to break the 4,000-yard rushing mark when he ran 30 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns in the losing effort. Sipes now has 4,108 yards the fourth most all-time in D9 behind Brockway’s Aaron Cantafio (4,694), Clearfield’s Dave Richards (4,524) and Clarion Kyle Cathcart (4,449), who's Sipes’ cousin. Sipes also has 55 career touchdowns moving past DuBois’ Gene Mikelonis into fifth place on the all-time scoring list in D9. Cantafio sits in fourth place with 57 touchdowns, while A-C Valley’s Mike Leach is third with 59.

Sipes wasn’t the only one writing records.

The game featured a 99-yard touchdown pass from Coudersport’s Boomer Wetzel to Logan Hathaway. According to the PA Football News, that feat had occurred just two other known times in state history. In 2001, Bethlehem Catholic’s Mark Borda and Shawn Martell hooked up on a 99-yard bomb, while in 1988 Bald Eagle Area’s David Jones threw one to Mark Thompson.

Thanks to the long scoring toss, Wetzel threw for 143 yards on the night while going 4-for-10.

Coudersport led 20-0 at halftime before Curwensville made it close in the second half on touchdown runs of 11 and 16 yards by Sipes.

Coudersport has now won three straight against Curwensville, whose last three loses have come to Coudersport (’05 AML Title Game, ’05 D9 Semifinals, ’06 season opener).

Both teams are back in action at 7 p.m. Friday night with Coudersport hosting Otto-Eldred and Curwensville traveling to Elk County Catholic.

1. Aaron Cantafio, Brockway (2001) 4,694

2. Dave Richards, Clearfield (2003) 4,524

3. Kyle Cathcart, Clarion (2002) 4,449

4. Nick Sipes, Curwensville (2007) 4,108