With the amount of injuries that have been sustained through eight games, the Philipsburg-Osceola football team elected to forfeit the remainder of its 2019 season. Superintendent Dr. Gregg Paladina and Athletic Director Bob Mann said the decision came after a discussion between the coaches and booster club along with parents on Sunday night.
“We started with 38 kids, and we’re currently down to 21,” Mann said. “And of the 21 we have left, they are either freshmen or have never set foot on a varsity field.”
For Clearfield, it now gives them a bye week, as it will be listed as a 2-0 victory in the record book, and push their season record to 7-2. Unfortunately, it puts a somber note on what would be a monumental victory for the Bison football program. Friday’s game at P-O would have meant Clearfield was playing for its 600th program victory. Now, with the forfeit, that victory comes without the team ever stepping onto the field.
Clearfield now will finish out the 2019 regular season next Friday night at Bishop Carroll before moving into the District 6-9 Playoffs.
This could potentially mean for the first round in the bracket, both the No.1 seed Bellefonte Red Raiders and No.2 seed Bison would each get a bye. Juniata and Bradford sit third and fourth in the seeding, respectively, but each have a losing record, making it unlikely either team will make the post season.
If that occurs, that sets up a rematch between the Red Raiders and the Bison. The main difference between the contest two weeks ago and the one in the post season will be the location. The finals of the Class 4A Bracket will happen at a neutral location, but will likely have two very full grandstands from both respective teams.
That is yet to be determined, as Clearfield still has one remaining game on its schedule, as stated earlier, against Bishop Carroll next Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Visit ClearfieldFootball.org for directions to the stadium.
