LEWISTOWN — As far as upsets go, this one was pretty big.
The Clearfield Bisons pulled off a shocker on Friday night, knocking off previously-unbeaten Indian Valley, 19-13, at Mitchell Field in Lewistown. Clearfield stormed back from a 13-0 second-half deficit to upset the Warriors by scoring the final 19 points of the game.
With the win, the Bisons improved to 4-3. Indian Valley fell to 6-1.
Both teams spent the first 24 minutes feeling each other out. Neither team could get much offense going and the first half ended scoreless. It was a defensive struggle, to be sure.
The halftime statistics indicate just that.
At the half, IV had six first downs, while Clearfield had five. The Warriors had 144 total yards in offense, while the Bisons had 83. Both quarterbacks — IV\’s Jarrett Kratzer and Clearfield\’s Jarrin Campman — combined for just 84 yards.
But in the second half, both teams found their offense.
In the third quarter, Indian Valley came out and ran the ball right at Clearfield. The Warriors first drive of the second half lasted just 57 seconds and was capped when Jay Hartman scored from 21 yards out. Morgan Barger added the point fter to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead at the 11:03 mark.
The Warriors tacked on another touchdown when Thad Rosenberry scored from three yards out with 6:49 to play in the third quarter. But the extra point was blocked, and the Warriors held a 13-0 edge.
Down, but not out, the Bisons roared back.
Campman got the Bisons on the board with a 1-yard QB sneak and Parker Herrington added the point after to pull the Bisons within 13-7 with 3:35 to play in the third.
Indian Valley was looking to grind the clock and get its ground game rolling again on its next drive, but Kratzer fumbled an exchange with Rosenberry and Brandon Sass grabbed the loose ball.
It was the first of two big Indian Valley turnovers.
After the fumble, Clearfield wasted little time converting the turnover into points. Following a big 21-yard pass play to avid Ryan, Campman hit Drew Hipps for a pretty 13-yard touchdown with just 2:13 left in the third. However, the Herrington PAT was blocked and the game was knotted, 13-13.
In the fourth quarter, the Bisons drove down the field and scored on a 21-yard pass from Campman to Hipps with just 2:11 left in the game. Herrington shanked the PAT and the Bisons held a stunning 19-13 lead.
Indian Valley wasn\’t done, though. Kratzer was driving the Warriors when he was intercepted by Campman with less than two minutes to play. The Bisons got creative in running out the clock, and Campman took a knee with one tick left, and the celebration was on.
Campman finished the game 12-of-21 passing for 156 yards and the two TDs. Ryan led all receivers with five receptions for 83 yards.
The difference proved to be turnovers. IV turned the ball over twice, while Clearfield did not turn it over at all.
It was the third time in as many seasons that the Bisons came from behind to scalp Gawen Stoker\’s Warriors.
An upset? Yes.
An upset that could propel the Bisons to bigger and better things.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Clearfield 0 0 13 6 — 19
Indian Valley 0 0 13 0 — 13
Third Quarter
IV—Jay Hartman 21 run (Morgan Barger kick), 11:03.
IV—Thad Rosenberry 3 run (kick blocked), 6:49.
C—Jarrin Campman 1 run (Parker Herrington kick), 3:35.
C—Drew Hipps 13 pass from Campman (kick blocked), 2:13.
Fourth Quarter
C—Hipps 21 pass from Campman (kick failed), 2:11.