The numbers are three and five.
Three is the number of games that were canceled either for COVID-19 concerns or low numbers. The two COVID games scratched are the Coudersport at Brockway due to issues at Coudersport and Keystone at Cameron County with Keystone dealing with COVID issues.
Elk County Catholic is out due to low numbers thanks to injuries sustained in its game last week at Redbank Valley.
Six is the number of unbeaten teams remaining in District 9. All five 3-0 teams — Smethport, Ridgway, Karns City, Brookville and Clearfield — are on the road for games Friday night and not playing each other. Keystone, the other 3-0 team, will wait at least week to continue its unbeaten start to the season.
It’s now a trimmed-down 10 game schedule with all but one scheduled for Friday with Smethport (3-0) visiting Bucktail (0-2), Ridgway (3-0) at Bradford (0-3), Karns City (3-0) at Moniteau (0-2), Brookville traveling to Clarion-Limestone to face Central Clarion County (0-2) and Clearfield (3-1) at Tyrone (1-2) in a Mountain league contest.
In other games, Otto-Eldred (1-2) hosts Union/A-C Valley (1-1) in what’s a crossover week for the D9 League’s two Small School divisions. In other Large School games, Kane (2-1) visits DuBois (0-3) and Punxsutawney (0-2) hosts St. Marys (2-1). Curwensville (2-1) hosts Glendale (1-1) in an Inter-County Conference game.
Saturday, Redbank Valley (2-1) visits Sheffield (0-3).
LARGE SCHOOL
Ridgway (3-0) at Bradford (0-3)
The unbeaten Elkers visit Bradford to play the Owls for the third time in two years. In last year’s schedule, the Elkers routed the Owls there 45-14, then held them off 28-21 in the second matchup.
This time around, the Elkers roll in with two straight blowout wins over Moniteau (42-16) last week and Kane (42-6) after a season-opening 24-7 win over St. Marys. A trio of running backs anchor the Elkers’ running game that averages 210 yards per game with Dom Allegretto (25-262, 5 TDs), Camron Marciniak (26-180, 3 TDs) and Eric Salberg (22-115, 1 TD). Quarterbacks Jonathan Hinton and Cameron Larkin have combined to complete 24 of 33 passes for 272 yards and five TDs. Will Howard (9-110, 1 TD) is the leading receiver.
Bradford’s offense relies mostly on the passing game as Eljiah Fitton has completed 59 of 99 passes for 835 yards with five TDs and six interceptions. His top receivers are Dalton Dixon (20-374, 2 TDs) and Jerrid Wilmoth (10-167, 2 TDs). Fitton is the team’s top rusher with 80 yards.
Karns City (3-0) at Moniteau (0-2)
The Gremlins face their third straight foe that has yet to win a game as they head to next-door rival Moniteau this week. The Gremlins, coming off a 37-13 win over Central Clarion, are averaging 38 points per game.
For Karns City, Luke Garing has rushed for seven TDs with 132 yards on 16 carries last week while Jayce Anderson has run for 175 yards the past two games. Quarterback Eric Booher threw for two TDs against the Wildcats.
Moniteau missed its Week 2 game against Central Clarion and lost 42-16 last week at home against Ridgway. Matt Martino and quarterback David Deccisino each ran for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Martino ran for 68 yards on 17 carries.
Brookville (3-0) at Central Clarion (0-2), at C-L
The Raiders head to the Clarion-Limestone Sports Complex for the second year in a row to meet the Wildcats. Last year, Brookville notched a 49-30 win.
Averaging 334 yards of offense per game, the Raiders are led by quarterback Charlie Krug (48-for-72, 617 yards, 7 TDs, 4 Ints.), running backs Jackson Zimmerman (23-189, 3 TDs) and Tate Lindermuth (28-102) and receiver Brayden Kunselman (21-382, 4 TDs) who also leads the team with four interceptions on defense. He’s returned one of those pickoffs for a TD along with kick return as well.
The Wildcats, after a week off due to COVID-19 concerns at Moniteau, returned to the field and dropped a 37-13 decision at Karns City.
Breckin Rex leads the Wildcats’ running game with 195 yards on 16 carries with two TDs. Ferguson is 10-for-28 passes for 116 yards and three interceptions. Ashton Rex (3-66) is the leading receiver.
St. Marys (2-1) at Punxsutawney (0-2)
The Flying Dutchmen look to make it three straight wins when they travel to play the Chucks, who are coming off an eight-turnover game in a loss at Brookville.
St. Marys, 14-7 winners over DuBois last week, average 256 yards per game offensively with quarterback Christian Coudriet (59-for-92, 570 yards, 4 TDs, 3 Ints.), running back Justin Dornisch (33-128, 1 TD), and receivers Carter Chadsey (17-194, 1 TD) and Logan Mosier (14-189, 3 TDs) leading the way.
The Chucks have been outscored 77-15 in their losses to Karns City and Brookville. Quarterbacks Noah Weaver and Peyton Hetrick have combined to throw for 160 yards in two games. Running back Zeke Bennett has rushed for 131 yards on 43 carries.
Kane (2-1) at DuBois (0-3)
The Beavers host the Wolves looking for their first win while the Wolves rebounded from their lone loss to Ridgway with a 32-18 win over the Owls at home last week.
DuBois looks to get its offense going, averaging 171 yards per game with just three TDs so far this year. Quarterback Austin Mitchell (37-for-71, 291 yards, 1 TD, 3 Ints.), running back Braxton Adams (15-56), and receivers Brycen Dinkfelt (10-117) and Derraick Burkett (13-33) lead the way.
The Wolves are led by quarterback Harley Morris, running back Ricky Zampogna and
receiver Landon Darr. Morris threw for two TDs while Zampogna ran for two scores in last week’s win over Bradford. Zampogna and Morris are 1-2 on the team in rushing.
SMALL SCHOOL
Smethport (3-0) at Bucktail (0-2)
Last week’s Jim Kelly Player of the Week Noah Lent leads the Hubbers into Bucktail. He accounted for all five touchdowns while passing for 154 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 208 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s win over 35-14 win over Port Allegany.
For the season, Lent has thrown for 408 yards and seven TDs while rushing for 500 yards and nine TDs. He’s accounted for all 16 of the Hubbers’ TDs so far this season. Alex Ognen led the team in receiving (6-113, 2 TDs) going into last week.
Bucktail didn’t play last week at home against Union/A-C Valley due to COVID-19 issues at A-C Valley. The Bucks have lost to Elk County Catholic (12-0) and Cameron County (22-20) so far.
Union/A-C Valley (1-1) at Otto-Eldred (1-2)
At Duke Center, the Falcon Knights are coming off a canceled trip to Bucktail due to COVID-19 concerns at A-C Valley. Meanwhile, the Terrors try to make it two wins in a row after their 28-8 win over previously unbeaten Cameron County.
The Falcon Knights look to get their running game going, which has amassed 696 yards in two games. Mikey Card (24-221, 1 TD) and Dawson Camper (16-133, 5 TDs) lead the way. Quarterback Bailey Crissman (8-for-17, 125 yards) has thrown for three TDs.
Terrors quarterback Gavin Jimerson had a big game in the win over Port Allegany, running for three touchdowns and throwing for another while intercepting three of six Cameron County passes. Manning Splain also had three interceptions. For the season, Jimerson has thrown for 369 yards.
Redbank Valley (2-1) at Sheffield (0-3), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs travel to Warren County for a matinee with the Wolverines, who haven’t scored an offensive touchdown yet this season.
It’s a different setup now for the Bulldogs, who are now not going to school due to the school’s teachers strike that began Monday. Practices and workouts are still permitted after school hours and the coaching staff remains intact.
Since losing to Keystone (22-20) in its opener, the Bulldogs have scored 110 points in their two wins over Otto-Eldred and Elk County Catholic. Ray Shreckengost ran for 117 yards on 15 carries last week in his second game of the year. Quarterback Bryson Bain has completed 28 of 40 passes for 513 yards with 8 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Leading the Bulldogs receiving group is the injured Marshall (10-167, 4 TDs), Marquese Gardlock (8-189, 1 TD) and Tate Minich (8-113, 3 TDs).
The only Wolverines points came on a fumble return in their opening-season loss to Smethport. They lost 63-0 at Coudersport last Saturday night.
MOUNTAIN LEAGUE
Clearfield (3-0) at Tyrone (1-2)
The Bison travel south to take on the Golden Eagles in a game already featuring the only two unbeaten teams in the league.
Clearfield (2-0 in ML) has outscored its foes 101-14 so far, giving up just two touchdowns, one of them in last week’s 53-7 rout of Penns Valley. Tyrone’s first win came in last week’s league opener in a 21-0 win over Bellefonte. It lost to Bellwood-Antis (33-13) and Juniata Valley (32-13) in its first two games. Both of those teams are 3-0.
The Bison average 397 yards per game offensively with quarterback Oliver Billotte (29-for-56, 479 yards, 3 TDs, 2 Ints.) leading the way. Billotte is the second-leading rusher (28-143, 6 TDs) behind Mark McGonigal (44-280, 4 TDs). Karson Kline (12-203, 1 TD) is BIllotte’s top receiving target.
INTER-COUNTY CONFERENCE
Glendale (1-1) at Curwensville (2-1)
It’s the first matchup between the Golden Tide and Vikings since 1997, so it’s obviously a renewal of acquaintances on the field although the schools see each other on a regular basis in other sports like basketball and wrestling.
Tide junior quarterback Dan McGarry has thrown for 734 yards so far, completing 50 of 76 passes with five TDs and three interceptions. Ty Terry (26-421, 3 TDs), Jake Mullins (12-198, 1 TD) and Thad Butler (11-115, 1 TD) are his targets. Butler (32-270, 4 TDs) is the Tide’’s primary running back.
The Vikings are led by running back Zeke Dubler (14-158, 3 TDs) and quarterback Ethan Cavalet (8-for-13, 102 yards, 1 TD, 2 Ints.).
