ITS A FINAL IN OVERTIME: CLARION-LIMESTONE 42, REDBANK VALLEY 41

Oct. 22, 2004

The Lions (8-0 overall, 6-0 KSAC) led 27-12 early in the third quarter before watching Redbank Valley (5-3 overall, 4-2) come all the way back to take a 28-27 lead with 3:17 left in the game on a 10-yard Skyler Smith run.

But the fun was just beginning, as the two teams combined for four more scores in the final 2:30 of regulation and overtime.

First it was the Lions going back ahead 35-28 on an 80-yard scoring pass from Hayden Johnston to Scott Davis and a two-point conversion pass from Johnston to Davis with 2:23 left in the game.

But Redbank Valley answered right back scoring on an 18-yard run by Bryce Miller with 36 seconds left to close the gap to 35-34. But the Bulldogs were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the touchdown for spiking the ball forcing a 35-yard game-tying extra point attempt by Brock Shaffer. Shaffer came through nailing the kick to tie the game at 35 and force overtime.

C-L got the ball first in the extra session and need just one play to go ahead scoring on a 10-yard pass from Johnston to Erik White. Brent Rhoades’ extra point made it 42-35.

Redbank Valley answered with an 8-yard run by Brandon Johnston on its second play of its overtime possession to make the score 42-41. But Shaffer, the hero moments earlier, became the goat, shanking the extra point wide right to give C-L the win.

The Lions looked the have the game well in hand when they took a 27-12 lead on a touchdown early in the second half, but Redbank Valley got the game to within 27-18 at the end of three quarters and then used a Shaffer 34-yard field goal with 7:40 left to make it 27-21.

Johnston had a monster game for the Lions despite being so sick that he couldn’t play defense in the second half. But in a Michael Jordan-like performance, no virus could keep Johnston down as he went 9-for-18 passing for 233 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions with one of the picks coming at the end of regulation on a Hail Mary attempt. The senior, who has yet to lose a regular-season game as a starting quarterback, added 12 carries for 89 yards.

White also had a monster game for the Lions running six times for 83 yards and a score and catching six passes for 120 and two touchdowns. Davis added three catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

Overall, C-L racked up 430 yards of offense.

Redbank Valley, meanwhile, was putting up the offensive numbers as well amassing 368 in the game meaning the two teams combined for 798 yards of total offense on the night.

Two hundred eighty-nine of the Bulldogs yards came on the ground with Skyler Smith carrying the ball 25 times for 97 yards and score, Brandon Johnston toting it 12 times for 94 yards and three score, Miller getting the nod nine times for 38 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Jason Smith picking up eight carries for 60 yards. Jason Smith was also 4-for-9 passing for 79 yards and two interceptions.

NOTES – The 41 points put up on the Lions were the most allowed by C-L during the streak and the most allowed by the Lions since losing 51-0 to Clarion in 1999 … With the win, C-L clinched at least a share of its third straight KSAC crown. The Lions can win the crown outright next week with a win over Moniteau or a Clarion loss to A-C Valley … A win next week would also wrap up C-L’s third straight unbeaten regular-season and would give the Lions the No. 1 seed in the District 9 Class A Playoffs … If C-L were to lose next week it would be the No. 2 seed behind the winner of the AML Title game between unbeaten Coudersport and unbeaten Curwensville next Saturday … It is the second time during the win streak the Lions have needed overtime to get a win ... In Game Three of the streak C-L beat Keystone 28-21 in double overtime in 2001 ... The 42 points were the most allowed by Redbank Valley since C-L hung 45 on the Bulldogs in a 45-7 win Oct. 10, 2002.