RIDGWAY -- Cody Mathis scored on a 2-yard run on fourth-and-goal in overtime, Jon Fleming tacked on the extra point and the Ridgway defense then stopped Curwensville's Brooks Collins on a two-point try after Collins had scored a touchdown in the extra period to bring the Golden Tide to within a point, as Ridgway (1-1) defeated Curwensville (1-1) 27-26 in overtime in an AML South showdown Friday night at Ridgway.
As one might expect with an overtime game, the battle was a see-saw one with Ridgway jumping out to a 6-0 lead, Curwensville coming back to go up 7-6, Ridgway moving ahead 20-7 at halftime and Curwensville scoring two second half touchdowns to force overtime.
Ryan Mitchell got things started for the Elkers scoring on a 3-yard run with 6:10 left in the first quarter, but Fleming's extra point was not good leaving Ridgway up 6-0.
Mark Records then caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Jim Thompson, and Kent Johnston's extra point gave Curwensville a 7-6 lead with 8:57 left in the first half.
Ridgway responded immediately with an 81-yard kick-off return for a touchdown by Jesse DePanfilis with 8:45 left in the half, and then Mitchell ran in from one yard out with seven second left in the half. Fleming made both extra points to put the Elkers up 20-7 at the break.
Curwensville came back late in the third quarter when Collins scored on a 22-yard run with only 51 seconds left in the quarter to cut the Ridgway lead to 20-14.
Then late in the fourth quarter, Thompson found Joe Bennett with a 16-yard scoring strike to tie the game at 20 with only 51 seconds left in the game. But on the extra point, the snap was bad and the kick was no good forcing the extra session.
Ridgway won the toss in overtime and elected to go on offense (each team gets a chance to score at the 10-yard line in overtime). After Curwensville stopped the first three Elker attempts short of pay dirt, Mathis found a seam to score the eventual winning touchdown.
Mathis led the Ridgway ground game with 79 yards rushing on eight carries and one touchdown, while Mitchell had 57 yards on 17 carries and two scores. Quarterback Brandon Steger was 3-for-4 for 22 yards passing.
Collins led a balanced Curwensville rushing attack with 61 yards and two touchdowns, while Ryan Bilger added 56 yards and Joe Bennett 53 yards. Quarterback Jim Thompson rushed for 20 yards and was 6-for-12 passing for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Records had four catches for 89 yards and a score.*

















*story courtesy of d9sports.com