CLARION-LIMESTONE-REDBANK VALLEY LOOKING FOR CLASS A PLAYOFF SPOT

Clarion-Limestone (6-0 overall, 5-0 KSAC) at Redbank Valley (5-1, 4-1)

Week Seven - 7 p.m. Thursday Oct. 10

NEW BETHLEHEM – The KSAC’s Class A playoff representative could be determined in a rare Thursday night contest when Clarion-Limestone visits Redbank Valley or the playoff spot and the conference race could become a very murky situation.

The Lions (6-0 overall, 5-0 KSAC) can clinch the KSAC’s Class A automatic playoff spot with a win, because the worst C-L could finish in the conference would be 6-2 with a win. The best either Redbank Valley (5-1, 4-1) or Keystone (4-2, 3-2), the only two teams still in contention for the Class A playoff spot from the KSAC, could finish would also be 6-2 if C-L beats Redbank. The Lions would hold the tiebreaker over both teams by virtue of beating both of them.

A Redbank Valley win, though, would make things a little murkier both for the Class A playoff spot and the KSAC title. If Redbank Valley beats C-L, all the Bulldogs would have to do is win their final two games and they would have the automatic bid. A win by the Bulldogs could also create a three-way tie for first place in the KSAC between Karns City (5-1, 5-1), C-L and Redbank Valley.

And while a Lions loss could keep them from the automatic berth in the Class A playoffs, they would still qualify the Class A playoffs if they win their final two games.

Both teams love to score points. Clarion-Limestone is ranked No. 1 in District 9 in scoring averaging 41.8 ppg, while Redbank Valley is ranked sixth in the district in scoring averaging 27.5 ppg.

Where the teams differ is on the defensive side of the ball. C-L is one of the top defensive teams in the state and the top team in District 9 having allowed just 27 points in six games, an average of 4.5 ppg. The Lions have tossed three consecutive shutouts and have allowed just one team, St. Marys, to score more than seven points on them.

Redbank Valley, meanwhile, is ranked 21^st of 29 teams in District 9 leagues in defense having allowed 125 points in six game or 20.8 ppg. The Bulldogs have yet to hold a team to under 10 points this season with the least amount of points scored on them being 12 by A-C Valley, who has scored just 26 points all season.

Clarion-Limestone’s offense is a balanced one that revolves around a number of players including quarterback Hayden Johnston, running back Brendan Huwar, fullback Ben Brooks, wing back Tuffy Brooks, tight end Harley Doane and wide receiver Brad Beggs.

Johnston has been deadly with both his arm and his legs this season. He is 23-for-52 passing (44.2 percent) for 396 yards and seven touchdowns. He has thrown just two interceptions. Last week he threw three touchdowns in a 54-0 Lion win over Union. On the ground, Johnston has rushed 82 times for 425 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Lions score a touchdown once every 11 times Johnston is directly involved in the play.

Huwar has been a touchdown machine for C-L. In six weeks he has scored 14 times on the ground and once in the air (only his only catch of the season). He has run the ball 91 times for 518 yards, and he scores once every six times he touches the football.

Ben Brooks has been a steady runner and blocker rushing 56 times for 477 yards and four touchdowns.

Tuffy Brooks has carried the ball 20 times for 141 yards and a touchdown and has caught one pass for 51 yards and a score.

Doane has five catches for 59 yards and a score and is instrumental in the Lions running game, while Beggs has 15 grabs for 245 yards and four touchdowns.

The Lions offensive and defensive line has been dominating. The lines include Jordan Johnston, Ron Frances, David Ferguson, Matt Steele, Dan Jeannerat and Dave Eggleton.

Redbank Valley also uses a balanced offense that includes quarterback Shane Reed, running back Ron Geist, wingback Brandon Johnston and wide receiver Tyson Truitt.

Reed has completed just over 50 percent of his passes. He is 33-for-65 for 760 yards and seven touchdowns. He has also thrown just two interceptions. He missed one game earlier in the season.

Geist has rushed 153 times for 746 yards, an average of 4.9 yards per carry, and 10 touchdowns, while Johnston has caught 11 passes for 313 yards and four touchdowns and has run 22 times for 151 yards. Truitt has caught 18 passes for 417 yards and six touchdowns. He is averaging 23.2 yards per catch. Truitt has also been a key defensive player picking off three passes. Another key defensive player for the Bulldogs has been Pete Monrean.

Last season Clarion-Limestone beat Redbank Valley 48-13. Two seasons ago, the Lions beat the Bulldogs 17-13. The last Redbank Valley win over C-L was in 1999 33-14.