Clearfield — Friday night in front of a packed stadium at the Clearfield Bison Sports Complex, Clearfield reminded the Tyrone Golden Eagles that they were in Bison Country with a shocking 35-34 victory.
The Bisons pulled off an accomplishment that no other team has been able to achieve in over four years against Tyrone, by beating them in a regular season game and snapping the PA Football News’ AA number 4 ranked team and ending their astonishing 35 game regular season winning streak.
“Our kid’s played a great game tonight. Isaiah and Jarrin both had huge games, and we made plays in crucial points on defense,” said Clearfield head coach Tim Janocko.
The Bisons knew all week they had quite the feat in front of them, as the Golden Eagles averaged giving up only 3 points a game and hadn’t given up a touchdown in two straight contests.
“Tyrone is a really well coached team. I know Coach John Franco very well and I have nothing but the utmost respect for him. He had his team prepared, but our kids just played a heck of a game,” commented Janocko on his opponent.
For the second straight week the Bisons used their lethal combination of Jarrin Campman and Isaiah Morgan on route to a victory to remember. Campman and Morgan did not seemed fazed at all by the top ranked Tyrone defense, as they made big play after big play. Campman showed the poise of an aged veteran handling the Tyrone blitz and hitting open receivers as well as knowing when to tuck and run. Morgan showed the power running style that at one time made him one of the most feared backs in District 9 as he turned runs that should have gone for no gain into 4 and 5 yards of positive yardage.
“Jarrin is just a good football player, and he just seems to get better every game that he goes out there. Isaiah is finally healthy and can run the ball the way he did two years ago. When we have those two guys in the offense it makes us a very good team,” said Janocko of his two offensive stars.
Though the Bison offense may have stolen the show Friday under the lights; it was the defense that was the unsung hero. They may have given up 34 points, but the defense came up with monster hits and big plays when needed. With time ticking down and a one point lead the Bisons forced the Golden Eagles to attempt a 42 yard field goal after snuffing out Tyrone’s first 3 attempts inside the Bison 35 on the drive. Andre Buck provided the spark for the Bison defense coming up with hit after bone crushing hit for the Clearfield defense all night.
“We gave a new look defensively tonight. We stood up Andre and moved him to inside linebacker and he made plays all night. We also gave Robert Faust his first start defensively and put him over the center and he did a great job clogging up the middle,” said Janocko.
Tyrone got the scoring started marching down field on their opening drive and capping it off with a Larry Glace 7 yard touchdown run just 4 minutes into the game, but the Golden Eagles failed to capitalize on the PAT.
The Bisons, unfazed by the touchdown, marched 70 yards down field as Isaiah Morgan hit pay dirt with a 22 yard scamper down the right sideline and Parker Herrington connected on the PAT to put the Bisons up 7-6 with 4:06 remaining in the first quarter.
Tyrone answered right back on their next possession as Mark Mingle scored on a 12 yard touchdown run with 56 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. The Golden Eagle drive was sparked by two 25 yard plus pass completions.
Not to be outdone, the Bisons used great field position from a long Trey Campman kick return to capitalize on a 34 yard scoring strike from Jarrin Campman to Derek Danver.
The game started to seem more like two heavyweight fighters throwing every punch they had until the first one grew too tired than a high school football game.
“This was just a great high school football game, it had to be the best in the state tonight. We are two teams with storied traditions and neither of us were content on losing. Every fan tonight definitely got their money’s worth tonight there is no doubt about that. It was just a great high school football game,” commented Janocko.
The two teams traded touchdowns throughout the game, but one underlying factor seemed to be the difference – special teams.
“Their kicker missed some extra points, and we made all of ours. Our kicker Parker Herrington has been worth his weight in gold for us the past two seasons. He’s done everything we’ve needed him to and more,” said Janocko of his senior kicker.
In the beginning of the second half the Bisons started off just where they ended the first as Isaiah Morgan scored his second touchdown of the night on a tough 16 yard run. The Eagles once again answered right back on their second play of the half as Levi Reihart hit a wide open Eric Desch for a 62 yard touchdown and were also successful on the 2 point conversion to make it a 28-26 Bison lead.
The Bisons were forced to a 3 and out on their next possession. Tyrone took advantage of that stop and used a drive that saw two 4th down conversions and 9 minutes run off the clock to take a 32-28 advantage on an 8 yard keeper by Reihart.
To open up the fourth quarter the Bisons used a steady diet of Campman and Morgan to eat up the clock. Jarrin Campman then found a wide open Trey Campman in the flat for a 16 yard scoring strike to take a 35-32 lead with only 7 minutes left to play.
Clearfield’s defense came up huge on the Golden Eagles’ next possession to force a punt. After a short run and 2 incompletions the Bisons were forced to punt from their end zone. In a call that makes or breaks a game, Bisons defensive coordinator Forrest Campman suggested that the Bisons take a safety rather than give up field position. For the Bisons the call paid off. On Tyrone’s final drive of the game the Bisons defense tightened up and forced a 42 yard field goal attempt that came up short. Two Campman runs later the Bisons were able to run the final seconds off the clock and come away with one of the biggest regular season victories in years.
The Bisons will hit the road next week to take on winless Lewistown.
Stats
Rushing:
Clearfield: Morgan 18-134 2 TD’s, J.Campman 19-81 TD
Tyrone: Glace 20-112 2 TDs, Mingle 14-64 1 td, Reihart 3-14 1 TD
Receiving:
Clearfield: T.Campman 6-85 1 TD, Sass 2-19, Danver 1-34 1 TD
Tyrone: Desch 6-141 1 TD, Shaffer 2-56
Passing:
Clearfield: J.Campman 10-14 138 2 TDs
Tyrone: Reihart 8-10 197 TD