CURWENSVILLE — Only hot water for the post-game shower and having his grandfather, the late Kenneth Cathcart, in the stands would have made Curwensville Area High School football standout Nick Sipes\’ final appearance at Riverside Stadium any better Saturday night.
A combination of heavy rains, muddy turf, a determined Ridgway defense and two big plays by quarterback Shawn Sopic kept Sipes out of the spotlight in the first half, but he shifted into high gear after intermission and combined his power running with a lot of blocking help from his teammates to gain 134 yards and, more importantly, score three touchdowns as the Golden Tide advanced to the District 9 Class A semifinals with a 35-12 victory.
That trio of scores elevated the 5-10, 210-pound senior to the top of the District 9 all-time touchdown chart with 81, one more than Dave Richards scored for the Clearfield Bisons earlier this decade.
One of the last Golden Tide players to emerge from the fieldhouse after savoring the win with his teammates and being one of the minority brave enough to test the cold showers, Sipes flashed a big smile to his family and well-wishers.
\”It\’s a great feeling to have,\” Sipes said when asked about the touchdown title that gives him the a District 9 trifecta with his rushing record that stands at more than 5,700 yards and the scoring crown, \”but it wouldn\’t have happened if I wouldn\’t have had the good lines through all the years.\”
He later made it a point to mention his backfield mates who have provided important lead blocks during his four-year career, including older brother Nate, who was Curwensville\’s featured back when Nick was a freshman and sophomore.
\”I still never expected all that to happen running behind my brother and having a torn ACL and everything,\” Nick said. \”I can\’t be happier.
\”It was even more special (to get the TD record) my last home game as a senior. I wouldn\’t have wanted to break it anywhere else.\”
Sipes finished the game with 32 carries for 167 yards, padding his total to 1,744 for the year, and also led the Golden Tide defense with 10 tackles, six of them solos. He ranks among the state\’s top backs with 28 touchdowns and 210 points.
And he revealed an extra, personal motivational incentive for a season that has at least one more game.
\”I dedicated this season to my grandfather, who passed away Feb. 26, in wrestling season,\” he explained. \”That\’s why the \”Picky Pap\” on the back of my helmet. That was his nickname.\”
There won\’t be a coach in the Allegheny Mountain League or the rest of the Class A teams in District 9 sorry to see Sipes pick up his diploma in the spring, and Mark Morelli probably summed up the feelings of most of them after watching from the opposing sideline against Saturday night.
\”Nick Sipes has had a dream career,\” the classy Ridgway coach said. \”He did his share of damage against us over the years. The thing that separates Nick from other kids that have come through the District 9 area, he\’s just got a lot of class. He\’s just a real good, high class kid that plays with good sportsmanship. And he\’s a leader. And he\’s somebody everybody looks up to.\”