Clearfield– On a rain soaked Friday night the Clearfield Bisons were able to overcome two monster plays by the Indian Valley Warriors and come out on top with a 35-20 victory.
On the opening kickoff Warrior running back Nick Myers took back Parker Herrington’s boot 85 yards to the house making a handful of Bisons tacklers miss in the process. Most teams after giving up a big play like before the first series would lose confidence, but not the Bisons. Clearfield would use smash mouth football to overcome anything Indian Valley threw at them all night.
“We knew the Myers kid was a good athlete and would make plays, but we didn’t get our heads down and made some big plays throughout the game,” commented Clearfield Head Coach Tim Janocko.
Clearfield used the sloppy conditions, and a healthy backfield to march the ball down field all night. As a team the Bisons ran the ball 48 times, their most carries as a team so far in the first three games this season. Jarrin Campman once again paved the way for the Bisons rushing the ball 27 times for 136 yards and scoring four touchdowns on runs of 8, 6, 32, and 6 again. A healthy Isaiah Morgan ran the ball 17 times for 96 yards a 5.65 per carry average, and showed the power running style he possessed as a sophomore when he posted a 1,000 yard season.
“Jarrin was definitely the game changer tonight, I don’t know what his exact stats were but he had a huge game. Isaiah came back from last week\’s injury and did some pounding for us tonight in the second half. When you have those two in the backfield running for you that gives you some big weapons,” said Janocko on the play of the senior tandem.
Morgan and Campman turned out big performances, but as every football fan knows you can’t run without the big boys paving the way upfront. Clearfield’s offensive line of Nick Redden, Andre Buck, Zach Stevens, Brady Dixon, and Cruise Kerr dominated the line scrimmage for the second straight game clearing running lanes and protecting the quarterback on passing downs.
“Our offensive line played a really good game again tonight, they gave us time to throw and opened up holes for our backs,” said Janocko.
It wasn’t all about offense Friday for the Bisons as the defense came up with big plays as well all night. Jack Mellgard and Trey Campman both came up with interceptions for Clearfield in crucial situations. Mellgard picked off a pass on a fake punt, snatching the ball out of the air with one hand; while Campman’s interception put the nail in the coffin for the Bisons intercepting the ball on the two yard line on the Warriors final possession. Scott Nishida and Cruise Kerr also made plays all night on defense as Nishida recovered a fumble and Kerr picked up 1.5 sacks.
“Jack is a sophomore out there for us and he made a huge play. We are really inexperienced out there defensively. We are playing three sophomores and a freshman on defense, and that was Nishida’s first time at inside linebacker. They came up big for us tonight,” commented Janocko on his young defense.
Indian Valley got the started scoring early with Myers taking back the opening kick 85 yards, but they would miss the PAT. The Bisons answered right back – marching down field and ending the drive with Derek Morgan hauling in a 20 yard touchdown on 4th down.
The following Warrior drive would end in a turnover as Nishida alertly fell on a fumbled handoff setting Clearfield up with a short drive for their second score which was capped off by an 8 yard quarterback sweep by Campman.
The two teams would trade punts on their first possessions of the second quarter before Indian Valley would come up with a long scoring run by backup quarterback William Long. Once again the Bisons would answer right back with an 8 yard touchdown by Campman giving Clearfield a 21-12 lead heading into the intermission.
Indian Valley would get the scoring started in the second half as Myers would once again provide a spark for the Warriors going untouched up the middle on route to an 85 yard touchdown run. Not to be out down Campman used superb blocking downfield to take a quarterback draw 33 yards to the house to put Clearfield up 28-20.
Isaiah Morgan would provide two punishing 20 yard runs on the next Bison drive to setup first and goal from the 6 where Campman would call his own number and take the ball in for his 4th rushing touchdown of the game.
“Overall I though we played a good game tonight. We made some huge plays that allowed us to win the game, but there are still some mistakes we made in the first half that we can improve upon,” said Janocko.
Clearfield will host undefeated and state-ranked Tyrone in next week\’s game.
Score By Quarters
Indian Valley 6 6 8 0 – 20
Clearfield 14 7 7 7 -35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Indian Valley-Myers 5-130, Long 12-84, Battisita 8-48, Fultz 6-5, Reed 1-0, Team 1-(-8).
Clearfield-J. Campman 27-136, I. Morgan 17-96, D. Morgan 4-11, Team 3-(-3).
Passing
Indian Valley-Long 0-of-4, 1 Int; Battista 0-of-1, 1 Int.
Clearfield-J. Campman 9-of-16, 105 yds., 1 TD.
Receiving
Indian Valley-None.
Clearfield-T. Campman 3-20, D. Morgan 2-34, Danver 2-28, Sass 1-12, Angstadt 1-11.