By Jonathan Shaffer

NEW BETHLEHEM – Indecision by the officials highlighted the Clarion-Redbank Valley game Friday.

Ron Geist’s two-point conversion run with 4:58 left rallied Redbank Valley to a 15-14 win over Clarion in Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference action.

The game-winning carry was filled with controversy, as an airborne Geist landed on the goal line. After a conference by the officials, they ruled the ball had crossed the plane of the goal line for the score.

More controversy occurred on the ensuing possession.

After Clarion (1-1 overall, 0-1 KSAC) drove the ball to the Redbank 42, B.J Roth caught a Jamie Arner pass near the sideline inside the 20.

Following another conference by the officials, they ruled Roth did not have possession of the ball and the pass was incomplete.

Roth was also hurt on the play - his left arm was put into an inflatable cast.

The incompletion set up a fourth down and four, which resulted in an incomplete pass and a turnover on downs.

"There is no question I thought it played a role," Clarion coach Larry Wiser said in reference to the officiating. "The officials didn’t make the call. They had two or three guys sitting there on the line, and they don’t make the call. They walk over and kind of look at each other."

Referring to the Roth incompletion, Wiser said, "Two guys signaled that the guys catches the ball, then they turn around and take the catch away.

"I usually don’t get this angry. Part of (the game) is people are going to miss some calls, but it just seems like they were two very strategic calls."

Redbank Valley coach Ed Wasilowski was obviously happy with the calls.

"I’m just glad they went our way," Wasilowski said. "I could have lived with them either way. I didn’t see either play. The (Geist) play was at the goal line, and I couldn’t see the other play because my view was blocked by our players and coaches on the sideline. I don’t really know what happened, but you have to live it with it. I could have lived with either call."

With 56 seconds left, the Bulldogs (2-0 overall, 2-0 KSAC) kneeled down on the ball twice trying to run out the clock.

On the third attempt, Clarion came up with the football on a questionable fumble giving the Bobcats one last shot with two seconds left at the Redbank 43.

Clarion then attempted a Hail Mary touchdown, but Bryce Miller intercepted the Arner pass at the five-yard line.

The interception marked the end of a game in which Redbank rallied from 7-0 and 14-7 deficits.

The Bulldogs offense struggled early. The usually reliable Geist fumbled the ball on the first play from scrimmage of the game.

"Ronny is unbelievably reliable," Wasilowski said. "That was just a shocker."

The Bulldogs punted the ball away on its second possession. On Redbank’s third possession, Nate Cyphert intercepted a Shane Reed pass and returned it 11 yards for a touchdown; Clarion’s second interception return for a touchdown in two weeks.

Ambrogio Giambanco added the extra point to give Clarion a 7-0 lead at the 2:26 mark of the first quarter.

Redbank Valley eventually tied the game in the second quarter on a nine-play, 46-yard drive capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by Reed. Brady Evans kicked the extra point to tie the game with 3:18 left in the half.

The Bobcats responded by scoring on the first possession of the second half with a five-play, 64-yard drive that lasted only 1:41.

Two carries by Dave Larson totaling 33 yards and a 32-yard catch by Jason Reed helped to set up a 22-yard touchdown run by Giambanco. His extra point gave Clarion the 14-7 lead.

Clarion’s defense stifled Redbank Valley throughout much of the second half, but the Bulldogs used a 52-yard reception by Josh Mohney to set up their second touchdown.

"That Mohney play was big," Wasilowski said. "It kind of turned everything around."

Redbank took advantage of the Mohney reception when Geist scored from three yards out to make the score 14-13.

The kicking team initially went in for the extra point to tie the game before Wasilowski called a timeout to discuss matters.

At Wasilowski’s disposal was Geist, who finished the game with 104 yards on 26 carries. Geist is considered to be one of the premier backs in the KSAC. Geist scored on the controversial conversion.

"We were hoping to contain Geist for the most part," Wiser said. "We did a decent job against him. He is quite a back.

The Bobcats held Redbank to 139 yards rushing an 251 yards of total offense.

Dave Larson led Clarion’s offense with 95 yards on 12 carries. Giambanco added 82 yards on 11 rushes.

Clarion 7 0 7 0 - 14

Redbank Valley 0 7 0 8 - 15

C – Nate Cyphert 11 interception return (Ambrogio Giambanco kick), 2:18

RV – Shane Reed 1 run (Brady Evans kick), 3:18

C – Giambanco 22 run (Giambanco kick), 10:02

RV – Ron Geist 3 run (Geist run), 4:58

C RV

First Downs 11 10

Rushes-Yards 35-200 43-139

Passing Yards 45 112

Passing: Comp-Att-Int 4-12-1 5-15-1

Total Yards 245 251

Punts-Avg. 4-29.8 5-29.4

Fumbles-Lost 5-3 3-2

Penalties-Yards 4-35 7-35

Rushing – Clarion: Dave Larson 12-95; Ambrogio Giambanco 11-82; Corey Corbett 4-23; Joel McNeil 2-7, Jamie Arner 4-(-1); Jason Reed 2-(-2). Redbank Valley – Ron Geist 26-104; Cody Doverspike 4-18; Brandon Johnson 5-14; Shane Reed 8-3.

Passing – Clarion: Jamie Arner 4-for-12, 45 yards, 1 INT. Redbank Valley: Shane Reed 5-for-12, 112 yards, 1 INT; Cody Doverspike 0-for-3.

Receiving – Clarion: Jason Reed 1-32; B.J. Roth 1-7; Will Lewis 2-6. Redbank Valley: Josh Mohney 2-67; Brandon Johnson 1-29; Tyson Truitt 1-13; Bryce Miller 1-3.

Punting – Clarion: Brady Buzard 4-119 (29.8). Redbank Valley: Ron Geist 5-147 (29.4).

Punt Returns – Clarion: Corey Corbett 2-8; B.J. Roth 1-4. Redbank Valley: Tyson Truitt 3-20.

Kickoff Returns – Clarion: Will Lewis 2-27; Brian Luton 1-0. Redbank Valley: Tyson Truitt 2-26.

Fumble Recoveries – Clarion: Team - 2. Redbank Valley: Shay Magagnotti, Craig Shaffer, Team – 1.

Interceptions – Clarion: Nate Cyphert – 1. Redbank Valley: Bryce Miller – 1.