CLARION-LIMESTONE HEADS TO KEYSTONE FOR KEY KSAC GAME

Clarion-Limestone (3-0 overall, 2-0 KSAC) at Keystone (2-1, 2-1)

Week Four - 7 p.m. Friday Sept. 20

Keystone, on the other hand, needs a win if it wants to keep its hopes alive for the school's first conference title since 1989. Another loss could also damage the Panthers' quest for their first District 9 playoff berth since 1997.

The Lions are coming off a 42-7 win at West Shamokin and are playing their third road game in four weeks. C-L beat Karns City 42-6 in Week One before struggling at home against St. Marys in Week Two pulling out a 21-14.

Keystone, which is playing its third home game in the first four weeks, is coming off a 14-7 win over Moniteau in a game that Billy Colwell did not play. The Panthers beat Union 30-8 at home in Week One and then lost at home to Karns City 39-28 in Week Two.

The Lions have relied on a strong running game to pace the offense in 2002. C-L has run for 963 yards in the first three weeks an average of 321 yards per game. The Lions have thrown the ball only 30 times in the first three weeks for 149 yards.

An experienced but still relatively young offensive line is to credit for a lot of the Lions success on the ground. The line is anchored by senior Jordan Johnston and also consists of juniors David Ferguson, Dave Eggleton and Ron Frances and sophomore Dan Jeannerat as well as senior Matt Steele.

Junior running back Brendan Huwar paces the Lions running attack. He has run 49 times for 325 yards and five touchdowns this season. Sophomore quarterback Hayden Johnston is right behind Huwar having rushed 55 times for 257 yards and two scores. Senior fullback Ben Brooks has carried the ball 36 times for 245 yards and two touchdowns.

Johnston is also 12-for-30 passing for 149 yards and three touchdowns while throwing only one interceptions.

Junior wide receiver Brad Beggs leads the receiving corps with eight catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns, while tight end Harley Doane has three catches for 43 yards and a score.

Keystone, which could have Colwell back this week, has had a more balanced approach in 2002. The Panthers have run for 498 yards on the season while throwing for 321.

In the first two games with a healthy Colwell, Keystone was running a two-quarter back rotation of Colwell and Buck Neely.

Neely, who was the lone quarterback in the Moniteau game, is 18-for-42 passing for 263 yards and three touchdowns while throwing two interceptions. He has also run 34 times for 163 yards.

Colwell, meanwhile, is 4-for-13 passing for 58 yards and two touchdowns. He has also run the ball 24 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns.

Sam Swartzfager has added 33 carries for 125 yards, and last week Sam's older brother Barry ran 18 times for 88 yards and a score, his first running action of the season.

Bobby Telesz is the top receiver for the Panthers having caught nine passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns. Barry Swartzfager has added two catches for 45 yards and a score, while Sam Swartzfager gas three catches for 30 yards.

Clarion-Limestone returns home next week to face cross-town rival Clarion. The Lions play four of their final five games at home.

Keystone is on the road next week at West Shamokin. The Panthers finish the season with four of their final six games on the road.