By Chris Rossetti

NEW BETHLEHEM – Clarion-Limestone clinched the first District 9 Class A playoff spot with a 45-7 win over Redbank Valley Thursday night at Redbank Valley.

The Lions (7-0 overall, 6-0 KSAC) racked up 517 yards on offense including 408 on the ground while holding Redbank Valley (5-2, 4-2) to 133 total yards including 16 on the ground.

"The credit goes to our line," C-L head coach John Kundick said. "We have some really good backs, and they have some great skill people. But it takes the line to open up the holes."

In the Bulldogs defense, they did play without one of the top running backs/linebackers in District 9 Ron Geist for the final three quarters with a shoulder injury.

"He is probably our best kid on offense and defense," Redbank Valley head coach Ed Wasilowski said. "With him out there goes a lot of our offense and defense."

Most of C-L’s damage on the ground came from Ben Brooks who rushed 16 times for 215 yards and 1 touchdown. Brendan Huwar added 81 yards and a score, and Hayden Johnston rushed for 65 yards and a score. Johnston was also 7-for-10 passing for 109 yards and three touchdowns. Brad Beggs caught five passes for 82 yards and three scores.

The game actually started out in Redbank Valley’s favor, as the Bulldogs took the opening kickoff and marched 77 yards in 16 plays while taking 7:40 off the clock to take a 7-0 lead.

The Redbank touchdown came on a 23-yard pass from Shane Reed to Tyson Truitt. It was the first score C-L allowed since the first quarter of the West Shamokin Sept. 13, a span of 15 quarters.

But C-L needed just two plays and 33 seconds to answer the Bulldog score.

Brooks scored his first touchdown on a 47-yard run to tie the game at 7.

The Lions then took a 10-7 lead thanks to a botched Redbank Valley punt attempt gave the Lions the ball at the Redbank 35.

Rocky Davis converted a 32-yard field goal to put the Lions ahead for good with 10:13 left in the half.

Later in the quarter, C-L used two different draw plays out of the shotgun to score its next touchdown.

Brooks took the first draw 30 yards, and on the very next play Johnston faked the draw to Brooks and kept it himself for a 27-yard score and a 17-7 lead.

Brendan Huwar then stripped Reed of the football late in the first half with Dave Eggleton recovering the lose ball.

The Lions capitalized on the turnover scoring on an 8-yard pass from Johnston to Beggs with 48 seconds left in the first half.

C-L got the ball to start the second half and built the lead to 31-7 on a 2-yard run by Huwar, his 15^th rushing touchdown of the season.

A 7-yard slant pass from Johnston to Beggs with 2:20 left in the third quarter make it 38-7, and 35-yard scoring toss from Johnston to Beggs made it 45-7 with 10:24 left in the game.

Score by Quarters

CL 7 17 14 7 – 45

RV 7 0 0 0 0 – 7

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

RV – Tyson Truitt 23 pass from Shane Reed (Brady Evans kick) 4:26

CL – Ben Brooks 47 run (Rocky Davis kick) 3:33

Second Quarter

CL – Davis 32 field goal 10:13

CL – Hayden Johnston 27 run (Davis kick) 2:53

CL – Brad Beggs 8 pass from Johnston (Davis kick) :48

Third Quarter

CL – Brendan Huwar 23 run (Davis kick) 8:53

CL – Beggs 7 pass from Johnston (Davis kick) 2:20

Fourth Quarter

CL – Beggs 35 pass from Johnston (Davis kick) 10:24

C R

First Downs 22 9

Rushing-Yards 56-408 23-16

Passing Yards 109 117

Passing: Comp-Att-Int 7-11-0 11-23-1

Total Yardage 517 133

Punts-Average 0-0 4-31.8

Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-1

Penalties-yards 6-46 3-15

Individual Stats

Rushing – Clarion-Limestone: Hayden Johnston 9-65, David Brooks 4-11, Brendan Huwar 12-81, Tyler Skiba 5-11, Cam Speer 3-(-2), Neil Reynolds 4-19, Ben Books 16-215, Shawn Stewart 3-8. Redbank Valley: Ron Geist 6-17, Shane Reed 7-(-3), Tyson Truitt 2-9, Bryce Miller 3-(-9), Graham Snyder 2-(-1), Tyler Raybuck 1-(-2), Steve Smith 1-6, Team 1-(-1).

Passing – Clarion-Limestone: Hayden Johnston 7-for-10, 109 yards, 3 touchdown; Brad Beggs 0-for-1. Redbank Valley: Shane Reed 11-for-23, 117 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception.

Receiving – Clarion-Limestone: Brad Beggs 5-82, Harley Doane 1-16, Brendan Huwar 1-11. Redbank Valley: Brandon Johnston 1-9, Tyson Truitt 8-98, Tyler Raybuck 1-1, Bryce Miller 1-8.

Punting – Clarion-Limestone: none. Redbank Valley: Brandon Brinker 4-127, 31.8 avg.