This late in the high school football season, the teams still competing are the best in the state. The teams that are in the playoffs earned their spots by working hard through the spring workouts, the summer camps, and the entire fall season.
But, this late in the season, every team is good, and every game becomes more difficult. But, it just means the players must dig deep and find the extra push to get that victory.
The Clearfield Bisons exemplify how hard work yields great results.
Head Coach Tim Janocko and his coaching staff have seen the 2010 edition of their team put together the first undefeated regular season since 2004. Last week, the Bisons avenged a loss from 2009 when they defeated Punxsutawney, 26-14, to win the District 9 Class AAA Championship.
Now, the competition gets even harder this week as the District 6 Class AAA champion Johnstown Trojans will face off with the Bisons for a chance to continue towards a state championship.
Looking at this game, it is a game of very evenly matched teams. Both Johnstown and Clearfield average a 24-point victory over their opponents, have an incredible passing game, a strong ground attack, and have near even records.
Johnstown’s only loss on the season came in week nine against Central Cambria, and that was only a one-point loss. Besides that loss, only two other teams have been able to score more than 14 points against the Trojans. Last week in the District 6 Class AAA playoffs, the Trojans shut down Bellefonte, holding them to only eight points.
Clearfield needs to get some points on the board early to put Johnstown on its heels. At the same time, the Bisons need to be aware themselves on defense.
The Trojans average over 200 yards passing per game, and also average over 180 yards rushing each game. This could create chaos for Clearfield if they are unable to stop either offensive attack.
For Johnstown, their offense centers around quarterback Gervon Simon. He has experienced one of the best seasons by any quarterback in the state, and will look to continue his success. Simon has accumulated over 2200 yards passing through 11 games, including 29 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Five of those passing touchdowns came last week, his third time this season he has thrown for five scores in one game.
Simon also is the leading rusher for Johnstown, despite the fact that the Trojans are a passing-first offense. Simon has 528 yards rushing this season, including 11 touchdowns.
The Bisons need to be aware of the passing game first off because just like them, Johnstown is able to spread the ball to many different receivers. The top two receivers for Johnstown are Dwight Andrews and Alkwan Williams, who have combined for over 1100 yards through the air and 15 touchdowns.
If Clearfield wants to continue it’s undefeated streak, they have to be extremely prepared to defend Johnstown’s passing attack. If not, the season is over for the Bisons.
The same can be said for Johnstown because Clearfield has an intense passing attack that has been hard to defend all season.
Quarterback Curtis Frye has thrown for almost 1500 yards this season including 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He has been a great leader for his team, and is one of the key players that has been able to get Clearfield to this point.
But, the player Johnstown will need to keep under control will be senior running back Derek Morgan.
Last week, Morgan had his best game all year against Punxsutawney. Morgan scored all four Bison touchdowns in the Clearfield victory. He had one touchdown as a receiver, two more on the ground, and also one on an interception return.
Morgan averages nearly 100 yards per game, almost six yards per rush, and is closing in on an 1100-yard season. Johnstown needs to shut Morgan down if they want to make Clearfield a one-dimensional offense. If not, Clearfield could pull the upset.
One team will emerge with a chance to continue on in winning a state championship, another will realize its season has come to an end.
This week’s game will be played once again at E.J. Mansell Stadium in Dubois this Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.