Bobcats Down Dutch To Be Last Undefeated Football Team In Little 7-12/KSAC History (10/30/17)
The Clarion Area Bobcat gridders traveled to St. Mary’s on Friday (October 27th) and came away with a 44-6 victory, capping their eighth undefeated regular season, their third since 2012. With the KSAC ending operation this season, the 2017 Bobcats can lay claim to being the last ever Little 7-12/KSAC undefeated team.
Bobcat linemen and coaches. Front (L-R) Thomas Wurster, Nick Cherico, Zak Bauer, Seth Nellis, Colt Stimmell, Jacob Selker. Back (L-R) Coach Nate McClaine, Bowman Hartley, Tanner Oberlander, Greg Kalinowski, Andrew Guth (Honorary Lineman), Nick Porciello, Tyler Schmader, Eathan Remmick, Coach Shane McKillop.
The offensive line did their usual stellar job, opening holes for the running game and providing pass protection.
Colton Rapp saw his first action in several weeks, coming back from an injury, by rushing for 99 yards on just 7 carries, moving his career total to 3,654. In doing so he moved past Chris McSwain, into third place all-time on Clarion’s career rushing list. He needs just seven more yards to pass Ian Corbett(3,660) for second place. Logan Minich, who has carried much of the load in Rapp’s absence, had 82 yards on 4 carries and a touchdown and had two catches for 45 yards and a touchdown.
Quarterback Spencer Miller also had a big night, going 9-for-11, for 135 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a rushing touchdown.
The Cats totaled 439 yards of total offense, including 304 rushing.
The scoring began with Archer Mills nailing a field goal, from 37 yards out, at the 6:40 mark of the first period. That was followed with a 3 yard scoring run by By Camden Boggess, at 1:16 of the first and with Mills PAT, the Bobcats’ lead grew to 10-0.
Clarion would score four times in the second quarter. Miller hooked up with Mills on a 12 yard touchdown pass, at 11:26. Mills’ kick was good and the score was 17-0, Cats. Then at 6:26, Miller did it with his legs, going in from five yards out and with Mills’ conversion, the score grew to 24-0. Minich broke loose for a 66 yard touchdown run, with 2:35 left in the half. The PAT was successful again and the Bobcats’ lead was now 31-0.
After the Dutch punted, with just under two minutes left in the half, Clarion took over and marched down the field. The big play in the drive was a 43 yard pass from Miller to Tom Hearst, down to the St. Marys’ ten yard line. On the next play, Miller found Hearst in the end zone and with Mills kick, the Cats led 38-0 heading in to halftime
Brendan Zerfoss had a 22 yard scoring run with 3:23 left in the third. The kick was blocked and the Bobcats led 44-0. St. Marys got on the board, when Tim Beimel scored on a 15 yard run. The kick failed and the final was set at 44-6, Bobcats. Beimel had 100 yards on 11 carries for the Dutch.
The Cats will host Brookville, at 7:00 PM on Friday (November 3rd) at Memorial Stadium, in the opening round of the District Nine Class AA playoffs.
CAT QUOTES
Line Coach Nate McClaine: I though overall, our line played a really good game. They’ve done great all year. I think we have the best line in the conference, probably the best in the district and one of the best in the state. It was really satisfying to get Colton Rapp back. I think he got some good carries out there, getting him ready for the playoffs. Logan Minich also had another great night running the ball. Spencer Miller had a great game, got a lot of different guys the football. That was really nice to see.
Overall, I think the line had a really nice game. The pass protection was there for the most part, giving the quarterback time, opening up some holes for the running backs. Just like we’ve been doing all season. I’m really proud of them.
Really happy. Last undefeated KSAC team. There’s a lot of memories of playing a lot of the teams in the conference. I think it’s only the eighth undefeated team we’ve had, in a regular season, for our high school. That’s a pretty big accomplishment, a great group of kids, a lot of seniors this year. So I’m really happy with what they’ve accomplished this year.
Line Coach Shane McKillop: I thought the line played really well. Over the whole year, it’s been really nice watching them improve week by week, just working on the little things, getting assignments down, stuff like that. We’re getting some players back, which is good to see. The whole team has been improving over the year. It’s good to see and hopefully it will carry on in the playoffs.
Lineman Zak Bauer: (On being last KSAC Big School Champs) It’s very exciting. We worked all year to get here. Our offensive line, which I’m a part of, did great. Running backs, wide receivers, quarterbacks and the whole defense of course, we prepare week in and week out. So it is very rewarding to accomplish a goal that we set at the beginning of the season. We knew that we could get here. We just had to put the work in and we did not fall short.
It’s pretty cool to be the last (KSAC Big School Champs). But it’s going to be a little piece of school history lost, when they switch it.
BOBCAT CAREER RUSHING, ALL-TIME TOP FIVE