CLARION-LIMESTONE KNOCKS OFF CLARION FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR

CLARION – There once was a point when Clarion dominated its neighborhood series with Clarion-Limestone winning 12 of the first 15 meeting between the two schools. Those days are gone.

After a relatively easy 27-6 win over the rival Bobcats Friday night in Clarion, C-L has now won 13 of the past 17 meetings between the two schools to even the overall series at 16 wins each. The Lions have also won three in a row over the Bobcats dating back to the 2001 season.

Making this year’s win even sweater for the Lions is the fact that it ensures C-L that it will be able to control its own destiny in the chase for the automatic District 9 Class A playoff bid awarded to the KSAC. C-L (6-0 overall, 5-0 KSAC) has a two-game lead over both Redbank Valley (3-3, 3-2) and Clarion (4-2, 3-2) with just three regular season games left to play.

With the win the Lions also extended their regular-season-winning streak to 23 games and its road-winning streak to 12 games. C-L last lost a regular-season game Aug. 31, 2001, 25-7 to Karns City. The last road loss for the Lions was Nov. 4, 2000, 40-7 in a District 9 playoff game at Curwensville. The Lions last regular-season road loss was the week before that at Karns City.

Early on it looked like Clarion might test both those streaks, as the Bobcats came out pumped up and ready to play. But two interceptions, one that wasn’t and one that was, turned the tied of the ball game.

The one that wasn’t came on the Lions second possession of the game when they were facing a third-and-8 from their own 42-yard line. Hayden Johnston’s pass attempt was tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by Dave Larson who returned it inside the C-L 30-yard line. But the play was called back when Clarion was flagged for holding C-L’s Brad Beggs giving C-L an automatic first down.

Both coaches saw the play differently.

"The play was to Beggs and he was being held," Smith said. "But that was a big call because if it stands they are down deep and would have had a chance to score. That could have turned the tide."

"We were in bump-and-run coverage," Clarion head coach Larry Wiser said. "The ball was tipped. I didn’t agree with the call, and I still don’t agree with the call. We had a chance to take momentum with good field position."

Regardless of one’s opinion, the Lions took advantage of the second chance to drive the rest of the field scoring on a 31-yard scoring strike from Johnston to Beggs on a third-and-12 play with 1:07 left in the first quarter.

The interception that was helped the Lions build a 14-0 lead.

On third-and-13 from the Clarion 40-yard line Bobcat quarterback Zac Toven was under heavy pressure when he threw the football up for grabs. C-L’s Tuffy Brooks stepped in front of the pass at the Bobcat 42, intercepted it and returned it to the Clarion 11. Two plays later Johnston and Beggs hooked up from 10 yards out giving C-L a 14-0 lead with 7:25 left in the first half.

The Lions used another Bobcat turnover to make it a 21-0 lead.

Johnston stripped Elliot Fabri of the football at the Clarion 47-yard line, and Dave Eggleton recovered setting C-L up with nice field position.

Runs of 22 yards by Scott Davis and 24 yards by Brendon Huwar put the ball at the 11-yard line, and three plays later Johnston scored on an option play from the 6-yard line with 4:35 left in the half.

The Lions added to their lead late in the third quarter when Johnston hit Neil Reynolds with a 2-yard pass with 2:31 left. A 31-yard run by Huwar and a 21-yard run by Brooks were big plays on a drive that started out with C-L facing a first-and-22 from its own 34-yard line following a chop block penalty.

Clarion got its only points of the evening after a C-L miscue.

Tyrone Pinson muffed a Bobcat punt at the C-L 37-yard line with Manny Carpin recovering the fumble there for the Bobcats.

On the next play, Sean Wolf hit Corey Corbett with a 37-yard touchdown pass with 43 seconds left in the third quarter making it a 27-6 ball game.

Wolf had replaced starting quarterback Zac Toven after Toven’s interception in the first half.

"I just think Zac puts too much pressure on himself," Wiser said. "I don’t want to make him the scapegoat of this whole thing. I just felt he was leaning on himself too much. He just has to relax and let everyone else do his job too. We told him before he went out there that he just had to throw the ball away if it wasn’t there. But he is still our starting quarterback. I am not benching a kid, and I am not going to be afraid to put Sean in in certain situations."

Despite the touchdown, the C-L defense ruled the night allowing Clarion just six first downs and 117 total yards in the game including just 80 rushing yards on 36 carries. Other than the muffed punt that led the touchdown, Clarion did not cross the C-L 45-yard line the entire night.

"Our defense has been playing tough all year," Smith said. "It is hard to run the ball in there against us. It has just been solid all year long."

CLARION-LIMESTONE 27, CLARION 6

Score by Quarter

C-L 7 14 6 0 – 27

Clarion 0 0 6 0 – 6

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

C-L – Brad Beggs 31 pass from Hayden Johnston (Nate Tote kick), 1:07

Second Quarter

C-L – Beggs 10 pass from Johnston (Tote kick), 7:17

C-L – Johnston 6 run (Tote kick), 4:35

Third Quarter

C-L – Neil Reynolds 2 pass from Johnston (Kick failed), 2:31

Clarion – Corey Corbett 37 pass from Sean Wolf (Kick failed), :43

Team Statistics

CL C

First Downs 17 6

Rushes-Yards 45-245 36-80

Passing Yards 77 37

Passes: Comp-Att-Int 7-13-0 1-6-2

Total Yards 322 117

Penalties-Yards6-45 3-24

Punts-Avg. 2-38.5 5-25.8

Fumble-Lost 4-3 3-2

Individual Statistics

Rushing – C-L: Brendon Huwar 23-84, Hayden Johnston 8-22, Brad Beggs 4-21, Scott Davis 2-26, Tuffy Brooks 5-69, Neil Reynolds 2-24, Team 1-(-1). Clarion: Dave Larson 13-27, James Myers 4-2, Chris McSwain 7-29, Corey Corbett 2-10, Elliot Fabri 5-22, Sean Wolf 3-8, Manny Carpin 1-4, Team 1-(-22).

Passing – C-L: Hayden Johnston 7-for-13, 77 yards, 3 touchdowns. Clarion: Zac Toven 0-for-1, 0 yards, 1 interception. Sean Wolf 1-for-5, 37 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception.

Receiving – C-L: Brad Beggs 4-53, Scott Davis 1-9, Tuffy Brooks 1-13, Neil Reynolds 1-2. Clarion: Corey Corbett 1-37.

Interceptions: C-L: Tuffy Brooks 1, Erik White 1.

Fumble Recoveries: C-L: Dave Eggleton, Erik White, Clarion: Cole Sessions, Manny Carpin, Cody Dolby.

Sacks: C-L: Hayden Johnston 1.