GROUNDHOG DAY: CLEARFIELD BATTLES BRADFORD FOR DISTRICT 9 TITLE

DISTRICT 9 CLASS AAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

GAME PREVIEW

By Chris Rossetti

CLARION – For the fourth time in the last five years, Clearfield and Bradford will meet for the District 9 Class AAA title at 7 p.m. Friday at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium.

Clearfield (9-0) will be hoping for a different outcome than the first three times when Bradford (6-3) came out on top. The Owls beat Clearfield 44-30 last season, 28-21 in 2001 and 48-14 in 2000.

It isn’t like Clearfield hasn’t had any championship game success, as the Bisons won Class AAA titles in 1998, 1999 and 2002 meaning either Bradford or Clearfield has won ever District 9 Class AAA title since 1998 and six of the seven District 9 Class AAA title contended for.

As was the case in each of the last three championship games this is the second meeting of the season for the Owls and the Bisons.

In two of the three seasons (2003 and 2001) the team that won the first game won the title game as well. That could be good news for Clearfield, which defeated Bradford 28-7 in Week One.

That opening game, which saw the Bisons outgain Bradford 364-69, was a preview of things to come for Clearfield which has outscored its opponents 346-75 while completing its first undefeated regular-season since 1998.

Bradford, meanwhile, has gotten stronger as the season has worn on. The Owls started the year 2-2 but has won four of its final five with the only loss coming to D9 League Champion DuBois 14-7 Oct. 15.

Both teams want to run the football. Clearfield 2,624 yards this season while Bradford has run for 1,633 yards this season.

Senior Josh Harbold leads the Bisons and is one of the top running backs in District 9 if not the state. Harbold ranks second in the District in rushing with 1,645 yards on 146 carries. He is averaging 11.3 yards per carry and has scored 20 rushing touchdowns. An all-around back, Harbold also ranks 20^th in receiving with nine catches for 266 yards and two more touchdowns. Lucas Aughenbaugh is the second leading rusher with 69 totes for 356 yards and seven touchdowns.

Bradford has used for of a running back by committee approach this season with four backs having gained at least 250 yards. The Owls rushing attack has really come on in the last five weeks. After gaining just 336 yards in the first four weeks, Bradford has run for 1,309 in the past five weeks.

Morgan O’Brien is the leading rusher with 73 carries for 537 yards and six touchdowns. Nate Westlake is adding 70 carries for 396 yards and three scores, Josh Holleran 55 carries for 315 yards and two scores and Dave Snyder 78 totes for 258 yards and seven scores.

Both teams have shown an ability to pass the football as well.

Clearfield has passed for 991 yards on the season and Bradford 544.

Senior Tanner Kelly is the Bisons quarterback. He is 49-for-90 passing this season for 940 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions with a quarterback rating of 170.7. A mobile quarterback, Kelly is adding 77 carries for 286 yards and seven touchdowns.

Senior wide receiver Michael Scoggins is the leading receiver for the Bisons and the seventh leading receiver in the district with 23 catches for 404 yards and six touchdowns.

Mike Austin is the starting signal caller for Bradford. He is 24-for-54 passing for 397 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Shawn Spindler is the leading target for the Owls with 21 catches for 442 yards and three touchdowns, and he is coming off a 100-yard receiving performance in a 36-20 win over Harbor Creek in Week Nine.

In the first game between the two teams, Clearfield completely shut down Bradford’s rushing game limiting the Owls to only 20 yards rushing while gaining 247 yards itself. Harbold rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns in the game.

NOTES – The winner plays the District 8 (Pittsburgh City League) Champion in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs … Bradford advanced to the Western Finals last season before losing to Pine-Richland … The two teams have combined to go 5-4 in the PIAA playoffs since 2000 with Bradford going 4-3 and Clearfield 1-1. They have combined to win all five first-round PIAA playoff games over the past four seasons … Harbold has rushed for 3,493 yards and 42 touchdowns on 434 carries in his career while adding 30 catches for 692 yards and five touchdowns giving him 4,185 yards of total offense in his career and 47 offensive touchdowns … Kelly is 169-for-280 passing in his career for 2,791 yards, 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He has also rushed for 20 career scores … Snyder has scored 20 rushing touchdowns in his career … Westlake has scored four special team/defensive touchdowns for Bradford this season including two on kickoff returns, one on a punt return and one on an interception. He has four interceptions on the season … Both teams have solid kickers … Bradford’s Kyle Macfarlane is 21-for-26 on extra points this season and 5-for-8 on field goals including a season-long 45 yarder. He has three field goals of 36 yards or longer this season and has 11 touchbacks on kickoffs … Clearfield’s Ryan Johnson is 38 of 42 on extra point this season and he was an all-state kicker last season for the Bisons … Last seasons title game was a wild affair with Clearfield leading 14-9 at halftime and the gamed tied 23-23 early in the fourth quarter before Bradford rolled off the next 21 points in a span of three minutes between the 6:43 mark and the 3:43 mark of the fourth quarter to take a 44-23 lead. Clearfield scored a late touchdown to close out the scoring … Harbold had 41 yards rushing and 114 yards receiving in the game while scoring on a 3-yard run … Kelly was 16-for-29 passing for 344 yards and three touchdowns while running 15 times for 31 yards, and Scoggins had six catches for 159 yards and three touchdowns … Snyder carried the ball 18 times for 90 yards and a touchdown for Bradford, but it was senior Sean Hvizdzak who stole the show scoring four touchdowns including two 85-yard kickoff returns while rushing for 195 yards and two scores on just 16 carries … Johnson and Macfarlane both got into the act for their respective teams hitting field goals.