LOADED CLEARFIELD LOOKS TO REGAIN CLASS AAA TITLE

CLEARFIELD – With three of the top skill players in District 9 returning this season, Clearfield is looking to regain the top spot in Class AAA after failing to defend its championship last season.

"Our goal is the same as it has been," 20^th-year head coach Tim Janocko said told the Tri-County Sunday in DuBois. "We want a winning season first then we’ll try to win a district title, advance to the (state) playoffs and try to go as far as we can there."

If Clearfield, who was 7-3 last year and 3-2 in the D9 League, is going to win the District 9 title and advance deep into the state playoffs, it will rely on a trio of skill players who are among the best in District 9 at their positions.

Senior quarterback Tanner Kelly returns to lead the offense.

A double threat, Kelly completed nearly 60 percent (59.8) of his passes last season going 110-for-184 for 1,837 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran the ball 103 times for 285 yards and 13 more touchdowns. He ranked second in District 9 leagues and first among District 9 quarterbacks in yards thrown for and his quarterback rating of 158.65 was second in the district behind Clarion-Limestone’s Hayden Johnston (169.98). His 13 rushing touchdowns tied for seventh most in the district.

"He’s got to make sure things run smoothly," Janocko told the TCS.

Joining Kelly in the backfield will be the district’s fifth leading rusher from last season, Josh Harbold.

Harbold rushed 202 times for 1,122 yards and 16 touchdowns last season while adding 20 catches for 384 yards and three scores. He had the fifth most rushing touchdowns in the district in 2003 and ranked 18^th in yards received for.

In two seasons, Harbold has gained 1,848 yards rushing and scored 22 touchdowns.

The Bisons also return the top wide receiver in District 9 last year in Mike Scoggins. Scoggins had 43 catches for a district-leading 781 yards and eight touchdowns last year.

"I’d like to think all three of them have gotten better," Janocko told the TCS. "We have a couple of kids who are maybe the top at their positions in the state. They should be exciting to watch."

All the skill, however, will be useless unless the Bisons offensive line comes together. The Bisons have to replace fourth-fifth of their starting line, only James Hinchcliffe returns, from last year’s District 9 title game loss to Bradford.

James Hinchcliffe.

"We’re going to go as far as our offensive line will carry us," Janocko told the TCS. "If the line continues to gel, we will be good. But if they don’t, we won’t be good."

Clearfield has another weapon this season in kicker Ryan Johnson, who was second-team Associated Press last season.

NOTES – One of the biggest differences for Clearfield and its fans this season is that the Bisons are not playing in the D9 League this season, although they still will play four of the five teams from the league. The Bisons will compete in the Mountain Athletic Conference – Seven Mountains Division along with Bellefonte, Huntingdon, Indian Valley, Lewistown and Punxsutawney. Last December, in a controversial move, Clearfield elected not to renew its contract with DuBois forcing it to drop out of the D9 League on the verge of its 100^th meeting with DuBois. Clearfield picked up Clarion instead, but will return to the D9 League and playing DuBois next season after the school board forced the athletic department into the move.