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D9 football Week 3: Eight unbeatens, no showdowns

Brayden Kunselman leads the Brookville Raiders into Friday's Route 36 Trophy Game against Punxsutawney.
   
   

Despite eight teams in District 9 being undefeated going into Week 3, none will face each other this week as 12 games, 11 Friday night, make up the schedule.

One game was scratched due to COVID-19 concerns at A-C Valley. Remote learning only there through at least Wednesday forced the Union/A-C Valley at Bucktail game scheduled for Thursday night to be canceled.

It’s back to divisional matchups in the Small School Divisions — Brockway (1-1) at Keystone (2-0) and Elk County Catholic (2-0) at Redbank Valley (1-1) in the South, and Cameron County (2-0) at Otto-Eldred (0-2) and Port Allegany (1-1) at Smethport (2-0) in the North on Friday along with Sheffield (0-2) at Coudersport (0-2) Saturday.

The Large School schedule features three remaining 2-0 teams at home with Brookville (2-0) hosting Punxsutawney (0-1), Central Clarion (0-1) at Brookville (2-0) and Moniteau (0-1) at Ridgway (2-0) in Johnsonburg. Kane (1-1) hosts Bradford (0-2) and DuBois (0-2) visits St. Marys (1-1).

Outside the District 9 League, Clearfield (2-0) hosts Penns Valley (1-1) in the Mountain League and Curwensville (1-1) treks to Meyersdale (0-2).

            

Here’s a closer look at this week’s games:

SMALL SCHOOL SOUTH

Brockway (1-1) at Keystone (2-0)

The unbeaten Panthers host the Rovers, looking for a 3-0 start after two tight games to start the season — 22-20 over Redbank Valley and 36-30 last week at Port Allegany.

After being limited to 92 yards in the win over the Bulldogs, the Panthers put up 293 yards against the Gators. Kyle Nellis ran for 154 yards on 14 carries with a TD. Quarterback Bret Wingard threw for 136 yards with two TDs and ran for two short TDs as well. Nellis also caught an 82-yard TD pass from Wingard.

                          

Wingard has completed 8 of 22 passes for 149 yards with two TDs and two interceptions. Nellis has rushed for 193 yards on 27 carries.

The Panthers won despite yielding 443 yards to the Gators, 235 yards on the ground and 208 passing.

For the Rovers coming off their 35-19 loss to Smethport, they’ll try to rebound from a loss that saw them give up 270 rushing yards to the Hubbers. Freshman quarterback Brayden Fox is off to a good start, passing for 577 yards while completing 44 of 79 attempts with six TDs and three interceptions. Blake Pisarcik (10-133), Alex Carlson (12-97), Matt Pyne (8-140) and Jalen Kosko (7-11) are Fox’s top receivers.

Elk Co. Catholic (2-0) at Redbank Valley (1-1)

The unbeaten Crusaders head to New Bethlehem with two wins to start the year over still-winless Coudersport (13-12) last week and Bucktail (20-6) in the season-opener.

Ben Reynolds has scored four of the ECC five touchdowns, rushing for a team-high 132 yards on 31 carries. Quarterback Ben Paul has thrown for 217 yards, completing 11 of 22 passes.

After a 22-20 loss to Keystone, the Bulldogs rebounded with a 59-6 rout of visiting Otto-Eldred as quarterback Bryson Bain threw for five TD passes, three of them to Chris Marshall. Bain has completed 17 of 26 passes for 312 yards and seven TDs against two interceptions. Marshall leads the receivers with nine receptions for 156 yards on four TDs. Marquese Gardlock has five catches for 150 yards.

SMALL SCHOOL NORTH

Cameron County (2-0) at Otto-Eldred (0-2)

The Red Raiders are 2-0 for the first time since 2009’s 9-0 start and they’ll face a Terrors squad that’s been outscored 90-6 so far.

                        

Cameron County quarterback Maddox Baughman has passed for 357 yards and six TDs in the first two games, completing 22 of 43 passes. Dylan Baney (7-178, 3 TDs) and Dylan Reider (5-105) are his top receivers. Lathan Reed (22-104) leads the team in rushing.

The Terrors’ lone TD was scored by Ryan Love. Hunter App (11-38) is the leading rusher. Quarterback Gavin Jimerson has completed 21 of 53 passes for 194 yards.

Port Allegany (1-1) at Smethport (2-0)

Noah Lent leads the unbeaten Hubbers to a matchup with the Gators. The senior quarterback has carried the heavy workload thus far, accounting for just over 75 percent of the team’s offensive yards. He’s rushed for 292 yards on 28 carries with six TDs while passing for 254 yards and five TDs while completing 12 of 17 attempts. Alex Ognen (6-113) is the top receiver.

The Gators average just over 425 yards per game offensively as junior quarterback Drew Evens (23-for-46, 410 yards, 4 TDs, 5 Ints.), running backs Noah Archer (30-247, 3 TDs rushing; 9-176, 3 TDs receiving) and Blaine Moses (24-132, 2 TDs) and receiver Peyton Stiles (9-95) lead the way.

Sheffield (0-2) at Coudersport (0-2), Saturday, 7 p.m.

The Wolverines were banged up with a few injuries in a 77-0 loss at Union/A-C Valley last week while the Falcons dropped their second game by just one point to start the season. So something has to give between winless teams.

After opening with a 28-27 loss to Cameron County, the Falcons lost 13-12 last week to Elk County Catholic. Sophomore Gavyn Ayers (6-for-18, 133 yards, 1 TD, 3 Ints., passing; 34-178, 3 TDs rushing) leads the Falcons offense.

The Wolverines were limited to 23 yards in their 77-0 loss to Union/A-C Valley.

LARGE SCHOOL

         

Central Clarion (0-1) at Karns City (2-0)

The Wildcats, after two weeks off due to COVID concerns with Punxsutawney and Moniteau, return to the field with a trip to Karns City.

Meanwhile, the Gremlins have roughed up Punxsutawney (42-8) last week and Girard (35-17) with Jayce Anderson running for 122 yards on seven carries against the Chucks while Luke Garing ran for three TDs.

For Central Clarion, Breckin Rex ran for 94 yards on 11 carries in the loss to Slippery Rock.

Punxsutawney (0-1) at Brookville (2-0)

The Raiders host the Chucks in their annual Route 36 Trophy showdown, looking to start 3-0 for the third straight season.

Raiders quarterback Charlie Krug (34-for-48) has thrown for 453 yards and four TDs with Brayden Kunselman (17-351, 3 TDs) his top receiver. Jackson Zimmerman (17-122) leads the Raiders rushing game.

The Chucks played their first game last week after COVID-19 concerns wiped out their opener with Central Clarion, getting routed by Karns City 42-8. Sophomore quarterback Noah Weaver completed 11 of 17 passes for 81 yards while Zeke Bennett ran for 38 yards on 18 carries. Gabe Kengersky caught seven passes for 54 yards.

Bradford (0-2) at Kane (1-1)

The Wolves head to winless Bradford, looking to bounce back from a 42-6 loss to Ridgway. Bradford hung around with St. Marys before dropping a 30-19 decision.

Quarterback Harley Morris (17-for-35, 200 yards, 2 TDs passing; 17-62 rushing) runs the Wolves offense along with running back Ricky Zampogna (16-87, 1 TD), and receivers Landon Darr (5-75, 2 TDs) and Shane Ackley (3-64).

Owls quarterback Elijah Fitton (38-for-65, 549 yards, 2 TDs, 4 Ints.) leads the Bradford offense that’s been able to throw the ball but has just 66 rushing yards in two games.

Fitton, who scorched the Dutch defense for 383 passing yards on a 27-for-42 effort, also leads the team with 40 rushing yards on 22 attempts. His top receivers are Dalton Dixon (14-273, 1 TD), Jerrid Wilmoth (6-125, 2 TDs) and Ashton Smith (10-106).

DuBois (0-2) at St. Marys (1-1)

After holding off Bradford for their first win, the Dutch host the winless Beavers.

Dutch quarterback Christian Coudriet went over 4,500 career passing yards in last week’s win over Bradford. He’s now sitting at 4,515 yards and 44 TDs. For the season, he’s at 327 yards on 36-for-57 completions with three TDs and two interceptions. His top receivers are Logan Mosier (9-142, 2 TDs) and Carter Chadsey (12-119, 1 TD).

DuBois is off to a slow start offensively, scoring just two TDs in losses to Clearfield (27-7) and Brookville (21-7). Quarterback Austin Mitchell has thrown for 161 yards, completing 24 of 46 passes with a TD. Braxton Adams (11-48) is the top rusher while Brycen Dinkfelt (6-71), Adams (7-71) and Darraick Burkett (9-22) are the top receiving targets.

The Beavers and Dutch haven’t met since 2011, a 27-12 win for DuBois at home.

Moniteau (0-1) at Ridgway (2-0), at Johnsonburg

The Elkers host the Warriors at Memorial Stadium in Johnsonburg looking to extend their perfect start to the season, outscoring foes 66-13 in wins over St. Marys and Kane (42-6 last week).

The Elkers have averaged 313 yards of offense in their two wins, led by the running of Dom Allegretto (21-162, 4 TDs) and Camron Marciniak (21-145, 3 TDs). Quarterback Cameron Larkin (8-for-13, 65 yards, 2 TDs, 2 Ints.) started last week and was 7-for-12 fo 39 yards with two TDs and two interceptions, but Jonathan Hinton completed 10 of 11 passes for 99 yards in the opener. Allegretto (6-52, 1 TD) and Will Howard (7-82) are the leading receivers.

The Warriors haven’t played since losing their opener to Kane, a 21-6 loss. Quarterback David Dessicino completed 17 of 27 passes for 171 yards with a TD and four interceptions. Cooper Boozel caught 10 passes for 118 yards.

MOUNTAIN LEAGUE

Penns Valley (1-1) at Clearfield (2-0)

The Bison host the Rams looking for a third 3-0 start in the past four seasons. The Bison, who beat Bald Eagle Area 21-0 last week, have outscored their two foes 48-7.

Clearfield quarterback Oliver Billotte has thrown for 346 yards, completing 20 of 40 passes with three TDs and one interception. Karson Kline (9-169, 1 TD) is his top receiver. Mark McGonigal (24-108, 2 TDs) leads the Bison rushers.

The Rams beat Huntingdon 40-7 last week after opening with a 54-14 loss to Richland. Quarterback Rylee Brungart (10-for-20, 127 yards, 2 Ints.), running back Ty Watson (19-124, 1 TD) and receiver John Meyer (5-102, 1 TD) lead the offense.

Curwensville (1-1) at Meyersdale (0-2)

The Golden Tide trek 100 miles and nearly two hours to face the Red Raiders in what’s a non-conference matchup. The Red Raiders have lost to Berlin (27-0) and Portage (38-21).

Tide quarterback Dan McGarry has thrown for 521 yards, completing 35 of 57 passes for four TDs and two interceptions. Thad Butler has rushed for 139 yards on 22 carries while Ty Terry (19-299, 3 TDs) is McGarry’s top receiving target.

Meyersdale’s Daulton Sellers has passed for 214 yards and rushed for a team-high 93 yards.

                       

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