Everybody is fully aware of the Bradford High football
misfortunes after losing two straight double overtime games to
Clearfield and Olean.

The Owls’ next opponent wishes it could be so lucky.

Punxsutawney arrives at Parkway Field this evening (7 o’clock
kickoff) with an identical 0-2 record, but the Chucks’ fur has been
flying with a 37-0 loss to Bellefonte in their opener and a 34-7
drubbing by DuBois the following week.

“You can’t look at the scores and make them indicative as to
what will happen,” said Steve Ackerman, BHS head coach. “Punxsy has
played some good competition in Bellefonte and DuBois, and I
guarantee they will come up here ready to play football.”

Ackerman says the Chucks run three basic sets offensively with a
lot of variations.

“They (Chucks) run the quarterback and tailback traps out of the
shotgun like Olean ran against us last week,” Ackerman noted. “They
also run a lot of complex pass routes and screens.

“Defensively they play a 3-5 with stunting linebackers,”
Ackerman continued. “Sometimes they’ll load up the wide side of the
field with a four-man front.”

Hopefully the Owls can put their heartbreaking defeats behind
them and rebound with the first win of the 2005 campaign in this
District 9 League match up.

“The kids didn’t quit in either game,” Ackerman declared. “They
understand that mistakes are costing us these games and we would be
2-0 instead of 0-2. I thought in the Olean game Josh Holleran ran
the ball well and played good defense, Jim Milbrandt played well at
safety, Garrett McEwen was outstanding with 16 tackles and Ben
(Walter) played with more composure at quarterback.

“Sure, there’s a lot we need to work on,” Ackerman added. “Our
kickoff return blocking was pitiful and our offensive line play was
inconsistent.”

In conclusion, Ackerman said he made it perfectly clear to his
players he did not want the Punxsy game going into double
overtime.

When it comes to the Owls’ noted Wing-T offense, Punxsy might be
somewhat more comfortable defending it than most teams, since the
Chucks run it as their own offense.

“We run it a little bit differently than Bradford,” explained
Blake Moilan, Punxsy’s first-year head coach. “We run more of a
spread Wing-T and I think we pass a little more than Bradford, but,
yeah, I think that will help us defensively.”

Both teams have yet to pick up that first win of the season.

“Bradford lost those two overtime games, which is tough, so I
think both teams will be hungry for that first ‘W’,” Moilan stated.
“It’s going to be a tough game for us, but we’re excited to come up
there.”

Elsewhere in the District 9 League, DuBois is at Brookville.

The local grid schedule is highlighted this weekend by an AML
battle of unbeatens in Port Allegany as Coudersport takes on the
Gators at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Tonight, Otto-Eldred visits Cameron County, Johnsonburg is at
Curwensville and Kane invades Ridgway. In a non-league game this
evening, St. Marys is in Clarion.

Saturday’s other AML clashes include Smethport at Sheffield and
Brockway at Elk County Catholic.