This Friday night one of the best high school football rivalries in Central Pennsylvania will be played for the 103rd time when the Beavers of DuBois travel to the Clearfield Bison Sports Complex to take on the Bisons.
The series between these two teams has seen some exciting games in the past few meetings, with last year’s game ending on a stop by the Beavers\’ defense on Clearfield’s Jarrin Campman\’s quarterback sneak from the one yard line as time expired to win the first ever King Of The Mountain Trophy 35-28.
Last year’s senior laden Bison squad quickly bounced back from their opening weekend loss to go 10-3 on the season and capture yet another District 9 AAA title; the team’s third in five years.
Clearfield lost much of its fire power from last year’s squad losing quarterback Jarrin Campman (Lycoming College), running back Isiah Morgan (Juniata College), center Nick Redden (Duquesne University), and tackle Cruise Kerr (Indiana University of PA).
The Bisons however do return some top players on this year’s young squad including last year’s leading receiver and PA Football News District 9 Profile Player Trey Campman. Campman lead the district last year with a career high 49 catches to go along with 600+ yards and 6 touchdown grabs. Trey’s biggest game of the year came against the Beavers last season where he hauled in a team high 11 balls for 116 yards.
Sophomore Derek Danver, the team’s second leading returning receiver, hauled in 15 balls for 219 yards. Danver also had a breakout game against DuBois hauling in 10 catches in the opening week.
Derek Morgan will take over in the backfield for his brother this season. The junior running back will look to bounce back from an opening week injury that caused him to miss parts of last season.
Sophomore Curtis Frye will take command of the offensive reigns for the 2009 season. Frye has yet to throw a varsity pass, but did see some time under center last season late in games.
Another new addition to the Bison lineup is Senior kicker Chad Zurat. Zurat, a multi sport athlete, played an intricate part in leading the Bison basketball and soccer teams to District Championships last season.
Returning defensive stalwart Andre Buck will look to build off of his success as an All District Selection in 2008 and anchor the Bisons defense.
The Beavers find themselves in much the same situation as the Bisons with very little returning at the skill positions. Senior Cameron Kelly will look to lead the charge against the Bisons. Kelly, a multi talented player, averaged nearly 6 yards a rush, and 27 yards a reception last season.
This game could come down to the wire much like last season, and should kickoff a great start to yet another exciting season of Bison Football.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 P.M. at the Clearfield Bison Sports Complex