HYDE — Walking down the track on the final home game of the regular season, the emotions are vastly different when it’s the parents or the players. The parents are emotional since it’s the last time they will see their young man on the gridiron, while the players are still in preparation mode to just get on the gridiron. The Clearfield Bison had that experience on Friday night, as the senior players were honored at the Bison Sports Complex, as they would finish out the regular season taking on the Lions of Chestnut Ridge.
But, the emotions all went to excitement and thrills once the team roared out onto the field, as fireworks lit up the sky for the final showdown of the regular season. Those seniors would provide the power, the leadership, and the mindset for the Bison as they shrugged off two tough losses the last two weeks, and three tough road games in a row, to close out the 2023 regular season with a 42-33 victory that was earned from opening kickoff to final kneel down.
“This was a great night. I am so happy for these kids. It’s been three frustrating weeks, playing three great teams while on the road and only winning one. To come back home, perform like that, I just could not be happier,” Bison coach Miles Caragein said afterwards.
The fireworks started right at the beginning of the night, literally, as the Bison stormed the field like they always do through the banner from the field house with the band at full song. But, for the first time, in the background there were literal fireworks going off in the sky, getting the crowd into the game long before kickoff. That channeled into the team as Brady Collins took the opening kickoff deep into Lions territory. Add on a penalty and the Bison started in the red zone, cashing in five plays later with Will Domico punching the ball in from two yards out. Barely three minutes into the game and the Bison already had a 7-0 lead following the point after kick from Warren Diethrick.
The Lions were ready to answer right back, and Chestnut Ridge quarterback Nate Whysong connected on his first four passes to get into Bison territory. However, he would be halted on fourth down, giving the ball back to Clearfield with half the first quarter remaining. The ground game moved Clearfield into the red zone, but Domico’s arm was the ticket to the ensuing touchdown, connecting with Carter Freeland for a 20-yard strike to put the Bison at a two-score advantage.
The second quarter began with the Lions getting traction on the ground, and in the air, as they marched 80 yards on 11 plays to cut the lead to seven after Whysong punched the ball in from three yards out. Chestnut Ridge tied it up with just under two minutes remaining on a nine-yard sprint by Jeb Emerick, putting pressure on the Bison to answer.
That answer came when Collins found daylight on 2nd and 10 from the Lions 47, catching a gap and pulling to the Bison sideline for a long touchdown run to put the Bison back in the lead just before the halftime break. Collins had an excellent night thanks to his offensive line, rushing for 124 yards and a pair of scores, and finished with over 200 all-purpose yards.
“These guys were physical. Our offensive line did a great job blocking, giving us about six or seven yards each carry, and they never got frustrated,” Caragein said.
After forcing a punt on the opening possession of the third quarter, the Bison offense went to work, grinding away once again at the defense. The gains were not long, but it kept the clock running, and Collins capped it off with a nine-yard score with just under four minutes left in the quarter to put the Bison up by two possessions.
Whysong and the Chestnut Ridge offense were not giving in, and showed that on the ensuing drive as the 6’4″ quarterback would complete six of eight passes on the drive, capping it with a six-yard strike to Jarod Wolfhope, cutting the Bison lead to seven.
The back-and-forth gamesmanship continued as the two squads traded a pair of touchdowns entering the fourth quarter, first with Domico rambling free for 18 yards, then Whysong answering back with a 4-yard plunge. But, the extra point after the touchdown would be blocked, leaving the lead for Clearfield at 35-27 with 8:16 remaining.
The biggest miscue for Clearfield came on the next possession, as a low snap to Carter Chamberlain on a punt resulted in a 22-yard loss, putting the Lions in the red zone with 6:38 remaining.
Emerick capped the drive with a three-yard score, and hoping to tie the game, the offense stayed on the field for a two-point try.
The halfback pass ultimately came out of the wildcat formation, as Whysong took the toss, and looked to the end zone. Cayden Bell had none of it, knocking the ball down to leave the score 35-33 with just under five minutes remaining.
Clearfield ground the ball one more time in the heart of the Lions’ defense, finishing it off with Chamberlain pulverizing his way to the end zone for a 15-yard score.
“Our seniors stepped up big. What a way to send them out,” Caragein said.
Chestnut Ridge was not done, as they had two more opportunities to try and cut the lead down after the Bison score with 2:33 remaining in the game. Neither of the drives would fall their way, as Freeland would pull down an interception on the first drive, and Bell sealed the victory with 39 seconds left on the second pick in as many drives.
Caragein was fired up alongside all his coaches afterwards, telling the team how exceptional a season it was for all. But, assistant coach Nate Glunt, when he was given the chance to talk to his team, could be heard telling the squad, “Everyone is now 0-0, it’s a new season for everyone.” For the first-year Bison head coach, he is ready for the challenge.
“We’re going to be ready for next week. We’re up against a great team, and we are playing at a neutral site,” he said. “We are grateful for the opportunity, and we will be ready to play.”
Clearfield (7-3) starts their post-season against a familiar opponent. Their opposition to start the playoffs will be the Punxsutawney Chucks, who are coming off a shutout victory over Union/AC Valley, 33-0.
Kickoff will be 7 p.m. next Friday night at E.J. Mansell Stadium in Dubois.
SCORE BY QUARTER
Chestnut Ridge 0 14 7 12 – 33
Clearfield 14 7 7 14 – 42
BOX SCORE
1st Quarter
- BISON: Domico 2-yard run (Diethrick kick), 9:11
- BISON: Domico 20-yard pass to Freeland (Diethrick kick), 3:17
2nd Quarter
- LIONS: Whysong 3-yard run (Kostenbauder kick), 9:07
- LIONS: Emerick 9-yard run (Kostenbauder kick), 1:40
- BISON: Collins 47-yard run (Diethrick kick), 1:01
3rd Quarter
- BISON: Collins 9-yard run (Diethrick kick), 3:56
- LIONS: Whysong 6-yard pass to Wolfhope (Kostenbauder kick), 0:05
4th Quarter
- BISON: Domico 18-yard run (Diethrick kick)
- LIONS: Whysong 4-yard run (kick blocked), 8:16
- LIONS: Emerick 3-yard run (pass failed), 4:56
- BISON: Chamberlain 15-yard run (Diethrick kick), 2:33
GAME STATISTICS
Chestnut Ridge/Clearfield
- First Downs: 14/15
- Rush Yards: 131/252
- Pass Yards: 159/53
- Penalties-Yards: 8-75/6-43
- Total Yards: 290/305
- Turnovers: 2/0
- Time of Possession: 25:32/22:28
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
- Chestnut Ridge: Emerick-19 carries, 91 yards, 2 TD; Wysong-6 carries, 20 yards, 2 TD; Claycomb-4 carries, 16 yards; Wharton-1 carry, 5 yards.
- Clearfield: Collins-14 carries, 124 yards, 2 TD; Chamberlain-13 carries, 85 yards, TD; Domico-8 carries, 16 yards, 2 TD; Freeland-5 carries, 41 yards; Team-2 carries, (-23) yards; Bell-1 carry, 9 yards.
Passing
- Chestnut Ridge: Wysong-15 for 26, 159 yards, TD, 2 INT.
- Clearfield: Domico-3 for 6, 53 yards, TD.
Receiving
- Chestnut Ridge: Claycomb-7 catches, 98 yards; Wolfhope-5 catches, 37 yards, TD; Wharton-3 catches, 24 yards.
- Clearfield: Freeland-2 catches, 35 yards, TD; Bell-1 catch, 18 yards.