BROCKWAY, Pa. (EYT) — The Brockway Rovers continued their domination of Curwensville with a 56-20 win over the Golden Tide on Homecoming Friday night at Frank Varischetti Field.
The Rovers stayed perfect at 6-0 and have beaten Curwensville (4-2) six of the last seven times the two Allegheny Mountain League South Division rivals have met.
Friday’s game was the most lopsided win for the Rovers in the last seven meetings. Brockway won by 22 points, 56-34, in 2012.
The Rovers have outscored their opponents 328-58 so far in the 2016 campaign and it’s the fifth time they have scored more than 50 points in a game.
For Curwensville, the Golden Tide lost their second straight game after a 4-0 start. They lost to Kane, 43-12, last week.
Six different Rovers players scored in the rout and the Rovers owned a 49-14 halftime lead.
Senior quarterback Hunter Miller keyed the Rovers attack by throwing for 231 yards and three touchdowns with an interception on 12 of 18 passing. Miller also added 40 yards rushing on five rushes with one TD.
Mark Latuska had 81 yards on 13 carries with two touchdowns.
The game started in Curwensville’s favor as sophomore Noah Von Gunden intercepted a Miller pass and Golden Tide running back Nick Stewart turned the takeaway into points two plays later on a 51-yard scoring run. Stewart finished with 203 yards on 30 carries and two TDs, but there was little else for the Tide as they gained just 226 yards.
For Stewart, he moved into third all-time in District 9 rushing history with 4,724 career yards. He passed former Clearfield great Dave Richards (4,641 yards) and Brockway great Aaron Cantafio (4,694) to move into third behind two former Curwensville’s greats – Nick Sipes (5,963 yards) and Alex Holland (5,754 yards) – in District 9 rushing history.
Madison Weber’s kick made it 7-0 just 59 seconds into the game, but it was all Rovers after that.
“We told the kids there was going to be adversity and we said they’d come out and punch us in the mouth and they did,” Rovers head coach Frank Zocco said. “Well, they punched us in the mouth and the kids responded with 56 points.
“But you have to give Stewart credit, he’s a very good back and he hits the hole quick and runs hard.”
Sophomore Tyler Serafini returned the kickoff to the Rovers 39 and Brockway embarked on a nine-play, 61-yard drive that senior Brian Elias capped with a 2-yard TD run with 7:27 left in the first quarter. Jarrett Esposito’s kick made it 7-7.
Brockway quickly capitalized on a Tide turnover as Stewart fumbled and Noah Vokes recovered at the Tide 21.
On the very next play, Miller hit Vokes for a 21-yard TD pass with the kick making it 14-7 with 6:35 left.
The Rovers forced punts on Curwensville’s next three series and followed each stop with touchdowns to take a 35-7 lead early in the second quarter.
Latuska capped the third scoring drive with a powerful 40-yard run on a third-and-10 play, then he added a 1-yard TD run with 10:40 left in the half. Miller ran for 23 yards on third-and-1 to set up Latuska’s score.
After forcing a third straight punt, Cameron Baka returned the kick 35 yards to the Curwenville 17 and Miller made a great scramble for a TD two plays later to make it 35-7 with 9:12 left in the half.
On the play, Miller started upfield, got near the sideline and sidestepped a defender before turning in and scoring.
“That was one helluva run,” Zocco said.
With Golden Tide head coach Andy Evanko, who is battling ALS, giving his team an impassioned speech before the drive, Curwensville put together its best drive of the game.
The Tide traveled 80 yards in 10 plays and got a Stewart 12-yard TD run to make it 35-14 with 5:01 left in the half.
The Golden Tide looked as if they might be able to turn the momentum in their favor as they had the Rovers in a third-and-11 from their 30.
But Miller and Vokes broke their backs as the QB hit the junior wide receiver for a 62-yard catch and run to the 8.
A few plays later, Baka got the call on a sweep to the right and he scored with 3:46 left to make it 42-14.
The Rovers then forced a punt and the snap was off, resulting in Brockway getting the ball at the Tide 15.
Miller hit Trunzo on back-to-back plays with the second being a 3-yard TD pass with 1:49 remaining in the half.
Esposito’s kick was true and it 49-14.
With the mercy rule in effect to begin the second half, it didn’t last long.
Curwensville started with the ball, but the possession ended after a Rover defender hit QB Bryce Timko and knocked the ball loose where Hunter Antonuccio picked it up and returned it to the Curwensville 43.
The Rovers cashed that big play into seven points when Miller hit Jake Gorham for an 11-yard TD pass late in the third.
“Jake was our leading receiver last year and a good cornerback and we’ve been doing all this without him, so we have a nice little rotation going and everyone can score,” Zocco said.
The Tide scored with 7:41 left in the game on a 20-yard run by Eli Jacobs to set the final.
Both teams return to action next Friday as the Rovers play at Elk County Catholic and the Tide are at Ridgway.
NOTE: Katelyn Cappetta was named Homecoming Queen. Fred Barefield was her escort.
BROCKWAY 56, CURWENSVILLE 20
Score by Quarters
Curwensville 7 7 0 6 – 20
Brockway 21 28 7 0 – 56
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
C – Nick Stewart 51 run (Madison Weber kick), 11:01.
B – Brian Elias 2 run (Jarrett Esposito kick), 7;27.
B – Noah Vokes 21 pass from Hunter Miller (Esposito kick), 6:35.
B – Mark Latuska 40 run (Esposito kick), 2:42.
Second Quarter
B – Latuska 1 run (Esposito kick), 10:40.
B – Hunter Miller 17 run (Esposito kick), 9:12.
C – Stewart 12 run (Weber kick), 5:01.
B – Cameron Baka 8 run (Esposito kick), 3:46.
B – Andrew Trunzo 3 pass from Miller (Esposito kick), 1:49.
Third Quarter
B – Jake Gorham 11 pass from Miller (Esposito kick), 1:25.
Fourth Quarter
C – Eli Jacobs 20 run (kick failed), 7;41.
TEAM STATISTICS
C B
First Downs 14 14
Rushes-Yards 45-202 26-123
Passing Yards 24 231
Comp-Att-Int 4-15-1 12-18-1
Total Plays-Yards 60-226 44-354
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 0-0
Penalties-Yards 3-20 4-42
Punts-Avg. 3-26 1-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing – Curwensville: Nick Stewart 30-203, Bryce Timko 3-(-1), Kaleb Witherite 6-13, Eli Jacobs 4-25, Zach Marshall 1-1, Team 1-(13). Brockway: Mark Latuska 13-81, Hunter Miller 5-40, Tyler Serafini 3-(-9), Brian Elias 1-2, Cameron Baka 1-8, Peter Downer 3-1.
Passing – Curwensville: Bryce Timko 4 of 15, 24 yards, 1 Int. Brockway: Hunter Miller 12 of 18, 231 yards, 3 TD, 1 Int.
Receiving – Curwensville: Zach Marshall 1-11, Josh Terry 1-8, Eli Jacobs 2-5. Brockway: Noah Vokes 2-83, Andrew Trunzo 4-48, Dylan Lecates 2-20, Mark Latuska 1-45, Jake Gorham 3-35.
Interceptions – Curwensville: Noah Von Gunden. Brockway: Jake Gorham.
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