Airing it out: Pass game fuels A-P victory

PARKERSBURG – Friday night was far from a typical Aplington-Parkersburg football game.

But a Falcon offense relying more on its athletes outside the hash marks, almost out of necessity, got the job done in A-P's district opener with North Butler, sending the home crowd happy with a 42-7 victory.

Carter Cuvelier, already A-P's all-time leading passer in his third season at quarterback for the Falcons, threw for 262 yards on 10-of-19 passing with two touchdown passes to Jack Haren on Friday.

A running-back situation plagued with injuries, combined with young talent like Haren stepping up to haul in passes from the seasoned veteran Cuvelier has made the pass-heavy Falcons a new sight on the Sacred Acre.

The Falcons are on pace to throw 207 pass attempts this season, with 115 through five games.

"It's different than A-P's ever had, so it's a little scary," A-P head coach Alex Pollock said. "But it's who we are at this point, so we're going to take it and run with it––or I guess I should say, throw with it."

Haren has emerged in the last two weeks as one of Cuvelier's favorite targets, with five touchdown receptions in the last two weeks.

He hauled in a pass for a 70-yard touchdown on A-P's opening drive, putting the Falcons on the board 46 seconds into the game. Cuvelier added a fumble return for a touchdown on North Butler's opening drive, giving A-P an early 13-0 lead with 9:41 showing on the scoreboard.

"It starts on the line," Haren said. "They give him great protection that allows him to make a great throw and I appreciate everything those guys do. … I think [Cuvelier and I] trust each other."

For the full story, see this week's Parkersburg Eclipse.