CLARION-LIMESTONE MOVES INTO PIAA QUARTERFINALS WITH WIN OVER WEST MIDDLESEX

CLARION – Clarion-Limestone advanced to the second round of the PIAA playoffs for the second year in a row with a methodical 33-14 win over West Middlesex Friday night at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium.

"Besides winning the KSAC and winning the district title again, we wanted another shot (at the PIAA quarterfinals). We wanted a shot at getting back to this (next week’s) game again."

The Lions now await the winner of Saturday’s District 5-6 title game between Bishop Carroll and Northern Cambria. C-L lost to Bishop Carroll in the quarterfinals last year 19-14.

C-L got back to the quarterfinals by overcoming adversity in the form of injuries in the West Middlesex game.

The Lions started the game WR/DB Tuffy Brooks who is out for the season with a shoulder injury.

Then early in the second quarter Brad Beggs (knee) and Erik White (head) collided with both players remaining down for nearly 10 minutes. They were lost for a period before coming back. Then at halftime Scott Davis, who replaced Brook on defense and a starter on offense, went out with an injured shoulder and did not return. But none of the injuries appeared to phase the Lions.

"Our kids showed so much character," Smith said. "We had three starters go down, but our kids just came right back at them."

The biggest of the character-building moments came midway through the second quarter after Bob Michaels’ 1-yard run had given West Middlesex a 7-6 lead. It was on the extra point that Beggs and White were hurt silencing the entire stadium.

But once play resumed, quarterback Hayden Johnston returned the kickoff to the C-L 45-yard line. Then Johnston with the help of running back Brendan Huwar and an experienced offensive line that includes three seniors marched the 55 yards in nine plays scoring on a 1-yard run by Huwar with 4:37 left in the half to take a 12-7 lead.

"I thought that drive symbolized our team right there," Smith said. "That is the drive of the year right there. Brendan and Hayden helped us go right down the field."

Johnston said he and his teammates knew they still had a lot of talent despite the injuries to two key players.

"I wasn’t scared," Johnston said. "Yeah we lost some people, but we had Brendan in the backfield. Brendan and I just had to make something happen, so we did. Our line played excellent. They are the players of the game, I think."

After the offense scored, the Lions defense came up with a big stop forcing West Middlesex to a three-and-out.

The Lions offense then proceed to go 53 yards in eight plays once again scoring on a 1-yard run by Huwar.

While Huwar got the touchdown, it was two big catches by back-up wide receiver Tyrone Pinson that set the score up. Pinson caught a 16-yard pass from Johnston on a third-and-15 play and then hauled in a 28-yard pass that set the Lions up at the 1-yard line.

"Our team has the mentality that when somebody goes down, somebody else has to step up and do the job," Smith said. "Tyrone made some huge catches for us tonight."

With a 20-7 halftime lead, things looked good for C-L.

But West Middlesex came out in the second half, forced a Lions punt and then went on a two-play 46-yard drive to get right back into the game.

Giani Ruffo scored the touchdown on an 8-yard run with 9:06 left in the third quarter. A 38-yard pass from Michaels to Steve Andrusky set up the touchdown.

West Middlesex then forced another C-L three-and-out and had a chance to tie the game or take the lead. But the Lions defense stepped up and forced a punt setting C-L up at its own 42-yard line.

It took 11 plays including two third-down conversions for C-L to drive the 58 yards for its fourth touchdown. Once again it was Huwar from a yard out giving the Lions a 26-14 lead with 1:15 left in the third quarter.

"That drive won the game for us," Smith said. "We were able to convert the third down. When things are going bad, that is when our kids pull it together and make big plays."

The teams continued trading three-and-outs until C-L took over at the West Middlesex 46-yard line with 9:41 left in the game.

The Lions put the nail in the Big Red coffin going the 46 yards in 8 plays with Huwar scoring his fourth touchdown of the game on another 1-yard run with 5:18 left to play. Huwar was instrumental in the drive catching a 15-yard screen pass from Johnston on a 3-and-12 play from the West Middlesex 48-yard line, then running for gains of 12 and 15 yards. He finished the drive with 47 yards of offense.

The game started off great for the Lions defense but poorly for C-L’s offense.

The defense limited West Middlesex to negative 23 yards on its first four possession. But the Lions offense had trouble holding onto the football fumbling three times, losing one, and throwing an interception.

The final kept fumble put C-L in a big hole at second-and-37 from the 50-yard line.

But it may as well have been second-and-1 for the Lions, as they covered 50 yards in two plays. First Johnston hit Pinson with a 25-yard pass to the 25. Then on third-and-12, Johnston hooked up with Nate Tote for a 25-yard touchdown pass. It was Tote’s first reception of the season and Johnston’s 23^rd touchdown pass.

West Middlesex finally got some offense going early in the second quarter thanks to a 31-yard pass from Michaels to Paul Fair with Fair catching the ball between two C-L defenders after it had been tipped. Later in the drive Michaels hit Fair with 15-yard pass to the 1-yard line before scoring the touchdown himself.

But for the most part, the C-L defense held West Middlesex and Michaels, the leading passer in District 10, in check most of the night.

West Middlesex finished with just 170 yards of total offense. Michaels was 6-for-25 passing for 127 yards and two interceptions. More impressive was the fact that 135 of West Middlesex yards came on six plays. On the Big Red’s 45 other plays it managed just 35 yards. C-L’s defense limited West Middlesex to 2-for-13 on third-down conversion.

"We did a good job getting pressure on their quarterback," Smith said. "We also did a good job of not letting them go deep on us. I thought our secondary did a great job tonight."

C-L’s offense was in high gear racking up 351 total yards paced by Johnston’s 10-for-14 passing for 168 yards, one touchdown and one interception and Huwar’s 29 carries for 137 yards and four touchdowns. The Lions were able to convert 6-of-11 third-down conversion including four of third-and-7 or longer and three of third-and-12 or longer.

CLARION-LIMESTONE 33, WEST MIDDLESEX 14

Score by Quarter

WM – 0 7 7 0 – 14

CL – 6 14 6 7 – 33

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

CL – Nate Tote 25 pass from Hayden Johnston (Kick failed), 2:28

Second Quarter

WM – Bob Michaels 1 run (Nick Bender kick), 8:31

CL – Brendan Huwar 1 run (Run failed), 4:37

CL – Huwar 1 run (Brad Beggs pass from Johnston), :20

Third Quarter

WM – Giani Ruffo 8 run (Bender kick), 9:06

CL – Huwar 1 run (Pass failed), 1:15

Fourth Quarter

CL – Huwar 1 run (Tote kick), 5:18

WM CL

First Downs 10 18

Rushing Yards 24-43 48-183

Passing Yards 127 168

Passing: Comp-Att-Int 6-27-2 10-15-1

Total Yards 170 351

Punts-Average 8-25.6 5-35.2

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 3-1

Penalties-Yards 3-15 10-83

Third-down conv. 2-13 6-11

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing – West Middlesex: Giani Ruffo 20-49, Bob Michaels 4-(-6). Clarion-Limestone: Brendan Huwar 29-137, Hayden Johnston 14-28, Neil Reynolds 4-18, Team 1-0.

Passing – West Middlesex: Bob Michaels 6-for-25, 127 yards, 2 interceptions. Giani Ruffo 0-for-1, Team 0-for-1. Clarion-Limestone: Hayden Johnston 10-for-14, 168 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception. Team 0-for-1.

Receiving – West Middlesex: Paul Fair 3-64, Steve Andrusky 1-38, Giani Ruffo 2-25. Clarion-Limestone: Tyrone Pinson 3-69, Brad Beggs 3-35, Brendan Huwar 2-27, Nate Tote 1-25, Scott Davis 1-12.

Punting – West Middlesex: Bob Michaels 8-25.6. Clarion-Limestone: Hayden Johnston 5-35.2.

Interceptions – West Middlesex: Anthony Ruffo. Clarion-Limestone: Brad Beggs, Ron Frances.

Sacks – West Middlesex: Team 2. Clarion-Limestone: Kenny Rossey ½, Dave Eggleton ½.