CLEARFIELD – The rain couldn’t stop him. The mud couldn’t stop him, and certainly Bald Eagle Area’s defense couldn’t stop him. Him is Clearfield’s "SUPER SENIOR" Dave Richards, who had another incredible night running the football in Clearfield’s 49-7 win at Bald Eagle Area.

Richards only carried the ball 16 times, but he made the most of it by gaining 363 yards and scoring 7 touchdowns. He set the tone for the entire night on his first carry of the game when Clearfield was facing a second-and-10 at its 43 when he sprang loose from the left side and went the distance for a 57-yard touchdown. The PAT by Rob Kulling was good and with 10:10 to go in the first quarter, Clearfield took the lead 7-0.

Kulling also had a good night making all 7 PAT kicks.

BEA tied it up on their next possession, but that was all they would get.

In fact, over half of BEA’s total offensive output for the game would be on that drive, as the Bison defense simply shut them down after that.

As incredible as Richards was on the night, the Bison defense was equally impressive.

BEA could only manage 81 total yards and four first downs and that was all on the ground. Neither team could pass in the heavy rain and muddy conditions with the middle of the field slippier than goose snot.

Clearfield’s front four on defense would get the most tackles as BEA seemed to go in reverse every time they had the ball. Defensive tackles Kurt Meckey and Jon Altemus would clog everything up the middle, and Scott Hall and Jonathan Graham would take care of business from the ends. The few times BEA did cross the line of scrimmage, middle linebackers Anthony Buck, Todd Duckett, and Josh Harbold would pummel them.

Clearfield registered three sacks on the night with one of those a 20 yarder by outside linebacker Mike Scoggins. Scoggins sack would end the first half with Clearfield ahead 42-7.

Clearfield would take the second half kickoff to their own 37. Five running plays, one 14 yard run by Harbold and the rest by Richards, was all it took for the Bison’s to score.

On second-and-goal at the BEA one, Richards would get his seventh TD.

With his big night, Richards became Clearfield’s single-season rushing leader with 1,514 yards (Clearfield stats – D9Sports.Com has him for 1,507) breaking the previous record of 1,491 set by Kenny Wisor in 1998.

With the mercy rule in effect, and Clearfield ahead 49-7 the Bison coaching staff started subbing freely.

With 8:41 to go in the third quarter, backup quarterbacks Tanner Kelly and Kyle Shirey would direct the reserve offenses.

They almost got another TD for the Bison team, but with the rapidly moving clock, time would expire with the Bison’s knocking on the door.

The homecoming crowd would go home happy, and Clearfield is now 5-2 on the season. Next Friday night Clearfield will have their fourth home game as they take on the Flying Dutch of St. Mary’s. Kickoff set for 7 p.m.