The Wolverines just can't seem to get over the hump.

As they have done for most the year in District 9, 2-7 Sheffield gave 7-2 Coudersport all it could handle, but came up on the short end of a 24-14 decision on Saturday at Sheffield High School.

After stopping Coudersport deep in Sheffield territory to start the game, the Wolverines' Jimmy Hahn jump-started the offense with a 68-yard run that took the ball all the way to the Coudersport 20. The drive fizzled there and the Wolverines turned the ball over on downs. Both teams would trade possessions and the first quarter would remain scoreless.

The Falcons got things started quickly in second when Dirk Cowburn ran it in from 10 yards out to cap off a quick two-minute drive. Coudersport - in second place in the Allegheny Mountain League North - ran in the two-point conversion attempt to grab an 8-0 lead.

But Sheffield would answer right back.

On its next possession, Hahn broke his second big run of the contest, this time for 50 yards, to move the Wolverine offense down to the Falcon 20-yard line again. This time, Hahn would cap off the drive by finding Ian Davidson on an 18-yard halfback option pass. With a failed two point attempt, the score stood at 8-6.

Coudersport is a running team. In the mud, they were able to rack up yards on the ground, 240 in total. The Falcons' running attack would allow them to press back into Sheffield territory on their next possession and, on a rare pass attempt, quarterback Tim McCusker found Cowburn for a 15-yard touchdown pass that extended the Coudersport lead to 16-6 after another successful two-point attempt.

Sheffield started the second half with the ball and turned it over just 17 seconds into the half. Coudersport picked up right where it left off with the potent running attack. However, when the Falcons did attempt another pass, it landed in the arms of Sheffield's George Fitch, who returned it 70 yards for a touchdown. Hahn ran in the two-point attempt to trim the lead to16-14 Coudy.

That was as close as Sheffield would get. Coudersport running back Mitch Freeman, who had 179 yards on the day, put the Falcons back in control with a 16-yard touchdown run with 37 seconds remaining in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 24-14.

Hahn finished with 92 total yards on 12 carries. Jasper Rentas carried the ball twice for five yards. All other Sheffield runners finished with negative yardage totals as the Falcon defense limited Sheffield to just 74 total yards on the ground.

Coudersport's triple-option offense proved effective, amassing 298 total yards, while the Falcon defense limited Sheffield to just 119. Cowburn ran for 27 yards and scored two touchdowns, one on the ground and one through the air.

Sheffield drops to 2-7 with the loss, its second loss in a row.

CoudersportSheffield

65Offensive plays 29

20First downs3

56-240Rushes-yards22-74

58Passing yards45

298 Total yards119

9-5-1Pass-comp-int7-5-1

7-3Fumbles-lost3-1

2-15Penalties-yards8-45

Score by quarters:

Coudersport 0 16 8 0 - 24

Sheffield 0 6 8 0 - 14

Scoring plays:

Second quarter

C- Dirk Cowburn 10 yard run (Mitch Freeman run), 10:23.

S- Jimmy Hahn 18 yard pass to Ian Davidson (run no good), 7:12.

C- Tim McCusker 15 yard pass to Cowburn (Creignton Hayes run good), 3:06.

Third quarter

S- George Fitch 70 yard interception return (Jimmy Hahn run good), 10:10.

C- Mitch Freeman 16 yard run (Kevin Wolfinger run good), :37.

Individual leaders:

RUSHING: C- Mitch Freeman 29-179, TD, Kevin Wolfinger 2-21, Kirk Cowburn 7-27, TD, Tim McCusker 14-7, Creighton hayes 3-7, Jordan Barnett 1-(-1). S- Jimmy Hahn 12-92, Khalil Slaughter 2-(-5), Robert Howell 3-(-11), Craig Fitch 3-(-7), Jasper Rentas 2-5.

PASSING: C- Tim McCusker 5-9, 58 yards, TD, INT. S- Craig Fitch 4-5, 27 yards, Jimmy Hahn 1-2, 18 yards, TD, INT.

RECEIVING: C- Jordan Barnett 4-43, Dirk Cowburn 1-15, TD. S- Ian Davidson 2-30, TD, Jimmy Hahn 2-14, Jasper Rentas 1-1.