CLARION – For the third week in a row, Clarion’s defense kept the Bobcats in the game, and for the second time in those three weeks the defensive efforts helped the Bobcats to a win. This time it was a 19-0 victory over Union in Clarion’s home opener Friday night.

Clarion’s defense limited Union to 110 total yards of offense (60 rushing, 50 passing) while forcing four turnovers – a fumble and three interceptions. Also for the third straight week Clarion scored a defensive touchdown, as Ambrogio Giambanco returned an interception 45 yards for a score.

"We said a touchdown a week for the defense," Clarion head coach Larry Wiser said. "They are believing that. Again the secondary did a great job. These kids really study film. They know the patterns the kids are running. They really spend a lot of time on it each week. I will give them credit for the amount of time they put in."

Union head coach Scott Kindel said turnovers also play a big role in any game.

"The kids ran hard, fumbled a couple of balls and threw a couple of interceptions," Kindel said. "Clarion knew we were going to pass. They were sitting back there and waiting on it. Larry (Wiser) always has a great defense, and we knew that coming in. We just didn’t get the job done. I didn’t get the job done as a coach calling plays."

Part of Clarion’s success on defense came from the Bobcats’ ability to penetrate through the Union line and put pressure on the Golden Knights’ two quarterbacks Adam Milanovich and Zach Toven. Clarion came up with three sacks on the night, but also hurried Union’s quarterbacks throughout the evening.

"Our defensive ends are just great," Wiser said. "Our interior people played good. I think our defensive line is starting to come along. I also think our linebackers are coming up and putting good hits on people. And Jason Reed did a nice job at strong safety."

Kindel said some of the pressure put on his quarterbacks by Clarion might have led to the interceptions.

"They just got to our quarterback a little more than teams have in the last couple of games," Kindel said. "We had to hurry the throws a little bit. When that happens you are going to have a few interceptions. But the kids gave 100 percent. What else can you ask for?"

One player for Union who had a good night was running back Dennis Shay. Shay rushed 19 times for 87 yards on the night with 61 of the yards coming in the first half.

"We moved Dennis to tailback last week, and he ran the ball hard," Kindel said. "He ran the ball hard again this week. The line opened up some holes. We were able to move the ball on the, we just didn’t put drives together. What can I say about my players? They gave 100 percent effort."

Clarion’s defense wasn’t the only one that played strong. Union’s defense also came up bug allowing Clarion only 223 yards of offense including only 32 rushing yards in the first half on 17 carries. For the game the Golden Knights limited Clarion to just 2.7 yards per carry (40 carries, 107 yards).

"I will always focus on defense," Kindel said. "We knew it was going to be a hard-fought battle. I don’t think 19-0 is an indication of how the game was. Defensively the kids did a good job."

After the two teams battled to a scoreless tie for the first 22 plus minutes of the game, Clarion’s defense set up the Bobcats first touchdown when Marty Fisher recovered a Shay fumble at the Union 23-yard line.

On the first play after the fumble, Jamie Arner hit Will Lewis with a 23-yard touchdown pass. Giambanco’s extra point gave the Bobcats’ a 7-0 lead with 2:50 left before halftime.

Clarion almost came up with another score late in the first half thanks to special team’s play. Nate Cyphert, wearing a cast on his wrist because of an injury suffered last week, blocked a punt attempt by Union’s Adam Milanovich with 18 seconds left in the half. Cyphert then recovered the blocked punt at the Union 23-yard line.

Clarion quickly moved the ball to the Union 5 on an 18-yard pass from Arner to Jason Reed. Following a time-out, Arner through an incomplete pass in the end zone, and Wiser sent out Giambanco to try a 23-yard field goal. But Giambanco’s kick sailed just to the right of the upright as time ran out and was no good.

Following halftime, neither team was able to put together a substantial drive in the third quarter.

But early in the fourth quarter, Clarion’s defense came up big again.

With Union looking at a second-and-15 from their 35-yard line, Milanovich dropped back to pass. But his pass found the waiting arms of Giambanco, who intercepted it at the Union 45-yard line. Giambanco took off down the visitor’s sideline, and then cut toward the middle of the field at the 10-yard line. He then dragged a couple of defenders with him into the end zone for the touchdown. Giambanco, though, twisted his ankle on the play and did not return. With their kicker on the trainer’s table, Clarion tried for a two-point conversion. But Arner’s pass attempt was incomplete leaving the Bobcats up 13-0 with 10:03 left in the game.

Union was able to drive the ball to Clarion’s 32-yard line on the ensuing possession, but Clarion’s defense stopped Milanovich three yards short of a first down on a fourth-and-9 scramble with 8:30 left to play.

Clarion was unable to move the ball, and had to punt it back to Union. But once again the Bobcats’ defense came up with a turnover. This time Reed intercepted a Milanovich pass at midfield with 6:08 left to play.

Reed’s number was called on the first play following the interception, and he took a wingback sweep 35 yards to the Union 15-yard line.

The Bobcats picked up a first down at the Union four three plays later, and three plays after that Arner dove the ball into the end zone from one yard out to give Clarion the 19-0 lead.

Shay led Union with 19 carries for 8 7yards, while Milanovich was 5-for-13 passing for 51 yards and two interceptions.

"I couldn’t be more proud of these kids," Kindel said. "We just need to learn how to win a ball game. We are close to winning. We just have to win to know how to do so. That just comes from inexperience in winning. Once they get a win under their belts, they will be fine."

Arner was 7-for-14 passing for 116 yards and one touchdown while running for a touchdown to lead Clarion. Reed rushed four times for 52 yards, and Lewis had three catches for 61 yards and a score.

Union 0 0 0 0 – 0

Clarion 0 7 0 12 -- 19
Second Quarter
C – Will Lewis 23 pass from Jamie Arner (Ambrogio Giambanco kick) 2:50
Fourth Quarter

C – Giambanco 45 interception return (Pass failed) 10:03

C – Arner 1 run (Pass failed) 2:29

U C
First Downs 7 14
Rushes-Yards 30-60 40-107
Passing Yards 50 116
Passes: Comp-Att-Int 6-18-3 7-14-2
Total Yardage 110 116
Punts-Average 5-27.4 4-35.3
Fumbles-lost 5-1 1-0
Penalties-Yards 4-35 4-65
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing – Union: Dennis Shay 19-87, Adam Milanovich 3-(-13), Darren Laughlin 1- (-5), Devon Kriebel 4-(-10), Brandon Allen 1-1, Toby Best 1-0, Jamie Hughes 1-0. Clarion: Dave Larson 14-17, Ambrogio Giambanco 10-25, Jamie Arner 3-6, 1 TD, Corey Corbett 6-13, Jason Reed 4-52, Chris McSwain 1-2, Caleb Kifer 1-3. Team 1-(-11).
Passing – Union: Adam Milanovich 5-for-13, 51 yards, 2 INTs, Zach Toven 1-for-4, -1 yard, 1 INT, Darren Laughlin 0-for-1, 0 yards. Clarion: Jamie Arner 7-for-14, 116 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs.
Receiving – Union: Jon McKinney 4-48, Dennis shay 1-3, Darren Laughlin 1-(-1). Clarion: Will Lewis 3-61, 1 TD, Jason Reed 3-37, Corey Corbett 1-18.
Punting – Union: Adam Milanovich 4 for 137 yards, 34.3 avg. Team 1 for 0 yards, 0 avg. Clarion: Brady Buzzard 4 for 141 yards, 35.2 avg.

Interceptions – Union: Joe McGregor, Jeremy Lipps. Clarion: Ambrogio Giambanco, Jason Reed, Brady Buzzard
Sacks – Clarion: Brian Luton, Joel McNeil, Ambrogio Giambanco.

Blocked punts – Clarion: Nate Cyphert

Fumble recovery – Clarion: Marty Fisher