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By Chris Rossetti

CURWENSVILLE – If its smash-mouth, ground-oriented football with hard-hitting defenses that you like then the AML Title Game Friday night in Curwensville is where you need to be.

That’s because both teams in the game, Cameron County (9-0), the AML-North champion, and Curwensville (7-2), the AML-South, champion, love that kind of football.

In fact, between them they have passed for all of 857 yards combined or fewer than both teams leading rushers.

And defensively, don’t think about scoring a lot of points because it isn’t going to happen. They have combined to allow a total of 201 points in 18 games (11.2 ppg) this season.

The game is a rematch of an early season contest between the schools, and if that game is any indication this one will be worth the price of admission.

On Sept. 25 in Emporium, Cameron County fought out a 19-18 overtime victory when Jason Blose hit Vince Summers with a 9-yard touchdown pass in overtime and Hunter Bardo won the game with an extra point. This was after Curwensville had taken an 18-12 lead in the overtime on a 7-yard Alex Holland touchdown run but the extra point was blocked. Cameron County led 12-0 early only to see Curwensville tied the game before halftime.

Two of the top backs in District 9 will be featured in the game with Curwensville led by Jed Greslick (207 carries, 1,312 yards, 15 touchdowns; 12 catches, 195 yards, 1 touchdown) and Cameron County by Andy Lippert (159 carries, 1,223 yards, 16 touchdowns; 7 catches, 108 yards, 1 touchdown). Greslick had 104 yards Sept. 25 vs. Cameron County, while Lippert had 101 yards rushing on just 12 carries and also caught two passes for 85 yards. He scored a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the game.

Each team will also come out you with dual-threat quarterbacks.

In Curwensville’s case it’s Sam Gardner who is 31 of 64 passing this season for 407 yards, three touchdowns and four picks while also running for 274 yards and seven touchdowns on 58 carries. Gardner was 6 of 13 for 56 yards, a touchdown and an interception in the Sept. 25 game and also ran for 38 yards and a score.

Cameron County answers Gardner with lefty Jason Blose who is 28 of 66 passing for 437 yards, seven touchdowns and two picks while also running for 483 yards and five scores on 83 carries. Blose completed just 5 of 19 passes Sept. 25 vs. Curwensville but those throws went for 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was picked off once and also ran for 36 yards.

The difference in the running attacks lies in the fact Curwensville has third back it can throw at people in Alex Holland. Holland has 686 yards and eight touchdowns on 123 carries and has added a receiving touchdown while catching three passes for 18 yards. Holland had 78 yards rushing vs. Cameron this season and also caught a touchdown pass.

Cameron County, though, can counter with a couple of players skilled at catching passes in Ryan Grimm (12 catches, 173 yards, 3touchdowns) and Vince Summers (7 catches, 144 yards, 3 touchdowns).

On defense, Holland (65 tackles, 1 sacks, 4 fumbles caused, 2 fumbles recovered) and Gardner (50 stops, 2 interceptions) lead Curwensville, while Andrew Fragale (77 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 interception), Lippert (63 tackles, 3 sacks), Tanner Johnson (57 tackles, 4 sacks) and Blose (52 tackles, 2 interceptions) lead Cameron County.

If you are looking for big-game experience to win out, then go with Cameron County. The Red Raiders are playing in their third straight AML Title game but are looking for their first AML Title during that stretch after losing to Kane in each of the last two seasons. Cameron also has been to the past two District 9 Class A title games falling to Kane in 2007 but beating Clarion to win its first D9 title since 1999, which was also the last time the Red Raiders won an AML Title.

As a school, Curwensville has plenty of experience in big games over the last decade as this will be the Golden Tides sixth trip to the AML Title game since joining the AML in 1999 with all six coming since 2000. The last one, though, was in 2006 when most of this year’s team was either freshmen or still in junior high. Curwensville has two AML titles to its credit winning in 2000 and 2004 but has lost the last two games it has been in falling to Coudersport in both 2005 and 2006. Curwensville has also won two District 9 Class A titles since 2000 beating Clarion in 2000 and Clarion-Limestone in 2004. The Tide lost in the D9 A championship tilt in 2001 to Coudersport and in 2006 to Coudersport.

A bit more than just the AML title is on the line in this game, as well, as the winner should get the No. 1 seed in the upcoming District 9 Class A playoffs. If Cameron County loses, they will fall to the No. 3 seed, while a Curwensville loss would drop the Golden Tide to No. 4.