| CLEARFIELD-INDIAN VALLEY TO FACE OFF IN PIAA CLASS AAA PLAYOFFS |
| INDIAN VALLEY (9-2) VS. CLEARFIELD (8-2) |
| NOV. 15 - PIAA CLASS AAA FIRST ROUND 7 P.M. AT DUBOIS HIGH SCHOOL |
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By Rich Rhoades DuBOIS — The Clearfield Area High School football team has a home away from home at E.J. Mansell Stadium in DuBois. The Bisons (8-2) will play their third straight game here Friday night as they face District 6 champion Indian Valley (9-2) in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA playoffs. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. If the first two games at Mansell Stadium is any indication, the Bisons can’t wait to drive back over Rockton Mountain. Three weeks ago, the Bisons routed DuBois, 52-24, and then after an off-week, they dumped Punxsutawney, 40-7, last Friday to claim the District 9 title. Both games, the Beavers racked up big numbers in the first quarter, jumping out to leads of 33-10 and 20-0. The Bisons would love to jump out early again, but it will be more difficult. The Bisons lost to Indian Valley, 42-15, way back in September. Clearfield wants to prove that it’s a different team since that game. It’s hard to argue that. The Bisons haven’t lost since and will try to extend their winning streak to eight games. Against the Warriors the first time around, the Bisons had a punt blocked and fumbled two kickoff returns. The blocked punt resulted in a touchdown during the third quarter when Indian Valley put the game away. Indian Valley piled up 404 yards of offense against the Bisons, the most given up by them all season. Indian Valley also limited Bisons juggernaut running back Dave Richards to 98 yards rushing. It was the second game in a row that Richards was held under the century mark. Not coincidently, the Bisons were losers in both games. But at 1-2, the Bisons responded with eight straight wins. Richards has averaged a whopping 274 yards rushing per game and scored 33 touchdowns since the loss to Indian Valley. For the season, Richards has rushed for 2,284 yards and scored 40 touchdowns. Obviously, the Warriors will be focused on Richards. That would bring the offensive line, quarterback Michael Sayers and the receiving corps, and fullback Josh Harbold into the picture. The more ability to show balance, the better the Bisons’ shot at extracting revenge against the Warriors. Indian Valley, coached by former Bald Eagle Area head coach Gawan Stoker, beat Penn Cambria, 34-20, last week to claim the District 6 title. The Warriors gained 451 yards of offense, but didn’t put the game away until quarterback Jeff Hayes scored on a 1-yard run late in the fourth quarter. Hayes runs the Warriors’ triple-option effectively, throwing for 1,254 yards and 11 touchdowns. Junior tailback Derek Weaver (932 yards, 12 TDs), senior fullback Matt Fetzer (574 yards, 4 TDs and 20 receptions for 270 yards) and junior tailback Lucas Stewart (440 yards, 7 TDs and 12 receptions) lead the running game. Weaver rushed for 146 yards against the Bisons while Fetzer led the Warriors with 123 yards rushing last week. The Bisons and Warriors share three common opponents: Bellefonte, Philipsburg-Osceola and Bald Eagle Area. Indian Valley beat Bellefonte, 15-14, one week after Clearfield clobbered the Red Raiders, 45-13. Indian Valley beat BEA, 45-30, and P-O, 47-3. Clearfield beat P-O, 48-21, and BEA, 49-7. Indian Valley started the season at 6-0 before losing two straight games to Huntingdon (in overtime) and Tyrone. The Warriors have won three straight, including Johnstown and Penn Cambria in the playoffs. This week’s winner plays the Perry-General McLane winner next week at a site and time to be announced. |