CLEARFIELD LOOKS TO SOLVE BRADFORD PUZZLE

Bradford (10-2 overall in 2001, 4-1 D9 League) at Clearfield (8-2, 4-1)

Week One - 7 p.m. Friday Aug. 30
CLEARFIELD – Bradford has won three of the four meetings between these two teams the last two seasons including three in a row and the last two District 9 Class AAA championship games. Last season the Owls beat the Bisons 13-7 in Week One at Bradford and 28-21 in the District 9 Class AAA championship game at DuBois.

This might be Clearfield’s time for revenge, though. The Bisons return their top three skill players from last season in quarterback Michael Sayers, running back Dave Richards and wide receiver Todd Shaw.

Sayers completed nearly 50 percent of his passes in 2001 going 59-for-199 for 740 yards and nine touchdowns along with eight interceptions. The Owls, however, shut him down in the district championship game limiting him to two yards passing on a 1-for-11 performance that included an interception.

Richards was a do-everything player for Clearfield last year. He is the top returning rusher in District 9 having rushed for 1,101 yards in 2001 and 18 touchdowns. He also caught 15 passes for 98 yards and returned three kicks for touchdowns while being named the D9Sports.Com District 9 Special Teams Player of the Year. The Owls were not able to contain him at all in the district championship game allowing him to rush for 132 yards and two touchdowns.

Shaw was the Bisons top receiver in 2001 having caught 26 passes for 406 yards and a score. He was held without a catch in the title game.

While Clearfield has its top three skill players back, Bradford has to replace most of its key players from last year’s team that made it to the second round of the PIAA playoffs before losing 41-7 to Perry. In fact 19 of the Owls 22 starters from a year ago have graduated leaving Bradford with a rather inexperienced team.

One of the players the Owls do have back is running back Jason Casey. Casey rushed for 933 yards and eight touchdowns last season to lead Bradford. In the district championship game he rushed 15 times for 73 yards.

The other two starters who returns for Bradford are fullback/cornerback Shawn Colligan (13 rushes, 142 yards, 3 touchdowns) and offensive lineman Pat Confer.

A new quarterback will be at the helm for Bradford, as a battle has ensued between Jake Wells and Jake Long. Whoever the QB is, he will be asked to run some option as well as take clean snaps and make clean handoffs. The Owls threw the ball just 70 times last year, but a lot of those throws came at crucial times and led to Bradford scores.

Along with Casey and Colligan in the backfield, Bradford will also use Sean Hvizdzak, Jon Colt, Brandon LaBrozzi, Nick Taylor, Aaron O’Toole, Dave Snyder and Nate Westlake. In the district title game a season ago, the Owls were held to just 98 yards on the ground by the Bisons, something they will need to rectify this season.