READING — Former Clearfield Area High School standout Tanner Kelly turned in an auspicious starting debut at quarterback for Albright College Saturday, passing for four touchdowns and running for another as the Lions routed Juniata 48-14 in the 56th Annual Shriners Pretzel Bowl at Shirk Stadium.
The redshirt freshman completed 16 of 24 passes for 294 yards and rushed six times for 29 yards to lead the Lions to their first victory after three losses, setting their Middle Atlantic Conference record at 1-2.
Kelly connected for TD passes of three yards to Ryan Juisti and 11 yards to Nate Romig in the second quarter, scored on a two-yard bootleg early in the third quarter and completed Albright\’s run of 48 consecutive points with two more touchdown passes, hooking up with Romig for a 45-yarder and with Michael Heppler for a 74-yarder. His tremendous 224 efficiency rating boosted his season number to 163.11.
Defensive back Beau Ryan, a 2005 Clearfield Area High School graduate, played in his fourth game for Juniata, which fell to 0-4 in the MAC and 0-5 overall.
Kelly saw action in Albright\’s 32-13 opening game loss against Ursinus, completing six of nines passes for 60 yards and his first collegiate TD aerial. However, the 6-3, 217-pounder had an interception returned for a score and also lost a fumble.
In the Lions\’ third game, Kelly again came off the bench and responded with a 12-for-21 effort that produced 141 yards against host Kings College. He was intercepted once in the 38-14 loss.
For the season, Kelly has 34 completions in 54 pass attempts for 495 yards and added 47 yards on 16 runs.
Cory Picard, another Clearfield High School graduate, is in his first year as one of the defensive line coaches for Albright, which goes on the road Saturday to play Widener in a 1 p.m. kick off.
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SHIPPENSBURG — Right halfback Dave Richards of Clearfield carried seven times for 34 yards and caught one pass for 15 yards for Shippensburg in a 35-14 loss to Bloomsburg in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crossover game Saturday at Seth Grove Stadium.
James Brittingham starred for the 4-1 Huskies with 154 yards on 24 carries and three touchdowns. He was named PSAC Eastern Division co-Player of the Week.
Richards ranks third for the Red Raiders in rushing with 164 yards on 34 carries and pass receiving with 105 yards on eight receptions. He also has returned two kickoffs for 26 yards.
Shippensburg takes its 2-3 record to Slippery Rock Saturday for its Western Division opener at 7 p.m. The Rockets (4-1) are off to their best start since 1999.