FRIDAY ROUNDUP: Olean eliminated by Steelers; Gators fall to Karns City late

LACKAWANNA, NY – Unable to tie on a tourniquet in the second half, the Olean football team’s playoff hopes faded from view, being eliminated from contention as they suffered a 40-19 loss to Lackawanna. 

Playing in the tightly contested B2 division, Olean’s 1-4 season start dug them into a hole, one that would require an unblemished finish in order to seal their spot in the postseason. Over the next two weeks, the Huskies rose to the occasion, beating Dunkirk and Cheektowaga by a combined score of 82-36 and setting the stage for a do-or-die regular season finale against the Steelers. 

Both playing to elongate their season, the first half was largely a deadlock, seeing Olean narrowly sneak ahead with a 31-yard field goal with just over four minutes left in the second quarter. However, in the third, Lackawanna broke things open, scoring back-to-back touchdowns on their next two drives. 

Although Olean countered, seeing Hunter Silvis break the plane on a one-yard drive, the Steelers quickly reciprocated, pulling ahead 26-11 in the final 30 seconds of the quarter. Then they tripled down, punching in three more unanswered scores, all but sealing the outcome. 

In the final minutes, Olean would turn what would be their final drive of the season into eight points. Dom Myers found Mason Hirliman in the endzone for a 23-yard completion before targeting Liam Ruggles for the 2-point conversion. However, it failed to change the tide already set against them. 

Myers finished with 101 passing yards and one touchdown on 6-for-16 (37.5 percent) passing, while also rushing for 32 yards on 16 carries. Jason O’Brien led the Huskies on the ground with 40 rushing yards while Ruggles came away with 37 receiving yards on two catches. 

Olean ends their season at 3-5 overall. 

Smethport 45, Cameron County 6

EMPORIUM, PA – Finding ways to the endzone in each and every quarter, the Hubbers picked up their seventh straight victory with a heavy-handed route of the Red Raiders. 

Maddox Dickerson ended with 125 rushing yards on 12 carries, scoring one touchdown on the ground and another through the air, while Jude Kisko ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 15 touches. Mason Swanson threw 4-for-7 (57 percent), collecting 61 yards and a score, followed by Lucas Himes, who ended with one touchdown on 37 rushing yards. 

Karns City 36, Port Allegany 20

KARNS CITY, PA – Unable to stem the tide in the fourth quarter, the Gators ultimately suffered their third loss of the season at the hands of the Gremlins. 

Throughout the first half, Port and Karns City were in the midst of a track meet, each trading blows as they raced up and down the field. Entering the third quarter down by just three points, the Gators put themselves in front with an eight-yard touchdown carry from Brennan Fillhart, which was preceded by a successful 2-point conversion from Kellen Veilleux and a shutout of KC. 

However, in the final quarter, the tables turned. Being held scoreless themselves, Port watched as the Gremlins retook the lead just five minutes into the frame before pushing the margin of victory to 16 with another touchdown two minutes later.

Veilleux led Port on the ground with 88 rushing yards on 22 carries, also coming away with 38 yards on three receptions. Fillhart came away with 59 passing yards on a 5-for-11 (45 percent) completion rate, also running for 53 yards on the ground. 

Heading into the final game of the regular season, the Gators will look to return to the win column as they stay on the road to face St. Marys. 

Otto-Eldred 28, Coudersport 26

COUDERSPORT, PA – Mason Schenfield’s 157 passing yards and two touchdowns carried the Terrors to their fourth win of the season as they downed Coudy in hostile territory. 

Playing via air raid, Schenfield ended with 15 of his 19 passes (79 percent) finding receivers, seeing Wyatt Blending lead the pack downrange with 10 receptions, 85 yards and one touchdown. On the ground, Silas Knapp led with 54 yards on nine touches, scoring once. 

Brockway 72, Bradford 16

BRADFORD, PA – The Owls fell to 1-8 with a blowout loss to the Rovers. 

Tommy Langdon scored Bradford’s first touchdown of the night, also capping it off with a successful 2-point conversion, while Evan Cook connected with Blake Luciano for a score through the air. 

With one game to go, the Owls next head out on the road for their finale against Warren.