Raiders Make Easy Work Of Smethport, 51-7
By Mike Bauer Endeavor Sports

Senior Cash Grimone breaks loose for one of his three touchdowns.

Cameron County's varsity football team traveled to Smethport last Friday and laid a whipping on the Hubbers, 51- 7.

Now comes a true test, as the Raiders face Coudersport and Curwensville -- arguably the toughest teams on the schedule -- on back to back Friday nights. Results of this week's home opener with Coudersport weren't available by press time.

At Smethport, the Raiders scored on their first six possessions to take a 42-0 lead before halftime.

Cash Grimone capped off the first drive with a 36-yard touchdown run, as less than 90 seconds elapsed from the game clock during a three-play, 63- yard drive. Dan Slottje kicked the first of seven consecutive extra points.

Four minutes later, Grimone scored again on a 15-yard run. Then, after the Hubbers fumbled, Raider QB Jordan Crane connected with Abram Zoschg on a 40-yard scoring strike. The visitors were up 21- 0, seemingly just moments after they stepped off the bus. Smethport, once the region's powerhouse, was anything but powerful against a solid Cameron County defense. It took the Hubbers until the end of the first quarter to earn their initial first down.

Even that advance was wasted, as the Red Raiders embarked on a 74-yard drive that ended on Crane's sevenyard toss to John Malizia in the back of the end zone.

Soon, even the special teams got in on the act. Rushing Raiders tackled the Hubber punter before he could get a foot into the ball and, five plays later, Grimone broke away for a 20-yard TD run, making it 35- 0.

Cornerback Sean McManigle keyed the next defensive stand, picking off a pass and returning it to the Hubber 12. Cameron Clingan took a pitch from Crane to cover the remaining 12 yards around left end.

Playing for pride, the Hubbers did mount a drive late in the first half. Preston Birtcil found daylight on a 43-yard run and scored later on a one-yard plunge. Smethport picked up 65 of its 99 total yards on that advance.

In the third quarter, with substitutes starting to filter into the game, Cameron County's defense recorded a safety and John Malizia scored the final touchdown on a 25-yard run.

Grimone finished with with 152 yards just nine carries. Nick Malize recorded 76 yards rushing on nine attempts, while Darrick Mason ran for 56 and Malizia 50. Crane completed all but one of his five pass attempts for 79 yards, two of them to tight end Joey Songer for 35 yards. Crane has four TD passes in the Raiders' first two games.

The Big 30 Committee had representatives at Friday's game. They had words of praise for Malizia's work out of the linebacker post, as well as the line play of Marcus Mullens, Shawn Ellenberger and Cody Davis.

Head coach Tony Defilippi was also commended for going to his bench early in the game, rather than running up the score.

Next Friday's game at Curwensville (7:00) will be a rugged test for the Red Raider defense, as the Golden Tide feature hard-running tailback Nick Sipes on more than half of their offensive plays. Sipes is one of few scholastic running backs to gain more than 4,000 yards during his career.