The Clearfield football team\’s season-opener at the Bison Sports Complex on Friday night can be summed up in two words: special teams. Bisons punter Drew Hipps enjoyed a solid evening, and Ryan Lippert blocked a punt to lead Clearfield to a 20-14 win over visiting Bald Eagle Area.
\”Between Drew Hipps punting and Parker (Herrington) kicking I think special teams really made the difference tonight,\” said Clearfield coach Tim Janocko. \”Drew had one punt in particular from about our own 10-yard line that has a great kick. You look back on that, and who knows that may have won the game.\”
Hipps out-punted the oppostion\’s punter by an average of nearly 20 yards, keeping the Eagles with a long field with which to work for much of the evening. Lippert also made a huge contribution with his block. Bald Eagle Area faced a fourth-and-three at its own 14-yard line late in the opening stanza, and Lippert broke through to swat down the kick. Toby Young recovered the blocked punt in the end zone, expanding Clearfield\’s lead to 13-0 at the four-minute mark of the first quarter.
\”We had the block on,\” said Janocko. \”I thought we should have blocked another, too, but we ended up getting a roughing the kicker call. But we were aggressive, and you\’re going to have those calls. But the one we did get was a big play.\”
Josh Rippey opened the scoring for the Bisons at 5:33 in the first quarter with an 8-yard sprint to paydirt, capping a 10-play, 54-yard drive. Isiah Morgan (20 carries, 102 yards) was Clearfield\’s key contributor on the drive, toting the ball three times for 15 yards, including an 11-yard run to set up a first-and-goal.
Clearfield received another big special teams play near the end of the quarter, as Tyler Davis produced a 20-yard punt return. Davis\’ return gave the Bisons the ball at the BEA 40-yard line, and Clearfield needed just five plays to tack on more points. Morgan put the ball in the end zone to finish the drive, scoring from 14 yards out with 11:54 to play in the second quarter. Herrington\’s extra point put Clearfield up, 20-0.
\”They put a lot in the box and threw some blitzes at us,\” said Janocko. \”There were some times where they nailed us with the blitz and some times where we would catch them in it and come up with a play. Our offensive line did a good job tonight.\”
But after the two teams traded punts the Eagles got a fine special teams play of their own. Gary Sowash came up with a 17-yard return to set up BEA at the Clearfield 35. Three plays later Justin Koleno (19 carries, 78 yards) broke loose, jaunting 29 yards for a touchdown. Sowash\’s PAT cut the lead to 20-7 with 4:03 remaining in the first half.
From there the BEA defense stepped up to keep the game in reach, forcing the Bisons to punt on their next possession and holding them late in the half after a David Ryan interception. Ryan\’s pick gave Clearfield the ball at the Eagles 42-yard line, and the Bisons drove to the 30 before running into fourth-and-nine. The Eagles D stopped the Bisons on fourth down, stopping Rippey two yards short on a seven-yard reception.
As play moved to the second half the Eagles continued to ratchet up their defensive pressure. Bald Eagle held Clearfield to four punts in four possessions and 53 total yards in the second half.
The Bisons, not to be outdone, also began to pressure the ball a bit more. Justin Karp had a number of stops and Ryan, Nick Redden and Lee Zalno each recorded sacks in the second half.
Bald Eagle Area did threaten to score, however. Sowash had another big punt return, and a 31-yard pass from A.J. Robinson to Donald Burns III gave the Eagles first-and-goal at the 8. A holding penalty proved costly, though, moving the Eagles back to the 21-yard line. Robinson, faced with a long third-and-goal, was picked off by Jarrin Campman.
\”We put pressure on them and got some big plays,\” said Janocko. \”I thought the goal line stand where we intercepted the halfback pass was a big play in this game.\”
The Eagles did much better on their next red zone trip, completing a 44-yard, five-play drive with a 19-yard touchdown run by Robinson with 3:32 to play. Sowash\’s kick cut the Bisons\’ lead to 20-14.
Clearfield made sure it ran out the clock, though, ensuring an opening night victory. Morgan carried the ball twice during the game\’s final drive for eight and nine yards, respectively, helping salt the clock away.
\”We\’re definitely inexperienced, so it was good to get a win in the home-opener,\” said Janocko. \”We got a win so we\’re happy.\”
Clearfield (1-0 overall, 0-0 Mountain Athletic Conference) hosts Brookville on Friday.
Clearfield–20
Bald Eagle Area–14
Score By Quarters
Bald Eagle Area 0 7 0 7
Clearfield 13 7 0 0
First Quarter
C–Rippey 8 run, (Herrington kick), 5:33.
C–Young blocked punt recovery, (kick failed), 4:00.
Second Quarter
C–Morgan 14 run, (Herrington kick), 11:54.
B–Koleno 29 run, (Sowash kick), 4:03.
Fourth Quarter
B–Robinson 19 run, (Sowash kick), 3:32.
TEAM STATISTICS
BEA Clfd
Total First Downs 11 8
Rushes-Yards 40-144 38-140
Comp-Att-Int 2-11-2 4-13-0
Passing Yards 27 31
Total Plays-Yards 51-171 51-171
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-0
Punts-Avg. 7-20.6 7-37.1
Penalties-Yards 3-20 7-60
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Bald Eagle Area–Koleno 19-78, Robinson 14-55, Hoffman 5-9, Sowash 1-5, Team 1-(-3).
Clearfield–Morgan 20-102, J. Campman 9-17, Young 3-14, Rippey 2-9, T. Campman 1-1, Team 3-(-3).
Passing
Bald Eagle Area–Robinson 2-of-10, 27yds., 1 int., Koleno 0-of-1, 0 yds., 1 int.
Clearfield–J. Campman 3-of-13, 31yds.
Receiving
Bald Eagle Area–Burns 1-31, Hoffman 1(-4).
Clearfield–Greenland 1-11, Panebianco 1-9, Rippey 1-7, Hipps 1-4.