The 2010 Class of Bison Senior football players will definitely have no problem remembering their final home game at the Clearfield Bison Sports Complex as they pulled out a 21-14 victory in overtime. The Bisons used a solid defense and balanced rushing attack to knock off the Bearcats. Quarterback Curtis Frye led the way with 95 yards rushing while Derek Morgan and Trey Campman chipped in with 89 yards and 32 yards respectively.
Things looked good for the Bisons as they forced a three and out on Huntingdon\’s first possession and marched down to the Bearcat redzone. The Bison offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage the entire night allowing Clearfield to run the ball so well. However the Bisons first drived stalled on the 15 yard line after a missed field goal attempt.
Both teams had trouble scoring in the first quarter with it ending with the score tied 0-0, but the Bisons would get on the board on their first second quarter drive. Morgan scored on a 3- yard plunge set up by yet another solid offensive drive. After a failed PAT the Bisons lead 6-0.
The Clearfield defense would step up big yet again throughout the quarter with the half ending on an interception by Campman, sending the Bisons into the intermission with a 6-0 lead.
The Bisons came out hot in the second half by once again marching down the field on a long drive and Morgan scoring another touchdown, this time from 5 yards out. Clearfield elected to go for two and after an option pitch Campman scored the 2-point try.
Leading 14-0 late in the 3rd quarter it looked as if the Bisons were in the driver\’s seat, but that\’s when things got dicey.
On the Bearcats following drive quarterback Nathan Betts hooked up for a 7-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Mykut on a nice double move to put Huntingdon back in the game after the PAT. Going into the final quarter the Bisons lead was now down to seven.
Both teams traded punts on their following possessions and the Bearcats set up with a long field in front of them and only three minutes remaining. With a little over a minute remaining and the ball around midfield the Bisons just needed to come up with three big defensive plays and the game would be over. Unfortunately it was the Bearcats who came up with a big play with Betts and Mykut hooking up yet again this time for a 49-yard screen pass for a touchdown, after the PAT the game was tied at 14-14.
With just a minute remaining in regulation Campman returned the kickoff to the 40 yard line and that\’s where Frye started a masterful running of the clock drill. Morgan broke off one of his hardest runs of the night breaking two tackles at the line of scrimmage and picking up 15 yards. Frye then found Scott McKenrick, who made perhaps the biggest catch of the season, setting up the Bisons with a chance to score with under a minute remaining. Frye called his own number on two straight quarterback draws which set the Bisons up with a second and goal from the four. Frye\’s pass attempt for Andrew Redden in the endzone fell incomplete setting up a dramatic game winning field goal attempt. With just 17 seconds remaining Chad Zurat lined up with a chance to redeem himself from his missed attempt earlier in the game. However, the sloppy field conditions were not well suited for the kicking game and Zurat\’s kick was wide right. Huntingdon chose to kneel on the ball and play for overtime.
It took the Bisons just two plays to punch the ball in on a Frye 4-yard touchdown on their first overtime possession and Zurat nailed the PAT to put Clearfield up 21-14.
The Bison defense came up big on the Bearcats possession with Andrew Redden providing what seemed to be the game ending play by jarring the ball lose from Betts in the backfield, but the referees blew they play dead claiming Betts was throwing the ball and ruled it an incomplete pass. On the very next play Derek Danver came untouched off the right side and sacked Betts for a big loss, and to make things worse for the Bearcats Betts spiked the ball in anger and was flagged for another 15 yards. On fourth down the Bisons kept the Bearcats out of the endzone and came away with a huge win.
Clearfield\’s playoff hopes are still very much alive after picking up their third straight win and with a win over St. Marys next week would lock up a D9AAA playoff spot. Kickoff for next week is scheduled for 7:00 PM at St. Marys.
(Go to http://www.clearfieldfootball.org/103009game.html to see exciting game photos)
Rushing
Huntingdon-Riley 8-57, Minor 3-13, Yoder 1-3, Team 1-(-1),Betts 9-(-11).
Clearfield-Frye 25-93, Morgan 18-89, Campman 7-32, Mellgard 1-4, Team 1-(-1)..
Passing
Huntingdon-Betts 8-of-15, 123 yds., 2 TD, 1 Int.
Clearfield-Frye 11-of-18, 118 yds.
Receiving
Huntingdon-Mykut 3-95, Marter 2-15, Houck 1-15, Bennett 1-3, Minor 1-(-5).
Clearfield-Campman 4-47, Mellgard 4-35, McKenrick 1-23, Redden 2-13
Huntingdon-Riley 8-57, Minor 3-13, Yoder 1-3, Team 1-(-1),Betts 9-(-11).
Clearfield-Frye 25-93, Morgan 18-89, Campman 7-32, Mellgard 1-4, Team 1-(-1)..
Passing
Huntingdon-Betts 8-of-15, 123 yds., 2 TD, 1 Int.
Clearfield-Frye 11-of-18, 118 yds.
Receiving
Huntingdon-Mykut 3-95, Marter 2-15, Houck 1-15, Bennett 1-3, Minor 1-(-5).
Clearfield-Campman 4-47, Mellgard 4-35, McKenrick 1-23, Redden 2-13
