DUKE CENTER — The Otto-Eldred Terrors took another step towards securing the AML North title with a 24-8 victory over the Coudersport Falcons Friday night.
Both teams entered the evening with identical 4-3 records and both undefeated in AML North play. Sawyer Drummond scored on two running plays while throwing for 263 total yards, completing two touchdown passes of 29 yards and a 70-yard bomb.
The Terrors scored on the first possession of the game, traveling 71 yards in eight plays behind a personal foul penalty against Coudersport and a 34-yard completion by Drummond to Gage Babcock. That set up a Drummond one-yard sneak for the 6-0 score just 1:48 into the game.
On the next drive, Drummond connected with Cameron McGee for 14 yards with a horse collar penalty added on the end of the play to the Falcons 34. Drummond connected with Nick York from eight yards and ran for 12 more yards, setting up his second one-yard score to put the score at 12-0.
Once again the Terrors defense held the Falcons, forcing a punt. Drummond found McGee for 20 yards as the first quarter ended. Drummond hit passes to Close for 10 yards and York for 20 yards before finding Dylan Close in the right side of the endzone for the 18-0 score.
Coudersport failed to pick up a first down punting, to Otto-Eldred only to have the Terrors drive stopped by a Jacob Pitcher interception at the Falcon 24 yard line.
Stephen Kelly capped off a nice drive by Coudersport when he banged into the endzone from three yards out to put the Falcons on the board. Hayden Keck took the snap and fired a bullet to Jared Green who lined up as a wideout for the two point score and an 18-8 score with 1:18 to go in the half. Coudersport intercepted a Drummond pass by Hayden Keck to end the first half.
“We got in trouble early with penalties and gave them a chance to score quick and it’s tough to beat the chains when you put yourself in long distant down situations,” remarked Falcons head coach Tom Storey.
The third quarter saw both defenses stepping up as each team traded punts until the end of the third quarter.
Drummond began the fourth quarter connecting with York for 21 yards to the Terrors 30. On the next play, Drummond dropped back and hit Gage Babcock on the right sideline for a 70-yard touchdown pass. Drummond couldn’t convert the two point attempt and the score went to 24-8 with 11:19 left in the game.
After both teams traded punts, Coudersport had one last chance to get on the board, but were eventually stopped on fourht down. Otto-Eldred then ran the clock down to end the game.
After the game Terror head coach Nick LaBella stated, “There will be some tough sore kids in Otto-Eldred, Oswayo Valley and Coudersport tomorrow. That was as physical of a game as we have played. We scored quick but When Sawyer (Drummond) hit Gage (Babcock) he couldn’t run fast enough for me on the touchdown pass. They had Jared Green sneak out of the box and their defensive end Eli Ayers is tough and we struggled a little. This group of seniors have been with this program some of them starting as freshman and are playing well together. We still have to beat Smethport next week in Smethport to clinch the league so we still have work to do. They are big up front and have some quality athletic talent so we have to get ready. Credit Coudersport; they stayed in the game.”
As for the Falcons a dejected head coach Tom Storey said, “A couple of big plays hurt us. We had some injuries that we had to deal with and we are still trying to put things together offensively. We had some miscommunication tonight and now we have to get back on our horse and get ready for Port Allegany next Friday night at home.”
Drummond finished 14-for-25 for 263 yards and two touchdowns, while Babcock caught four passes for 120 yards and one score.
Otto-Eldred improves to 5-3 and Coudersport drops to 4-4.
BY QUARTERS
Coudersport 0 8 0 0— 8
Otto-Eldred 12 6 0 6—24
TEAM STATISTICS
First Downs: Coudy 9, O-E 19; Rushes/Yards Rushing: Coudy 33-113, O-E 34-102; Yards Passing: Coudy 69, O-E 263; Comp-Att-Int: Coudy 9-16-0, O-E 14-25-3; Punts: Coudy 5-34.4 avg, O-E 3-24.3; Penalties: Coudy 6-65, O-E 4-40; Fumbles-Lost: Coudy 3-2, O-E 0-0; Total Yards: Coudy 182, O-E 365; Offensive Plays: Coudy 49, O-E 59
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
O.E-Sawyer Drummond 1 yard run, run failed, 6-0 10:12
O.E.-Sawyer Drummond 1 yard run, Pass failed, 12-0, 4:03
Second Quarter
O.E.-Sawyer Drummond to Dylan Close 29 yard pass, run failed, 18-0 10:44
Coudy-Hayden Keck three yard run, Hayden Keck to Jared Green pass for 2pts, 18-8 1:18
Fourth Quarter
Sawyer Drummond to Gage Babcock 70 pass, pass failed, 24-8 11:45
