And then there were three.
With Kane and Smethport both losing, just Clarion, Redbank Valley and Coudersport remain perfect on the season after a busy Week 5 slate that featured seven teams scoring 40 points or more, a bevy of movement in the divisional races and a couple of upsets. While none of the 11 games were particularly close (each one was decided by 10 points or more) several teams made statement wins, while others are still left struggling as we’ve officially moved into the second half of the season. Here are some of the top storylines and takeaways from a busy Week 5:
Rewind to marquee games: We knew coming into the weekend that at least two of the five remaining unbeatens would suffer their first blemish of the season. Just how those big games transpired, however, certainly deserves another look.
The defensive struggle that many predicted between Redbank Valley and Smethport lived up to the expectations. Hubbers quarterback Noah Lent was sacked eight times and ran 19 times for just 16 yards. The Bulldogs were the first team this season to figure out Smethport’s run-heavy offense and were able to do enough on the other side of the ball to win the game. The loss snapped Smethport’s 13-game regular season win streak and was also just the second time in that span that Adam Jack’s Hubbers have given up more than 20 points. The Hubbers will get the chance to rebound this Friday against Cameron County before a grueling three-game stretch to close the season that includes matchups against Keystone, Coudersport and Elk County Catholic.
Over in Kane, Friday’s showdown between Clarion and Kane featured two high-powered offenses going toe-to-toe with plenty of big plays to go around. But it was the Wolves’ inability to slow down Clarion’s rushing attack that proved too much to overcome. Still, Kane’s aptitude in moving the ball should give head coach Jim Hillman confidence as the playoffs roll around. And while there is fine-tuning to be done defensively, the Wolves still boast one of the best middle linebackers in District 9. Senior Teddy Race has 83 tackles on the year at that position — good for top 50 in the state, according to MaxPreps.
Coudy’s dominance continues: There is living up to the preseason hype and defending your District 9 football title… and then there is doing what the Falcons have so far in 2019. After a tight 14-0 victory over Elk County Catholic in Week 1, Tom Storey’s Falcons have rolled to three straight victories by an astounding 166-6 margin. In fact, Coudy has allowed just two touchdowns over its five victories and are on an eight-quarter shutout streak. Curwensville was held to just 16 total yards Friday, while the Coudersport offense flaunted its talents when they had the ball. Quarterback Hayden Keck had two more rushing touchdowns (he now has 10 total TDs on the year) and running back Travis Gleason sprinted for 177 yards and three scores. The senior has 493 yards and 10 scores this season — on just 69 carries. With so many weapons across the board, it’s tough to see any of the other D9 small schools topping Coudersport this year. Still, the Falcons have tough games against Redbank Valley in Week 7 and then Smethport in Week 8 that will decide the Small School North.
O-E’s struggles continue: The Terrors, thought by many at the beginning of the season to pose a serious threat to Smethport and Coudersport in the Small School North, dropped their fourth straight decision to previously winless Bucktail 22-12 on Friday. Otto-Eldred (1-5) was playing without starting quarterback Cole Sebastian in the game. Still, replacement Cameron Magee ran for 155 yards and also threw a touchdown for an offense that managed well over 300 yards. But turnovers — O-E had four last week against Smethport and two at Bucktail — came back to sting again. Defensively, the Terrors have been unable to stop the run and get off the field in the second half of games. The schedule gets no easier for Otto-Eldred, as they host Coudersport this Friday. But with games against Curwensville and Sheffield still on the schedule for October, an upset victory over the undefeated Falcons could spark O-E on a late-season run. The team has plenty of talent.
About those points: Ridgway had a season-high 61 in Punxsutawney. Brockway bested its season-high point total by 30 in a 53-13 win over Bradford. Karns City put up 55 over St. Marys and Keystone scored at least 49 points for the third time in four games with a 57-0 romp over Sheffield. Touchdowns were aplenty in the highest scoring week of games so far in District 9. As the season stretches into October, expect this trend to continue — especially for programs that are struggling with healthy bodies. On the flipside, however, there were four shutouts on Friday, including the first of the season for both Keystone and Redbank Valley.
Looking ahead: Week 6 features four matchups between schools at .500 or better, including three — Clarion at Ridgway, St. Marys at Brookville and Karns City at Kane — in the Large School division. With its last two league games coming against Bradford and Brockway, Friday’s game in Ridgway could be the last chance for a team to knock off Clarion and end its unbeaten season. St. Marys and Kane, meanwhile, will each be looking to get back into the win column after Week 5 losses, but will face no easy tasks in Brookville (5-1) and Karns City (4-2). In the Small School North, it’ll be two surprising 5-1 teams squaring off in Union/A-C Valley and Keystone. The Falcon Knights haven’t lost since Week 0 to Coudy, while the Panthers also fell in Week 0 to Redbank Valley.
