COUDERSPORT — The last two unbeaten teams in District 9 will square off in Coudersport in a rare Saturday night primetime showdown.
The result of that game between Redbank Valley (7-0) and Coudersport (6-0) will leave just one perfect team remaining in D9 and put the winner in the driver’s seat for the top seed in the Class A playoffs.
Both teams have been unequivocally dominant thus far this season. The Bulldogs, led by first-year coach Blane Gold, have allowed just one touchdown over their last three victories. Offensively, RV averages over 37 points per game with quarterback Gunner Mangiantini posing a dual threat on offense with 730 yards and six touchdowns through the air and an additional 371 yards and six scores with his legs. Sophomore Ray Shreckengost is the top option out of the backfield with 466 yards and six touchdowns.
The Falcons, meanwhile, have been District 9’s most dominant squad based off numbers. Coudersport is coming off a 73-12 drubbing of Otto-Eldred a week ago and is averaging nearly 50 points a game through six wins. Defensively, they’ve allowed just 26 points and four touchdowns all season. Last week’s 12 points allowed to the Terrors marked a season-high. Coudy — which has now won nine straight District 9 games, including last year’s title game — is led by running back Travis Gleason’s 748 yards and 13 touchdowns… on just 86 carries this season. The Falcons have won each of their last four games by at least 44 points.
Era reporter Joel Whetzel will be at Saturday’s game. Look for coverage online as well as in Monday’s print edition.
Here’s a look at the rest of this weekend’s games featuring Big 30 teams:
Bradford (1-6) at Clarion (6-1)
CLARION — The Owls will head to Clarion University to play a Bobcats team that is looking to get back on track after last week’s embarrassing 42-0 loss to Ridgway. Clarion was without District 9’s leading rusher Austin Newcomb (937 yards, 15 TDs) last week with an ankle injury, and it’s unknown whether he will play against Bradford tonight. The Owls upset Clarion at home last year in one of their biggest wins of the season and will certainly be looking to play spoiler this time around. Derek Sunafrank ran for 200 yards and 5 scores to lead Bradford’s offense to a season-high 59 points last week against Punxsutawney. The Owls had just 19 points entering last week’s game and aren’t ready to outslug a Clarion offense averaging 40 points per game. But if Bradford can control the clock, and have another turnover-free game, it should be able to stick with the Bobcats — especially if Newcomb remains out.
Ridgway (6-1) at Karns City (5-2)
KARNS CITY — The Elkers are riding high following last week’s aforementioned 42-0 win over Clarion, but their opponent tonight also has plenty of momentum to build upon. The Gremlins have notched two consecutive victories over teams with winning records, including last week’s 22-9 win over Kane on the road. It’ll be a battle of wills between a Karns City offense that has scored 118 points over the last three games and the staunch Ridgway ‘D’ that’s allowed only 20 points since a 25-21 defeat in Week 1. On offense, Ridgway has utilized plenty of weapons including quarterback Paul Gresco (1,073 yards, 11 TDs) and four running backs with at least 250 yards. One of those backs, Gabe Watts (373 yards, 6 TDs) has been the anchor for the Ridgway defense as well with 15 tackles for a loss and eight sacks.
The Elkers can control their own destiny in the Large School division with wins over Karns City and Brookville in each of the next two weeks.
Kane (5-2) at Brookville (6-1)
BROOKVILLE — After starting the season 5-0, the Wolves have dropped back-to-back home games against Clarion and Karns City. The late-season schedule gets no easier tonight against a Brookville squad that’s only loss of the year is to Clarion. The Raiders are led by quarterback Jack Krug, who despite missing several games, has thrown for 1,141 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. According to D9sports.com, Krug is just 73 yards away from becoming only the 12th passer in D9 history to eclipse 5,000 yards. The junior also leads the Raiders with 377 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. For Kane, the explosive plays that helped the team to its 5-0 start have been missing over the last two games. The Wolves will be looking for running back Jake Alcorn (424 yards, 5 TDs) and quarterback Zuke Smith (906 yards, 11 TDs, 7 INTs) to help keep pace with Brookville’s offense in a game that should light up the scoreboard.
SMALL SCHOOL
Cameron County (0-6) at Union/A-C Valley (5-2)
FOXBURG — Still in search of their first victory of the season, the Red Raiders head to A-C Valley HS to play a Falcon Knights squad that has yet to beat a team with a winning record this year. Union/A-C Valley had a five-game win streak snapped last week in a mercy-rule loss to Keystone, and it was the first contest since Week 0 where they failed to score 20 points or more. Cameron County, meanwhile, has lost 10 consecutive games dating back to last season. After being shutout in their first two games, the Red Raiders have scored 39 over their last four.
Otto-Eldred (1-6) at Curwensville (1-6)
CURWENSVILLE — These two teams have combined to lose nine straight games, and the results haven’t been particularly pretty. The Terrors lost to Coudy 73-12 last Friday, while the Golden Tide have dropped their last two games by a combined 83-0. In fact, Curwensville has scored just one touchdown total in its last five games. Otto-Eldred will look to take advantage of that as well as getting its high-powered offense — led by quarterback Cole Sebastian (1,577 yards, 17 TDs, 8 INTs) — back on track.
Elk County Catholic (3-3) at Sheffield (2-5) – Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
SHEFFIELD — Coming off a bye week, the Crusaders will look to score a critical victory before wrapping up their season with two tough games against Keystone and Elk County Catholic. After an injury to starting running back Stephen Bobby, the Crusader offense has leaned on Sam Kaul (683 yards, 6 TDs) and Raivis Bobby. On the other sideline is a Sheffield team that has scored 53 points to win two of its last three games. Quarterback Aujamier Slappy-Washington has given the Wolverines a formidable passing threat, while Jahid Bennett has been the featured man out of the backfield.
