For third time in four years the Clearfield Bisons and St. Marys Dutch will square off in the District 9 AAA playoffs. This is the second time the two teams will meet with the championship title on the line. Before getting into this week’s preview I will provide you a little information on Clearfield’s district playoff history.
Clearfield Playoff History
District Playoff Appearances
*1992,*1993,*1994,*1996,*1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007
*(Clearfield was AAAA)
District Championships
*1994,1998,1999,2002, 2004,2005
*(Clearfield was AAAA)
The Bisons have more District 9 Playoff appearances than any team.
St. Marys Playoff History
2005,2007 (Both against Clearfield)
Review of Clearfield\’s Last Three Appearances
2005
In 2005 Clearfield defeated St. Marys 21-18 in front of a large crowd at
Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium. The win avenged a loss to the
Dutch just two weeks prior, and also cemented Coach Tim Janocko’s name
in the elite class of coaches who have won 150 games. The game saw its
fair share of huge plays including Doug Kephart’s two touchdown catches
from quarterback Andrew Janocko, and Curtis Campman’s interception in
the redzone during the second half. Janocko completed 6 of 11 attempts
for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the contest, while Campman lead the
rushing attack with 132 yards. Shane Davis scored the eventual game
winning touchdown with 5:37 left in the 3rd quarter on a 1 yard plunge.
St. Marys had a chance to at least tie the game, but a great sideline to
sideline play by linebackers Adam Jury and Tyler Kirkwood lead to a
turnover on downs with minutes remaining in the game. The victory gave
the Bisons back to back Championships; this Championship was also the
last one the Bisons have won.
2006
Clearfield’s last appearance in the District Championship Game came in
2006 when they fell in a double overtime heartbreaker to Bradford 37-30.
The Bisons were lead in that game by Andrew Janocko’s 3 touchdown
passes to receiver Adam Jury, and Isaiah Morgan’s 143 yards rushing.
This game was perhaps one of the wildest finishes in District 9 Playoff
history. With just a little over 7 minutes to go in the game the Bisons
clung on to a 27-20 lead after a four yard touchdown pass from Janocko
to Jury. Bradford fumbled the ensuing kickoff and gave the ball right
back to the Bisons to milk the clock and come away with a victory, but
the Owls defense stiffened and forced a turnover on downs. With just
minutes remaining in the game the owls marched downfield and scored with
just under 3 minutes to go to make it a tie game. Tyler Davis then
swung the momentum back in Clearfield’s favor returning the ensuing
kickoff to midfield. Clearfield then marched the ball to the Bradford
19 yard line on runs by Morgan. With just seconds remaining Bison
kicker Kyle Kline was called on to attempt a game winning 37 yard field
goal. Unfortunately for the Bisons Kline’s kick never made it past the
line of scrimmage as it was blocked. In the first overtime Kline had a
chance to redeem himself nailing a 34 yard field goal, but the Owls too
were able to pick up a 25 yard field goal in the first overtime. In the
second extra period the owls scored on their second play to go up 37-30.
Clearfield was unable to muster a touchdown as on fourth down Janocko’s
pass to Jury was ripped out by a Bradford defender.
2007
Last season Clearfield squared of with St. Marys in the District 9 AAA
Semi-Final. It was a game most Bisons fans wish they could forget as
Clearfield surrendered a 14-10 lead with a little less than 5 minutes
remaining in the 3rd quarter. The Dutch would go on to score 20
unanswered points and defeat Clearfield 30-14. Turnovers ultimately
were what killed the Bisons as Jarrin Campman threw a career high six
interceptions in the game; which was as many as he threw the entire regular season. The
Bisons were lead in the game by Jarrin Campman’s two touchdown passes toTodd Hryn. Trey
Campman also chipped in with 52 yards receiving. The victory by the Dutch made school history as it was the school’s first ever playoff win.
How Both Teams Got To The Playoffs This Year
Clearfield St. Marys
Wk 1 @ DuBois 28-35 L @ Bellefonte 20-24 L
Wk 2 @ P.O 35-0 W @ Lewistown 36-0 W
Wk 3 vs. Indian Valley 35-20 W @ Bald Eagle 21-0 W
Wk 4 vs. Tyrone 35-34 W vs. Huntingdon 21-9 W
Wk 5 @ Lewistown 56-25 W @ Penns Valley 28-0 W
Wk 6 @ Bald Eagle 41-6 W vs. Tyrone 7-44 L
Wk 7 vs. Penns Valley 56-28 W vs. Indian Valley 44-0 W
Wk 8 vs. Central 49-21 W vs. P.O 42-12 W
Wk 9 @ Huntingdon 7-33 L vs. Central 27-28 L
Wk 10 vs. St. Marys 29-6 W @ Clearfield 6-29 L
This Week’s Contest
The Bisons enter Friday night’s District Championship game with an 8-2
record which is the best record the Bisons have had since the 2004 team
which went 9-0 during the regular season. St. Marys enters the contest
with a 6-4 record, one win shy of their total entering the playoffs last
season.
Unless you suffer from short term memory loss you should remember that
these two teams matched up just a week ago. The Bisons came out on top
with a 29-6 victory at the Clearfield Bison Sports Complex. Clearfield
was lead by Jarrin Campman’s three rushing touchdowns, while Isaiah Morgan also
chipped in with a rushing score. The game was perhaps the Bison
defense\’s best of the year as they held the Dutch scoreless until just
minutes remaining in the game.
The Bisons should have a slight advantage in their favor entering the
game having multiple players with playoff experience. Jarrin Campman
has been part of four different playoff teams as a backup quarterback in
2005, safety in 2006, and quarterback/safety in 2007. Nick Redden has
also started in two playoff games as a center and defensive tackle in
2006 and 2007. Isaiah Morgan will return to a stage where he dazzled in
2006 as a sophomore running back accounting for many of the Bisons yards
in that game.
Clearfield will once again look to use its explosive offense to create
problems for the Dutch and will rely on the defense to make big plays
just as it did a week ago.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 P.M. at Frank Varischetti Field in Brockway with the winner advancing to the PIAA State
Playoffs.