Times Observer photo by Cody Elms Sheffield quarterback Colby Barr lunges forward early on in Saturday’s loss.

Despite their best defensive effort thus far this season with four turnovers, the Wolverines fell to visiting Coudersport on Saturday 30-7 for their seventh loss on the year with one week to go.

“We’re all coming into our own,” said Sheffield Head Coach Mike Barr. “Barring the score, I feel this is the best football game we’ve played all year. I say that, because there were a lot of mistakes, but this was a complete game. We had to play four quarters this game. No mercy rule. No JV’s in the second quarter, third quarter. The kids are starting to understand, they’re starting to comprehend what we’re teaching. They’re starting to buy in, and I think that is the result of that.”

Down multiple offensive starters on the line, the Wolverines knew coming into Saturday’s game that the defense was going to be the reason they can keep the score tight and avoid things getting out of hand. The defense did their job on the Falcons first drive, after Coudersport was able to get the ball down to the Sheffield 18, the Wolverines forced a turnover on downs ending a nine play 49-yard drive. However, on their first play of their first drive, Sheffield would turn the ball over off a Gage Mott-Macalush fumble, giving the Falcons a fresh set of downs with better field position than where their previous drive stalled. Coudersport did not let this opportunity go to waste. After a couple of Ethan Ott runs to get the ball to the five-yard line, Xander Brown would carry it in for the score and the lead at the halfway point of the first quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Falcons would recover the ball and have great field position once again at the Wolverines’ 37. Sheffield’s defense stepped up and pushed the Falcons back five yards before forcing a punt. The Wolverine offense continued to struggle but the defense continued to shine, causing and recovering two fumbles on the Falcons’ next two drives, before finally giving up a big 54-yard rushing touchdown to Ott with just under eight minutes to go in the first half.

With 1:38 left in the second quarter, Sheffield would start their final drive of the half at their own 19.

Unfortunately for the Wolverines, they ran three plays all for negative yardage resulting in a safety. After the kick, Mason Silvis was able to haul in an interception at the goal line to end the half down 16-0.

After a quick series by Sheffield to start the third quarter, Coudersport put together a 12 play five minute and 27 second drive capped off with a Xander Brown five yard receiving touchdown from quarterback John Wright to put Coudersport up 24-0.

“This was the first game, where I told them, you guys go do your homework on the defense, Todd (Fitch) and I are going to do our homework on the offense, and we’ll see what happens,” said Barr of dividing up the coaching responsibilities. “I like what I saw today. I really do. So even us coaches are coming into our own.”

The Wolverines down 30-0 would finally get on the board with just second left in the fourth quarter with a ten-yard dime from Colby Barr to Dylan Hardwick. Chase Kyler hit the point after.

Coudersport 8 8 14 0–30

Sheffield 0 0 0 7–7

First Quarter

C–Xander Brown 5 run, (Brown run), 6:01.

Second Quarter

C–Ethan Ott 54 run, (conversion failed), 6:51.

C–Team safety, :27.

Third Quarter

C–Brown 5 pass from John Wright, (Ott run), 4:23.

C–Vedder Conyer 5 run, (conversion failed), :32.

Fourth Quarter

S–Dylan Hardwick 10 pass from Colby Barr, (Chase Kyler kick), :33.

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C S

Offensive plays 60 36

First downs 9 2

Total Net Yards 301 -2

Rushes-yards 50-290 24-(-45)

Passing 11 43

Comp-Att-Int 2-10-1 3-12-0

Fumbles-Lost 7-3 5-1

Penalties-Yards 6-70 7-50

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Coudersport, Ott 25-214-TD, Brown 7-52-TD, Preston Ayers 2-7, Viggo Brown 2-7, Conyer 7-6-TD, Wright 5-1, Parker Sherry 2-3; Sheffield, Gage Mott-Maclush 9-14, Jamari Manning 3-7, Mason Silvis 2-(-5), Jeremiah Richardson 4-(-21), Barr 6-(-40).

PASSING–Coudersport, Wright 2-10-11-TD-INT; Sheffield, Barr 3-12-43-TD.

RECEIVING–Coudersport, Jackson Moss 1-6, Brown 1-5-TD; Sheffield, Silvis 3-33, Hardwick 1-10-TD.