BRADFORD WINS SECOND STRAIGHT DISTRICT 9 CLASS AAA TITLE

WEEK 11 -- District 9 Class AAA Championship game

DuBOIS – The Bradford Owls are the District 9 Class AAA football champions after their 28-21 triumph over the Clearfield Bisons Friday night at E. J. Mansell Stadium in DuBois. It is Bradford's second consecutive title, and the Owls' third straight win over Clearfield including a win over the Bisons in last season’s championship game.

The Bisons gained the upper hand first with seven minutes to go in the first quarter. A 34-yard drive was completed by a 15-yard touchdown run by Dave Richards. Bryan Mohney kicked the extra point to make it a 7-0 Clearfield advantage.

Bradford answered quickly as Ben Copeland returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, and Ken Ciolek added the extra point to even the score at seven.

Clearfield assembled a 61-yard drive on the very next possession, and Richards added the finishing touches with a 2-yard touchdown dive. Mohney was good again on the extra point attempt to make it a 14-7 game favoring the Bisons with 4:20 to go in the first quarter.

The Owls drew even and then went ahead 21-14 before halftime with a pair of second-quarter touchdowns.

Jim Nuzzo had a 9-yard scoring run midway through the second quarter, and Elliott George scampered 18 yards for a touchdown with two minutes remaining.

Ciolek made good on both extra point kicks, but he nearly made good on a 54-yard field goal attempt as well. Prior to George's touchdown, Bradford was facing a fourth-and-long situation at the Clearfield 37-yard line. Ciolek's long attempt glanced off the right corner of the crossbar and upright. A Bison defender, though, ran into Ciolek during his follow-through, and the Owls received a first down and excellent field position. If Ciolek had made the kick it would have been 1-yard shy of the state record for the longest field goal in state history.

Clearfield knotted the score halfway through the third quarter when fullback Matt Meckey rumbled two yards for a touchdown. Mohney's PAT made the score 21-21.

The final scoring play of the game was of "big play" variety.

Bradford quarterback Kevin Rose completed a pass over the middle to Copeland who shook a tackle and sprinted 53 yards for a touchdown. Another successful Ciolek point after attempt made it 28-21.

A stingy Owl defense made the difference late in the game keeping the Bisons from mounting a serious scoring threat the rest of the way.

Richards eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the season and finished the night with 123 yards on 25 carries for Clearfield. Bradford's Jason Casey had 15 carries for 73 yards.

The 9-1 Owls advance to the state playoffs and will play the winner of Saturday night’s Huntingdon-Indian Valley game in the District 6 Class AAA championship. The Bisons finish the year at 8-2.