The Bison and Tide each play opponents in Week 8 that are relatively new to the respective programs. Clearfield meets Somerset for the first time ever in the regular season, although the teams did meet twice in the District 5-6-9 playoffs about a decade ago.
Curwensville tangles with Juniata Valley for just the fourth time in team history. The first meeting between the programs occurred in 2022 when the Tide joined the Inter County Conference. The Hornets are currently tied for second in the District 6 class A playoff race with Homer-Center. Both teams have 630 points – 60 more than fourth-place Claysburg-Kimmel.
The District 9 playoff standings have not been released.
Here are capsule previews of both games:
Clearfield (5-2) at Somerset (1-6)
ALL-TIME SERIES: The series is tied 1-1 with each team winning a District 5-6-9 playoff matchup in back-to-back seasons.
LAST MEETING: Somerset held the Bison to 62 yards of total offense in a 27-0 shutout that ended Clearfield’s season in 2014. The Eagles advanced all the way to the Western Finals that year, falling to eventual PIAA champ Archbishop Wood 63-20.
LAST WEEK FOR CLEARFIELD: Cash Diehl secured the 12-6 Bison victory with an interception with a little over a minute remaining at Bald Eagle Area. Quarterback Xavier Curry ran for 130 yards and a TD and tossed the game-winning 14-yard score to Cooper Broad with 4:42 left to play.
LAST WEEK FOR SOMERSET: The Eagles mustered just 139 yards of offense and turned the ball over two times in a 14-6 loss to Bedford. Somerset has scored just 20 points in its last three games, although two of those losses came to Richland and Bishop McCort, which are a combined 13-1 this season.
TEAM LEADERS: Clearfield’s Colton Ryan (137 carries, 828 yards, 9 TD; 88 tackles), Xavier Curry (49-86, 833 yards, 8 TD, 4 Int., 331 yards rushing, 4 TD), Cooper Broad (19 receptions, 434 yards; 5 TD, 20 carries, 116 yards, 2 TD), Cash Diehl (53 tackles 2 Int.). Somerset’s Colt Hagans (61-127, 743 yards, 4 TD, 5 Int., 5 rushing TD), Deacon Sherbine (17 receptions, 231 yards, 2 TD), Drew Miller (75 rushes, 158 yards, 4 TD, 61 tackles), Carter Dunmyer (4 Int., 2 fumble recoveries).
COACH MYLES CARAGEIN’S KEYS TO THE GAME: “We need to focus on playing disciplined football. We need to continue playing bend-don’t-break football.”
BISON SCOREBOARD:
08/22 BELLWOOD ANTIS 21-28 0-1
08/29 @ Bedford 21-14 1-1
09/05 PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA 27-15 2-1
09/12 @ Bellefonte 21-18 OT 3-1
09/19 HUNTINGDON 27-28 3-2
09/26 PENNS VALLEY 46-14 4-2
10/03 @ Bald Eagle Area 12-6 5-2
10/10 @ Somerset
10/11 @ Bishop Guilfoyle
10/24 LHAC Crossover Game – TBD
Juniata Valley (5-2) at Curwensville (2-5)
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Hornets lead 2-1 in a series that began in 2022.
LAST MEETING: Vincent Hoover ran for 295 yards and four TDs and the Hornet defense recorded five interceptions – one a Pick 6 from Jett Rand – in a 32-6 Juniata Valley victory last season.
LAST WEEK FOR CURWENSVILLE: The Golden Tide were only able to score on a Mason Lash field goal in a 14-3 loss to Moshannon Valley, which got a pair of rushing touchdowns, including the game-clincher late in the fourth quarter, from Rocco Reifer,
LAST WEEK FOR JUNIATA VALLEY: Mount Union scored the only points of the fourth quarter, breaking a 21-21 tie and going on to defeat the Hornets 29-21. Juniata Valley got 144 yards and two TDs from Andrew Clark, who also recorded a pair of interceptions in the loss.
TEAM LEADERS: Curwensville’s Sammy Gustafson (117 carries, 466 yards, 4 TDs, 41 tackles, 3 blocked kicks), Reed Hawkins (64 carries, 363 yards 2 TDs, Kick return TD), Lincoln Hoyt (61 rushes, 313 yards, 3 TD, 7 receptions, 77 yards, TD), Cael Butler (10 receptions 111 yards, 3 return TDs), Lawson Neiswender (40 tackles, 2 fumbles caused). Juniata Valley’s Jett Rand (74-147, 1181 yards, 10 TD, 7 Int., 168 yards rushing, 2 TD), Andrew Clark (130 carries, 908 yards, 13 TD, 54 tackles), Elah Glenny (29 receptions, 544 yards, 6 TD), Logan Harpster (67 tackles, 10 sacks).
COACH BRAD SOPIC’S KEYS TO THE GAME: “We need to be able to stop their run game and not give up big plays in the pass game. Offensively we just have to be able to get off the ball and pick everyone up on their multiple fronts.”
GOLDEN TIDE SCOREBOARD:
08/22 @ Meyersdale 19-37 0-1
08/29 Windber 22-36 0-2
09/05 @ Mt. Union 21-49 0-3
09/12 @ Southern Huntingdon 29-26 1-3
09/19 CLAYSBURG-KIMMEL 20-46 1-4
09/26 WEST BRANCH 35-12 2-4
10/03 @ Moshannon Valley 3-14 2-5
10/10 JUNIATA VALLEY
10/17 GLENDALE
10/24 @ Tussey Mountain
