Junior High Football Teams Down St. Marys (09/10/14)

The Clarion Junior High Football Teams downed St. Marys last Thursday (September 4th) at Clarion High School Field. The 9th Grade Team won 26-14 and the 7th-8th Grade Team won 24-14. Ninth Grade Coach, Dan Alderton shares this summary of his team’s action. (A 7th-8th Grade summary follows.)

(All photos by Bri Nellis – brinellis photography.com)
Cameron Craig returning a kick

The young Bobcats got their season off on the right paw by defeating the Flying Dutchmen of St. Mary’s by a score of 26 – 14. The scoring was started in the first quarter when St. Mary’s scored around the left side but failed on the two-point conversion. The Bobcats responded with a 28 yard scoring strike from quarterback Keevan Weaver to Tom (Cam) Hearst. The Dutchmen and the Bobcats remained tied, 6 – 6, going into the 3rd quarter.
​
Clarion got the ball to start the game, so they kicked to St. Mary’s to open the 3rd quarter. An excellent “pooch” kick by Cam Craig recovered by Weaver set the Bobcats up nicely. On a 4th down, Weaver found Ryley McMaster, who made a great diving catch, on the 1-yard line. Weaver then plunged in from there to put the Bobcats up 12 – 6. The 2-point conversion failed and the score remained 12 – 6.

St. Mary’s had a nice kick return, which set them on a scoring drive. The St. Mary’s quarterback took it himself and then converted the 2-point conversion to make the score 14-12 in favor of the Dutchmen.

The Bobcats did not stay down for long. On the ensuing kickoff, Cam Craig took the kick and returned it for a touchdown! Weaver took the 2-point conversion in himself to make the score 20-14.

Zack Bauer and Nick Cherico tackle a St. Marys running back

The Dutchmen of St. Mary’s had a drive late in the game, which came to a halt when Korbin Schill burst through the line and recovered a fumble.

(7th-8th Grade Summary)

Clarion opened the scoring when running back Logan Minich ran 7 yards on the left side, for a touchdown. The 2-point conversion failed and the Bobcats led 6-0 at 3:11 of the first quarter. St. Marys would tie the score at 2:48 of the first, when quarterback Todd Taylor hit wide receiver Cody Ritter with a 76 yard touchdown pass to the left.

At 5:21 of the second, Bobcat defensive back Archer Mills recovered a fumble and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown, giving Clarion a 12-6 lead. And with 1:28 left in the half, Clarion running back Skylar Rhoades scored on an eight yard run to the left. The Cats led 18-6, at the half.

Logan Minich runs the ball down field for the Bobcats

The Bobcats extended their lead to 24-6, as running back Sam Minich went up the middle from the four, at 1:11 of the third. A 24 yard touchdown pass to the right Taylor to Jacob Venne coupled with a Taylor to Ritter pass to the left, for the 2-point conversion, set the final at 24-14.

Both Junior High teams will play at Ridgway on Thursday (September 11).

Archer Mills takes the hand off from Kyle Katis and advances the ball down field.

(Thanks to Coach Alderton for the 9th Grade Team summary and to Bri Nellis for the great photos. Way to go Cats!!!!)