7th-8th Grade Football Team Wins Two More, Moves To 7-0 (10/20/14)

The Clarion Area 7th-8th Grade Team won two more games recently, to move to 7-0 on the season. Coach Jess Quinn shares the following reports.

Clarion 27 – Punxsutawney 13
The Bobcat Jr High 7th-8th grade team rolled into Punxsutawney and found it’s sixth win of the season. It wasn’t easy as the Cats had another slow start to a football game.

It looked as though Clarion was going to run right down the field on its very first possession as we ran the ball successfully on the first two plays. The next few and for several more after that, the offense sputtered, yielding zero points in the first half. That is the first time all year we were shutout offensively in a half this season.

The Chucks scored first on a nice run around the right side by number 29 for Punxy. Their extra point was good and the Chucks led 7-0. The offense again sputtered and Punxsutawney again got the ball back. This time on defense Mikie Andrews come up BIG for our football team! He dashed through the line and hit the quarterback as he was handing off the ball. Mike was quick enough to then slam the fullback to the ground as the ball squirted out. Sam Minich picked up the loose ball and scampered all the way for the Bobcat touchdown! The two point conversion was close, but failed and the Cats trailed 7-6 at the half.

I have to comment on what I think really woke our boys up and got them ready to play. On a fourth down pass-play, Kyle Katis was intercepted. The Punxsy player raced up the sideline… that is until Ethan Remmick lowered the BOOM on him, right on our sidelines!

The team seemed to come to life! It is ironic how what can start out as a “bad play”, as I’m sure Kyle thought because of the interception, can be something that gets your team energized and ready to start laying the lumber to their opponent. Ethan did that for us!

Another heated halftime talk from the coaches, combined with the clobbering hit by Ethan, had a great impact on the team. We made some adjustments on the offensive line at halftime and came out on fire. The Bobcats got the ball and in no time found the end zone! With some nice passing from Kyle Katis, and some nifty running from Sam and Logan Minich, as well as Archer Mills, Clarion went right down the field. Kyle Katis was able to sneak the ball across the goal-line for the score. He then hit Drew Wrhen for the two point conversion. The Cats took the lead for good, 14-7.

A nice punt by Jake Burns pinned the Chucks deep inside their own 10 yard-line. Sam Minich came up big as he caused a fumble in the backfield and the Bobcats recovered. Sam then had his number called and made the most of the opportunity. He punched the ball in from the 2 yardline and Clarion was now up 20-7.

Great defense again as Tyler Schmader caused and recovered a fumble give the Bobcats the ball again. Skylar Rhoades ended the scoring for Clarion with a 48 yard touchdown run. The run was impressive as he ran over the safety on his way to the end-zone. Josh Craig added the extra point.

Punxsy did not go down without a fight as they struck on a long pass down the sideline to get on the board late in the second half. The scored was 27-13 and that is where it would end. Josh Craig ended the game on a nice run down the sideline. The young Cat team is now 6-0.

Clarion 21 – Keystone 0
On Thursday, October 17th the Clarion Jr. High 7th-8th grade football team hosted the Keystone Panthers. Going into the game, Our coaching staff had been in contact with the coaches from Keystone, Ryan Smith and Jason Best. They had informed us that their team had been hit by the injury bug, but they would try their best to play two games, a 7-8th grade game and a 9th grade game. They did inform us that, on their end, the first of two games was going to be played primarily by 7th graders.

As a staff, we didn’t want our regular starters to miss an opportunity to play in a game, so we started our regular team. With all do respect to the Panther players, their young boys were no match for our starting squad as the Bobcats posted a quick 21-0 lead.

On a nice trap play up the middle, Sam Minich took the handoff and went the distance for the first score. The next series, the twin brother of Sam, Logan Minich would not be outdone by his brother and scored on a very nice run of his own.

The very next possession, it was clear that it wasn’t a level playing field. Our defense closed in on the Panther quarterback as he fumbled the snap. Skylar Rhoads was ‘Johnny on the spot’ as he scooped up the fumble and rumbled twenty yards for the score. Josh Craig added the extra point, and the Bobcats led 21-0 with three minutes left in the first period.

We made the decision to give our young 7th grade boys a chance to play almost an entire game. The decision was one of the best I’ve been a part of as a coach at Clarion Area. Our boys who start and play every game really wanted to stay in the game because of their competitive nature and love of the game. That is great. But what was even better was the maturity and understanding of the situation that those same boys expressed. They knew the game was not in jeopardy in any manner and cheered the 7th graders on the rest of the game.

Talking to the staff, these are the games that are so much fun to coach. It was a back and forth see-saw for the next three quarters. Keystone got the ball and on a nice catch and run by Jayden Blasosky, the Panthers looked to get on the board. The Bobcat defense held their ground and we got the ball back. Jayden also made a nice interception in the game.

Josh Craig took the reigns of the offense and did a fine job. Jacob Burns had two hard runs up the middle that he broke to the outside and made some nice yardage. Skylar Rhoades also had a tough, long run, but unfortunately injured a foot at the end of the run. The offense stalled and Keystone got the ball back. The Panthers were moving the ball up the field on some nice trap plays, when Nate Datko made the play of the game. He dropped and covered the tight-end up the field, leaped high in the air, and intercepted the ball. The score ended 21-0.

Talking with a few parents from each team, I am confident that the right decision was made for them to play and for us to use our 7th graders as much as we did. To see the the faces of players from both teams, is why I enjoy coaching so much. Our boys were very happy with the amount of time they got on the field. The young Panther squad seemed pleased as well with how they played against the young Bobcat team.

Players to mention during the game: Tyler Schmader and Ethan Remmick start on the line for us and do most of the heaving lifting for our running backs. They did a very nice job both offensively and defensively for the Bobcats!

The quartet of Skylar Rhoades, Nick Frederick, Nate Datko, and Josh Craig will be something to watch as they mature and become hungry and aggressive football players. Those four coupled with Tyler and Ethan, the Clarion future is very bright! Rylie Woods, Benny Murtha, Billy Huffman, and Luke Baker did a nice job defensively for the Cats. Cody, I can not spell his last name correctly, but his number is #78 for those of you present, made some spectacular plays from the defensive end spot! Great Job Cody! Gavin Presto had an apparent scoop and score late in the game, but was called back on a ghostly block in the back. We watched tape, and couldn’t find that block. Oh well, next week Gavin!

The Bobcats will look to take their unblemished record into Brookville and stay perfect.

We know it’s not about the wins and losses, but more about the development of boys into young men and solid football players. (But it would be nice for them to always have that to talk about.) That game is set for Wednesday, October 22 at 4 pm. We hope to see you all there!

Bobcat Scoring – Keystone game

1st Quarter:
5:04 – Sam Minich – 78 yard touchdown to the right; Logan Minich – run to right for 2 point conversion (7-0)

2:20 – Logan Minich – 12 yard touchdown run to the right; (13-0)

1:56 – Skyler Rhoades – 20 yard fumble recovery and return for touchdown; Josh Craig – PAT (21-0)

Other fine plays:
2nd Quarter:
6:30 – Nate Datko – leaping interception at the Clarion 15 yard line

4th Quarter:
7:25 – Nate Datko – fumble recovery at the Clarion 40 yard line
6:12 – Keystone’s Jayden Blazosky – interception returnt to the Clarion 44 yard line
3:12 – Nick Frederick – interception at the Clarion 22 yard line

(Thanks to Coach Quinn for the articles and to Coach McClaine for information for the scoring summary and highlight list from the Keystone game.)