By Rich Rhoades

Eight teams in District 9 carry 2-0 records into Week 3 of the high school football season this weekend and two of the district’s 15 games this weekend feature a battle of unbeatens.

Here’s a look at this week’s games featuring 2-0 clashes:

SATURDAY

Curwensville (2-0) at Port Allegany (2-0)

Considering the preseason outlook for both teams, this would get the “Game of the Week” label as the Golden Tide visit the Gators Saturday afternoon in a rematch of last year’s District 9 Class A Championship game.

The Golden Tide beat the Gators for the second time of the season, 37-21, to earn the title. They are probably the favorites to get back there again as the Tide and Gators have their junior stars leading the way. Curwensville running back Alex Holland, coming off his 2,600-yard rushing season, is already off to a hot start with a district-best 468 yards. Port Allegany quarterback Matt Bodamer, who passed for 1,992 yards a year ago, has thrown for 695 yards already with a sharp 74 percent (40-of-54) completion rate. Both players are set to go over the same 4,000-yard milestone this week as Holland sits at 3,888 rushing yards and Bodamer is at 3,926 passing yards.

Both players have some help on their respective teams. Bodamer has been able to hook up with his top receive plenty of times. Tyce Miller has caught 16 passes for 261 yards and four touchdowns, 13 receptions and 228 yards coming in last week’s 40-30 shootout win at Brockway.

Curwensville quarterback Hunter McCracken has thrown up some good numbers as well, throwing for 247 yards and four touchdowns. Jesse Zorger has seven catches for 175 yards with two interceptions on defense.

Since joining the Allegheny Mountain League in 1998, the Golden Tide have never lost to the Gators, owning a perfect 8-0 record.

FRIDAY

Coudersport (2-0) at Elk County Catholic (2-0)

In another week of crossover games in the Allegheny Mountain League, the Falcons travel to St. Marys to take on the Crusaders at Dutch Country Stadium. Caden Whitman (221 yards, 4 TDs) and Mitch Freeman (145 yards, 4 TDs) lead the Coudersport running attack. Whitman ranks fifth in the district in yardage. For ECC, Cole Gerber’s 283 yards rushing is third in the district. ECC’s 26-21 win at Coudersport ended a seven-game losing streak the Falcons that dated back to its last win in 1996.

In another big game:

Moniteau (2-0) at Brookville (1-1)

It’s another possible District 9 championship preview, this time in Class AA as the Warriors visit the Raiders in an important KSAC-Large School matchup as well. The Raiders already have a division loss to St. Marys, so a loss to the Warriors would knock the Raiders out of that race.

Both teams could play the game without their top players. Both Kyle Armagost of Moniteau and Ryan Kerr of Brookville did not finish last week’s game because of injuries and their status for Friday night is uncertain. Armagost was a 1,000-1,000 passing and rushing quarterback for the Warriors last year while Kerr ran for over 1,500 yards for the Raiders.

In his first two games, Armagost passed for 219 yards and rushed for 191 yards with three TDs rushing and two passing. Sophomore Dustin Geagan has rushed for 210 yards on 24 carries. Ethan Pry, Armagost’s top receiving target, also made three interceptions on defense last week against Clarion.

Raiders quarterback Steve Kennedy has completed 20 of 34 passes for 297 yards and six touchdowns. With Kerr out last week, sophomore Zach Vroman rushed for 134 yards on just nine carries and scored on a 74-yard run.

The Raiders haven’t beaten the Warriors at home since the season opener in 2003.

In other games of note:

St. Marys (2-0) at Punxsutawney (1-1) — The Dutch running trio of Cody Baker (243 yards, 4 TDs), Justin Quiggle (173 yards, 3 TDs) and Brian Merritt (166 yards, 2 TDs) account for most of the team’s offense. Chucks quarterback Garrett Zimmerman has passed for 277 yards.

Slippery Rock (1-1) at DuBois (2-0) — The Beavers are trying to go 3-0 for the first time since 2005. Quarterback Sean Sleigh has completed 63 percent of his passes (24-of-38) for 247 yards. He completed passes to nine different receivers in last week’s win over Oil City. Running back Brady Haines has rushed for 241 yards and four touchdowns.

Ridgway (1-1) at Sheffield (0-2)

In a Saturday afternoon game, the Elkers head to Warren County. Elkers first-year senior Eric Matheson leads the district in scoring with 51 points. He’s scored seven touchdowns five different ways — two receptions, two fumbles returns/recoveries, one kickoff return, one punt return and one rushing.

Penns Valley (1-1) at Clearfield (2-0)

The Bisons are led by running back Beau Swales, whose 284 yards rushing rank second in the district.

Erie Central (1-1) at Bradford (0-2)

The Owls haven’t been 0-3 since starting the 2002 season 0-4.

Elsewhere on Friday, Brockway (1-1) travels to Smethport (0-2), Kane (1-1) hosts Cameron County (1-1) and Otto-Eldred (0-2) visits Johnsonburg (0-2) in the other AML crossover games.

In KSAC-Small School Division matchups, Clarion (1-1) hosts Union (1-1), Clarion-Limestone (1-1) heads to Keystone (0-2) and Redbank Valley (1-1) hosts A-C Valley (0-2). Karns City (1-1) hosts perennial power Wilmington (2-0) in a non-conference game.