Bison Wear Down Wildcats, 28-7

AdminSeptember 23, 2016

2 minutes read

Asher Corl

HYDE — Clearfield football coach Tim Janocko has had unparalleled success for a long time while directing the Bison football program.

2016 looks to be no exception for the now 4-1 Bison. Clearfield gave up an early seven points to underdog Central Mountain but slowly took control of the game, riding a ball control offense and a smothering defense to a 28-7 Friday night victory over a Wildcat team that kept it close into the fourth quarter.

Central Mountain opened the game with a 66 yard drive, capped off by a 23 yard touchdown run from senior quarterback Justin Neff, followed by an extra point from Austyn Carson. But the Wildcats could do little offensively for the remainder of the game, especially in the second half when Clearfield’s offense controlled the line of scrimmage, converting more than a few fourth down plays to keep drives alive.

The score was 14-7 Clearfield at halftime and well into the third period. But then the Bison mounted a 10 minute, 82 yard drive that extended from the third period into the final quarter. When Bison running back Seth Caldwell propelled himself into the end zone on a fourth down on a goal and one with 7:39 remaining, Clearfield opened a 21-7 lead. And when Bison linebacker Matt Collins intercepted a long pass from Wildcat backup quarterback Carson and rumbled 58 yards for the score just 15 seconds later the game was all but over at 28-7.

Central Mountain when it had the ball had difficulty sustaining any drives, held to 70 yards in the first half and but 111 yards for the game. Clearfield piled up 301 yards on the night, led by Caldwell and his 123 hard-earned yards on 29 carries. The senior tailback was backed by sophomore quarterback Isaac Rumery who carried eight times for 50 yards; Rumery also threw for 66 yards, going 4-for-9 for a touchdown with two passes picked off (by the Wildcats’ Mahlik Houtz and Neff).

Neff again accounted for most of the Wildcat yardage, rushing 17 times for 66 yards and completing 4-of-9 passes for 37 yards.

The loss dropped Central Mountain to 1-4 on the season, returning home next Friday night to host Mifflinburg (2-3), a team which defeated another future Wildcat opponent in Shamokin, the score 24-21 Mifflinburg.