Both the Clearfield and Curwensville football teams are looking to put season-opening losses behind them as they turn their attention to Week 2 opponents.
Clearfield is hitting the road, making the long trek to Bedford for the fourth meeting all-time between the Bison and Bisons.
Curwensville meanwhile gets a home game at Coach Andy Evanko Stadium as it welcomes Windber to town in an Inter County Conference crossover game.
Here are looks at each matchup:
Clearfield (0-1) at Bedford (0-1)
ALL-TIME SERIES: Bedford leads 2-1, having won subregional playoff matchups in 2020 and 2021. Clearfield earned its first win in the series last year in Week 10 in a Laurel Highlands crossover matchup.
LAST MEETING: Clearfield scored three times in the second half of last year’s meeting before Bedford took an offensive snap, turning a 7-0 halftime lead into a 36-6 rout that completed the unbeaten regular season for the Bison. Clearfield scored on its first drive of the second half, then took it to the end zone two more times after recovering a pair of onside kicks. Brady Collins led the Bison offense with 129 yards and two TDs on 18 carries
LAST WEEK FOR CLEARFIELD: The Bison dropped a 28-21 decision to visiting Bellwood-Antis when Blue Devil running back Alex McCarthy scored a 9-yard TD with 31 seconds left to break the scoreless tie and ruin Clearfield’s homer opener. Cooper Broad scored twice for Clearfield in the loss, one on a 67-yard Pick 6 and the other a 26-yard reception from quarterback Xavier Curry.
LAST WEEK FOR BEDFORD: The Bisons were limited to just 39 yards rushing on 30 carries in a 39-7 loss to Bishop McCort, which racked up 421 yards of total offense. Bedford, which has only three seniors on the team, was led by freshman receiver Bennett Steele, who caught five passes for 94 yards Sophomore QB Gabe Taylor completed 9-of-17 attempts for 137 yards and his team’s only touchdown.
TEAM LEADERS: Clearfield’s Colton Ryan (18 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD; 19 tackles), Xavier Curry (66 yards rushing, 49 yards passing), Cooper Broad (2 receptions, 37 yards; 1 Int, 2 TD). Bedford’s Andrew Evans (8 tackles), Gabe Taylor (133 yards passing, 36 yards rushing), Grey Livengood (1 Int, Receiving TD).
COACH MYLES CARAGEIN’S KEYS TO THE GAME: “We need to focus on doing our job. I told the kids that football is a game of 11 mini battles each play. Everyone has to focus on doing your job. You can’t try to do your job and someone else’s. We are focused on improving ourselves and limiting mistakes. Bedford is a good team that we are excited to play.”
BISON SCOREBOARD:
08/22 BELLWOOD ANTIS 21 – 28 0 – 1
08/29 @ Bedford
09/05 PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA
09/12 @ Bellefonte
09/19 HUNTINGDON
09/26 PENNS VALLEY
10/03 @ Bald Eagle Area
10/10 @ Somerset
10/11 @ Bishop Guilfoyle
10/24 LHAC Crossover Game – TBD
Windber (1-0) at Curwensville (0-1)
ALL-TIME SERIES: Windber leads 6-0.
LAST MEETING: The Golden Tide did not get a first down until early in the second half of last season’s game at Windber, which led 23-0 at the half. The Ramblers went on to score a 44-0 shutout victory, limiting the Tide to negative (-21) yards rushing. QB Tyler Dunn was 9-of-17 through the air for 103 yards.
LAST WEEK FOR CURWENSVILLE: Meyersdale started seven of its 10 drives in Curwensville territory and ran 44 of its 49 offensive plays on the Tide’s side of the 50 in a 37-19 win. Curwensville was nearly even with the hosts (241-239) in total yardage, but three turnovers as well as a turnover on downs all led to Raiders points. Tide running back Brady Dunn carried 16 times for 133 yards and a 33-yard TD in the loss.
LAST WEEK FOR WINDBER: The Ramblers scored two touchdown in the final 4:34 of their game against Glendale to pull away for a 38-20 victory. Nokosi Fowler-Whetstone scored a 79-yard TD run just 15 seconds after the Vikings had cut their deficit to 24-20. Fowler-Whetstone had 93 yards on nine carries.
TEAM LEADERS: Curwensville’s Brady Dunn (16 carries for 133 yards, 1 TD), Cael Butler (2 receptions for 62 yards) and Sammy Gustafson (8 tackles, 0.5 sack). Windber’s Dalton Strick ( 8 receptions, 76 yards, Pick-6), Dylan Woodruff (6 receptions, 88 yards, 2 TD) and Ace Kolson (17-of-25, 211 yds., 3 TD).
COACH BRAD SOPIC’S KEYS TO THE GAME: “Windber is a good team that is smooth on offense and plays a sound defense. They have several players that we need to contain defensively. Our offense needs to block consistently and avoid turnovers this week).”
GOLDEN TIDE SCOREBOARD:
08/22 @ Meyersdale 19 – 37 0 – 1
08/29 Windber
09/05 @ Mt. Union
09/12 @ Southern Huntingdon
09/19 CLAYSBURG-KIMMEL
09/26 WEST BRANCH
10/03 @ Moshannon Valley
10/10 JUNIATA VALLEY
10/17 GLENDALE
10/24 @ Tussey Mountain
