Undefeated again: AML championship game tonight

Coudersport seniors (from left) Kirk Duffee and Kody Frederick were in pursuit of Wolves during Friday night's regular season finale at CARP Field. The Falcons beat the Kane Wolves 18-0 to polish off a second consecutive 9-0 regular season. Curwensville comes to CARP tonight for the Allegheny Mountain League championship game, while the PIAA District 9 playoffs get underway next weekend. Photo by Lugene Heimel

Coudersport closed the book on yet another undefeated regular season in high school football Friday night, beating Kane at a muddy CARP Field, 18-0. Over the final four weeks, the Falcons whitewashed their foes by a combined score of 113-0.

The season continues with the Allegheny Mountain League championship game at CARP Saturday night (7:00) against Curwensville, followed by the start of the PIAA District 9 playoffs back at CARP the following weekend.

Curwensville, who fell to the Falcons 20-12 in Week One, will be led by standout running back Nick Sipes, the all-time leading rusher in District 9.

Defense does it again

Friday's win gave Coudersport a 9-0 record. It was the team's fourth consecutive shutout. After yielding 12 points in each of their first two contests, the Falcons surrendered just 13 points over their final seven games.

Steady rain and a muddy turf frustrated both offenses on Friday. Kane was held to 31 total yards. Coudersport also had its problems with the Wolves defense.

Stalled on their first five possessions, the Falcons finally cracked the ice after recovering a fumble at the Wolves' 26.

An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty cost Kane 13 yards, and fullback Drew Levavasseur covered the final 13 with a strong run up the middle.

Moments late, the Wolves fumbled again. Karin Knight recovered at the visitors' 44.

Quarterback Justen Kinder went to the air, completing passes to Tim Thomas and Chris Cavallari, then tossing a nine-yard TD aerial to Cavallari to give Coudersport a 12-0 halftime lead. Neither offense could move the ball in the second half, with the exception of one Falcon advance midway through the fourth quarter.

A direct snap to Cavallari in punt formation caught the Wolves napping, keeping the drive alive. Levavasseur scored his second touchdown four plays later on an 11-yard run.

"Our kids have really come on down the stretch, especially on defense," Coudersport coach Paul Simcoe said after the game. "They're communicating real well on defense, playing the coverages the way we'd like them to, and we have a lot of people around the ball."

Knight finished with 13 tackles and two fumble recoveries. Levavasseur had

eight tackles and an interception. Isaac Cary, Kody Frederick, Kirk Duffee and Cavallari were among Falcons breaking through to sack Kane's sophomore quarterback, Kenny Kane, six times.