GAME PREVIEW

Matt Bodamer Kyle Braun Tyce Miller Tom Vervoort Photo by Paul Burdick - http://pburdick.smugmug.com   Photo by Paul Burdick - http://pburdick.smugmug.com   Photo by Paul Burdick - http://pburdick.smugmug.com   Photo courtesy of the DuBois Courier-Express

By Chris Rossetti

BROCKWAY – In a rematch of one of the more compelling early-season games of 2011, Port Allegany will travel to Brockway at 7 p.m. Friday for the AML Title game.

Port Allegany (8-1), the AML North champion, needed two days to defeat Brockway (7-2), the AML South champion and the defending AML Champion, 40-30 in Week Two of the season. The game was halted Friday night halfway through the second quarter and continued Saturday afternoon. Port Allegany trailed 23-14 early in the fourth quarter before scoring 26 unanswered points to win the game.

The Gators possess a high-octane offense that is averaging a District 9-best 41.3 ppg while racking up an average of 414.2 yards per contest.

That offense, which has been held under 40 points just three times and fewer than 30 just twice on the year, is a pass-first offense led by junior quarterback Matt Bodamer.

Bodamer is completing 68.5 percent of his passes (148 of 216) on the year for a District 9-leading 2,353 yards. He has tossed 29 touchdowns and just three interceptions. A dual-threat, Bodamer is also second on the team in rushing with 444 yards and eight touchdowns on 78 carries.

The fourth-leading all-time passer in District 9 history with 5,584 career passing yards, the junior has thrown 65 career touchdowns which ranks fifth in District 9 history behind Derek Buganza (95), Clearfield’s Chad Kroell (79), Clarion-Limestone’s Hayden Johnston (70) and Smethport’s Mike DeFilippi (59). Only Buganza (state-record 9,752 yards), DeFilippi (6,638) and Kroell (6,088) have thrown for more career yards than Bodamer.

As would be figured, Bodamer, who was 23 of 30 for 367 yards and four touchdowns while also running for 35 yards and two scores in the earlier meeting with Brockway, has a ton of weapons at his disposal.

Tyce Miller is his leading receiver with 47 catches for 805 yards and 13 touchdowns, including 13 catches for 228 yards and three touchdowns in the first game against the Rovers, while Charlie Buchanan has 42 grabs for 585 yards and nine scores. Rickie Bova adds 26 catches for 494 yards and three touchdowns with Trevor Miller chipping in 18 catches for 323 yards and four touchdowns. Tyce Miller has

Trent Neal leads a Gator ground game that has still racked up 1,342 yards on the season with 82 carries for 474 yards and nine touchdowns, while Trey Miller adds 220 yards and four touchdowns.

That offense will be facing a Brockway defense that ranks seventh in scoring defense of the eight teams going to the District 9 Class A playoffs, which start next week. The Rovers are allowing 20.4 ppg and have allowed 40 points or more twice and 20 or more four times.

Brockway is still 7-2, though, thanks to an offense that produces 31.9 ppg and an average of 340 yards per game.

But unlike last year when the Rovers threw the ball for nearly 3,000 yards, this year’s squad has gone back to a more traditional Brockway look rushing for 288.8 yards per game while throwing for just a hair over 51 yards per contest.

Quarterback Kyle Braun has made a smooth transition from a pass-catching wide receiver last year when he had 37 catches for 802 yards to a rush-first quarterback this season. Braun leads the Rovers with 907 yards rushing on 124 carries while scoring nine touchdowns. He has is 24 of 57 passing for 408 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions.

He is joined in the Rover run game by Tom Vervoort, who has 126 totes for 744 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Chad Melillo, who has 71 carries for 445 yards and three touchdowns.

Both Braun (100 yards, 1 TD) and Vervoort (103 yards, 1 TD) had 100-yard rushing games in the first meeting against Port Allegany, while Braun also threw for a season-high 120 yards on 4 of 12 passing against the Gators in Week Two. He had two touchdowns but was also picked off twice in that game.

The Rovers also have a special weapon on special teams in kicker Phil Esposito, who has booted five field goals on the season.   

NOTES – Brockway is 2-0 all-time in AML Title games including a 57-27 win at Cameron County in last year’s championship game. The Rovers, who joined the AML in 1999, also defeated Coudersport 21-13 in 2003 at Brockway … Port Allegany is making its fifth AML Title game appearance but its first since 2000. The Gators appeared in the first three AML Title games winning 23-14 in 1986 over Johnsonburg, losing 21-20 to Johnsonburg in 1987 and defeating Ridgway 19-14 in 1988. The Gators also lost to Curwensville 33-21 in 2000 … Both teams have qualified for the District 9 Class A playoffs. Brockway, the 2010 Class AA champion, will be either the No. 2 seed in the District 9 postseason or the No. 6 seed, while Port Allegany, the 2010 Class A runner-up, will be either the No. 2 seed or the No. 4 seed. The Rovers are the No. 2 seed if they win Friday night and the No. 6 if they lose, while Port Allegany is the No. 2 if it wins or the No. 4 if it loses. That means Brockway is playing for a home District 9 playoff game while Port Allegany is assured of a home game either way … The 57 points and 84 combined points in last year’s AML Title game were by far the most ever in AML Title game history. Previous high for points by a single team was 41 by Coudersport in 2005 and the previous combined high was 54 down on three occasions (2005 – Coudersport 41, Curwensville 13; 2002 – Kane 35, Coudersport 19; 2000 – Curwensville 33, Port Allegany 21). Prior to last season, the AML Title game had seen a grand total of 19 points scored in the previous two championship contests (2009 – Curwensville 6, Cameron County 0; 2008 – Kane 7, Cameron County 6) … Port Allegany is the first team not named Cameron County to represent the AML North in the AML Title game since Coudersport beat Curwensville 14-6 in 2006, and the Gators are the first team other than Cameron County and Coudersport to represent the AML North since they did it in 2000, the second year of the North-South format.