CLEARFIELD 21, ST. MARYS 20, OT

Oct. 20, 2006

CLEARFIELD – William Bacharach’s legs and Kyle Kline’s foot saved the day for Clearfield in a 21-20 overtime win over visiting St. Marys Friday night.

Bacharach broke off runs of eight and nine yards – the last for a game-tying touchdown – in overtime and Kline booted the game-winning extra point to keep the Bisons’ District 9 League title hopes alive.

St. Marys (1-7 overall, 1-4 D9 League) nearly pulled off a come-from-behind upset on a sloppy field in Hyde.

The Dutch, who had tied the game at 14 midway through the fourth quarter, took a 20-14 lead in the overtime when Bryan Dempsey hit Jeremy Williams with a 10-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the extra period. Andy Eck, however, missed the extra point.

St. Marys still seemed to be in a pretty good position when Clearfield quarterback Andrew Janocko was called for intentional grounding on the Bisons first play of overtime setting up a second-and-goal from the 17.

But Bacharach picked up eight yards on second down to put the ball at the nine and then covered those final nine yards on third down to tie the game at 20.

Clearfield (6-2, 4-1) then sent Kline out to win the game, and the senior’s kick was true.

St. Marys tied the game at 14 with 7:05 left in regulation when Dempsey, who threw for 129 yards and three touchdowns, hit Todd Schatz on a 7-yard scoring pass.

Bacharach scored two touchdowns to pace Clearfield, while Andrew Janocko was 12 of 25 for 143 yards and a score. Isiah Morgan led the Bisons on the ground with 29 carries for 141 yards.

NOTES – Clearfield can clinch a share of its first D9 League title since 2001 with a win at home against Punxsutawney next week. A Bison win would mean Brookville, Clearfield and Bradford would share the crown. A Chuck win, and Brookville would be the out right champion … The game was just the second game this season featuring a District 9 team that went to overtime. Karns City beat Hickory 28-25 in overtime Sept. 8 … Clearfield played two overtime games last season losing 40-34 to Bellefonte in two overtimes (Sept. 23, 2005) and beating Bradford 28-21 in two overtimes (Sept. 2, 2005) … It was St. Marys’ first overtime game since it lost 12-6 to Elk County Catholic Nov. 2, 2001.