DUBOIS — Tom Storey doesn’t much care about the past 13 months.
It doesn’t matter to him that his Coudersport Falcons haven’t lost a District 9 game since last October or that they’ve won their 10 games this season by an average of over 40 points.
And most especially for Storey, the fact that Coudy already beat its opponent tonight — Redbank Valley — 56-0 in the regular season is a moot point.
No, the third-year coach, who is a military man, says you can throw all of that out in preparation for Saturday’s championship game and compares the matchup against the Bulldogs to another contest he’s very familiar with.
“It’s like I told the guys, for me, this is like the Army-Navy game,” he said. “The season goes as it goes for both teams and just like that game this comes down to the last game. It comes down to that game, it’s no holds barred, everybody goes at it.”
About 275 miles from where December’s annual game between military branches will take place in Philadelphia, Storey’s Falcons will battle Redbank Valley in the D9 Class A title game at 1 o’clock Saturday at DuBois’ Mansell Stadium.
The Falcons bested Smethport, 44-7, in last year’s championship game, a matchup that was postponed two days and moved three different times due to weather.
Crisp temperatures are forecasted Saturday afternoon, but there are no such concerns with Mother Nature this time around. Instead, the Falcons can focus fully on the task at hand as they hope to repeat.
“We are just treating it like any other game,” Storey said. “Obviously it’s a little different being a District championship game and the kids know it and everything, but they seem to be up to it and are ready to defend the title.”
Standing in Coudersport’s way of a repeat is a foe that has had a nearly equally strong 2019 campaign — except for two tough weeks in October.
Redbank Valley (9-2) entered its Week 7 matchup against the Falcons at 7-0 and on top of the Small School South division.
They soon realized what everyone else on Coudy’s schedule did at some point this year: the Falcons are the best, on both sides of the ball, in District 9.
Coudersport held RV to 82 yards of offense, had two pick-sixes, and rushed for 300 yards and six scores on the ground.
It resulted in a 56-0 Coudy romp.
“The preparation,” Storey credited as the key to that win. “We studied what they did on the offensive side and we just need to continue to focus on what they’ve been doing (since). Again, we’re playing game-to-game and that’s what we still do.”
After a first-round bye in the postseason, the top-seeded Falcons beat Smethport 35-6 in last week’s semifinal game. Coudersport was without star running back and linebacker Travis Gleason a week ago, but he’s been cleared to return against the Bulldogs.
Gleason has 1,178 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground and had made 40 tackles — including 10 behind the line of scrimmage — defensively.
“He’s excited to be back and we’re looking forward to having him,” Storey said. “Having him back, I’m sure (the rest of the team) will be excited to have him running the ball and I’m sure
the sharing of the ball for us as coaches will be a nice thing as well.”
Brandt Kightlinger rushed for 111 yards on 15 carries as the featured back in Gleason’s absence.
For Redbank Valley, which beat Union/A-C Valley 32-6 in its semifinal game after losing to them just three weeks prior, it will be without one of its top playmakers today.
Quarterback Gunner Mangiantini (six passing touchdowns; 388 yards, six TDs rushing) broke his collarbone in that loss to Coudersport and is out for the season.
The Bulldogs will have freshman Cam Wagner under center today, but the RV offensive game plan is run heavy. They have four players with at least 380 yards on the season, including featured tailback Ray Schreckengost (738 yards, 10 touchdowns).
“I think the physicality of the game was established (last game),” Storey said. “For us, it’s just a matter of going out there to beat them and knock them out of the way. As we do in the running game, you’ve got to block and get them out of the way to move the ball down the field.”
Nearly all of the Falcons’ top playmakers have playoff experience and factored into last year’s title game, including starting quarterback Hayden Keck (725 rushing yards, 13 TDs) and top tackler Thomas Wilson (56 tackles, 5 tackles for loss). Storey said that experience will not only help the team as they take the field Saturday, but it’s also one of the biggest reasons they’ve gone so far this year without a loss.
Coudersport is the last remaining Class A unbeaten…in the entire state.
“That’s been the whole season,” he said. “Having those guys who accomplished what they did last year and being able to carry it forward this year has been big. That’s what they are continuing to do.”
Coudersport is seeking its sixth title in school history and second back-to-back championship after winning it all in 2005 and 2006. RV is pursuing its first championship since 1996.
The winner tonight advances to next week’s PIAA quarterfinal against either Farrell (District 10) or Tussey Mountain (District 5). The Falcons were eliminated by Farrell in the playoffs last season.
