Bobcat Football Team Suffers First Loss (09/21/14)

The Clarion Area Bobcat Football Team traveled to Karns City on Friday night (September 21) to face the Gremlins in a battle of unbeaten football teams. When the dust cleared, in the game that featured heavy hitting from both teams, the Gremlins had a hard fought 16-6 win.

The teams battled through a scoreless first quarter. The quarter saw big defensive and special team highlights from both teams: a KC tackle for loss on Clarion’s first possession; Michael Bartley getting a tackle for loss on a 3rd and 3, on the Gremlins’ first possession, to force a punt; a KC punt pinning Clarion at their own 11; a Bobcat recovery of a Gremlin fumble; KC’s Evan Stitt intercepting a Clarion pass; a Luke Nellis tackle for loss; a tackle for a two yard loss, by Brendan Miller on a 4th and 1 near mid field (some big, big plays for both teams which would continue throughout the contest).

With under a minute left in the quarter, Karns City took over on their own 20 yard line, after a Clarion punt went into the end zone for a touchback. They took the ball down the field for a score, mainly through the air. The drive that featured three successive hookups between Gremlin quarterback Caleb King and wide receiver Logan Moroney. There were several runs on the drive also, but the score came on another pass play, from King to Tristan Rhoades, who took the ball down the right sideline and broke a tackle at the ten and into the endzone. The play covered twenty-six yards. The PAT was good and KC led 7-0 at 9:49 of the second quarter.

The Bobcats set up shop, at their own 28, following the kickoff. On the first play from scrimmage, Ian Corbett took a handoff through a gaping hole, up the middle and then turned on the jets and broke away for what looked like a sure touchdown. But a diving shoestring tackle by Tyler Dunn, stopped Corbett just short of the goal line. It looked like the Bobcats would answer the Gremlins’ score, but a Karns City fumble recovery, at the 12, on the next play,ended the threat.

The ensuing drive saw the Gremlins drive all the way to the Clarion 10 yard line. And with a first and goal, it looked like they would score again. But the Bobcat defense came up big and stopped them on three successive tries. The Gremlins tried for a 14 yard field goal, but missed and the score held at 7-0.

Moroney scored on a 4 yard reverse, with 18 seconds left in the half. Destin Strauser blocked the PAT and the Gremlins led 13-0. The score would remain the same through the end of the half.

Karns City received the second half kickoff. But they stalled, in their own territory. There was a bad snap on the punt attempt and the punter tried to run down the left sideline but was stopped short of the sticks. The Bobcats took over on the KC 43 yard line.

The Cats drove down the field. And faced with a 4th and 3, at the 13, Miller hit Ethan Straffin, in the back of the endzone to cut the score to 13-6 at 7:16 of the third.

The final score of the night came on a Gremlin field goal, at 11:29 of the final stanza, setting the 16-6 final.

Key Bobcat stats: Miller – 5 of 7 passing, 1 touchdown, 1 interception; Corbett – 13 rushes for 89 yards, 3 catches for 27 yards. Straffin – 1 catch for 13 yards and a touchdown. Four players with 10 plus tackles – Destin Strauser with 19, Thomas Plummer and Miller with with 13 each and Corbett with eleven.

Straffin had a sack, Adrian Weber had two fumble recoveries and Nellis had one.

The Bobcats return to action on Thursday (September 25) as they travel to Knox to face the Keystone Panthers.

(Thanks to Matt Buchanan for spotting and contributing to this article and to Bri Nellis of Bri Nellis Photography and Chad Thomas for their fine photos.)