By Andy Close

COUDERSPORT – It wasn’t your typical 4 vs.5 matchup, as Coudersport used a balanced rushing attack and solid defense to beat Keystone in a 35-6 runaway at Coudersport Area Recreational Park Friday.

“We wanted to establish the run because that’s what we do,” said Coudersport head coach Brendan Hathaway.  “Our best defense is our offense.  We need to control the clock, and we did a great job of that tonight.”

After forcing a turnover on downs by the Keystone offense, Coudersport (8-2) mounted a 5-play, 62-yard drive that was capped off on a 1-yard touchdown run by freshman Mitch Freeman to make it 7-0 early in the second quarter.

The Falcons scored quickly again on their following offense possession thanks to a couple of big plays. Dirk Cowburn’s 26-yard run preceded a 33-yard touchdown pass from Tim McCusker to Jordan Barnett, Coudersport’s only pass completion of the game that made it 14-0.

“The kids have really bought in to what we want to do on offense,” Hathaway said.  “This is a very special and very unselfish group.”

Keystone (7-4) had a chance to turn the momentum before halftime, as a pass from Dan Reed to B.J. Seyler coupled with a pass interference call set-up the Panthers with a first-and–goal from the Falcon 9-yard line.  Keystone went backward from there, as Reed was sacked on third and fourth downs for a combined negative 35 yards to give Coudy the ball at its own 43-yard line with just over a minute remaining before halftime.

“They were just more physical than we were,” said Keystone head coach Jason Nellis. “I don’t think it was a lack of execution on our part. It was just a lack of us making plays.”

The Falcons took advantage, as Barnett raced up the right sideline for a 35-yard touchdown just two plays later to turn what potentially might have been a 14-7 halftime score into 21-0.

“That game could have been 14-7 and it ended up being 21-0,” Hathaway said.  “That was just a huge stop by our defense.”

The Falcons put the game away on their first drive of the third quarter with Dirk Cowburn scoring on a 17-yard run that capped a 9-play, 68-yard drive.

Keystone’s lone touchdown came on a reverse pass from Brett Zuck to Reed that went for 75 yards.

“This group has a lot to be proud of,” said Nellis of his senior class that includes both Reed and Zuck.  “They put an assault on the schools record books, and I know this isn’t how they wanted to go out but they have had great careers.”

Freeman capped the scoring with his second touchdown of the night early in the fourth quarter to make it 35-6.

The Falcon defense was able to put pressure on Reed all night, limiting District 9’s second leading passer to 104 yards while forcing two interceptions.

“You can’t let Dan (Reed) sit in the pocket, he’s too good,” said Hathaway.  “All week we knew we had to send pressure, and we were able to do that.”

Ten different players toted the ball for Coudy, with Kevin Wolfinger’s 91 yards leading the way.

The win sets the stage for the second meeting of the year between Coudy and Curwensville, a 30-8 winner over Redbank Valley.  The Falcons won in Week Three 23-6.

“Curwensville is going to want to pay us back,” Hathaway said. “I don’t care who we play against, every week you go and prepare the same and the kids are playing really well right now. It’s going to be a battle next week.”

COUDERSPORT 35, KEYSTONE 6

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Coudersport- 0 21 7 7

Keystone-     0  0  6 0

SCORING SUMMARY

SECOND QUARTER

C- Mitch Freeman 1 run (Cooper Bonczar kick) 11:56

C- Jordan Barnett 33 pass from Tim McCusker (Bonczar kick) 7:37

C- Freeman 35 run (Bonczar kick) :47

THIRD QUARTER

C- Dirk Cowburn 17 run (Bonczar kick) 6:33

K- Dan Reed 75 pass from Brett Zuck (Kick Blocked)  :10

FOURTH QUARTER

C- Freeman 8 run (Bonczar kick) 10:43

Game Stats

                                    Coudersport                Keystone

First Downs                18                                13

Rushes-Yards              47-340                         24-72

Passing Yards             33                                181

Comp-Att.-Int.                        1-2-0                            14-23-2

Total Yards                 373                              253

Penalties-Yards           4-30                             5-75

Fumbles-Lost              1-1                               1-0

Punts-Avg.                  2-33.0                          4-31.0

Individual Stats

Rushing

Coudersport: Kevin Wolfinger 9-91, Tim McCusker 5-54, Dirk Cowburn 4-51, Mitch Freeman 10-36, Jordan Barnett 2-42, Kory Majot 6-35, Creighton Hayes 4-25, Jason Gibson 3-13, Skyler Blumer 2-2, Caden Whitman 1(-)-3, Team 1(-)6.  Keystone: Zach Smith 10-62, Dan Reed 12-21, Kyle Bailey 2(-)-11.

Passing

Coudersport: Tim McCusker 1 of 2, 33 yards, 1 TD.  Keystone: Dan Reed 13 of 22, 104 yards, 2 INT’s, Brett Zuck 1 of 1, 75 yards, 1 TD.

Receiving

Coudersport: Jordan Barnett 1-33.  Keystone: Dan Reed 1-75, B.J. Seyler 5-59, Brett Zuck 3-23, Lexan Montana 2-11, Zach Smith 2-2, Kyle Bailey 1-9.

Interceptions: Coudersport: Caden Whitman, Jordan Barnett