Bobcat Gridders Win Big At Sheffield (09/13/15)
The Clarion Area Football Team traveled to Sheffield, on Saturday (September 12th) for a rare afternoon game. The long trip to and up beautiful Wolverine Mountain, was pretty beautiful for the Bobcats, as they came away with a 60-20 win.
(Photo by Tina Buchanan) Josh Kriebel had a super day on kickoff returns.
Leading the way, for the Bobcats was Colton Rapp, who had 16 carries for 201 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bobcats got on the scoreboard with 9:12 left in the first quarter, when fullback Luke Nellis scored on a 1 yard run up the middle. Brendan Miller hit Caleb Bailey with a pass for the two-point conversion, giving the Cats an 8-0 lead. The touchdown was set up on an 18 yard run around the right side by Rapp.
Rapp got into the scoring, going in from 4 yards out, at 5:52 of the first. He ran in the 2-point conversion also making the score 16-0 Cats. Rapp had a 42 yard run down the right side and several plays later, Josh Kriebel had an end around for 11 yards to set up the score.
Less than two minutes later, the Cats’ defense put up some points, with Luke Nellis blocking a punt at the Wolverines sixteen; the ball rolled into the endzone, and Spencer Miller pounced on it. Brendan Miller rolled left and hit a wide open Kriebel for the conversion, moving Clarion’s lead to 24-0.
(Photo by Tina Buchanan) Bobcat defense did a good job. #40 Colton Rapp also shined on offense with 201 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Sheffield’s Myquandre Stevenson closed out the first quarter, intercepting a pass at his own fourteen and returning it down the right sideline to the Clarion thirty-eight. He put Sheffield on the board, the very next play, at 11:50 of the second. Stevenson took a handoff up the middle and made a nice move, cutting to the right side and outran everyone to the endzone. This was his first of three touchdowns, on the afternoon. The PAT was good, cutting the Bobcat lead to 24-7.
The Bobcats would answer, on their next possession, with a 60 yard scoring run, with Rapp going around left end and following a host of blockers to paydirt, at 10:13. The Cats now led 30-7.
But the Wolverines would come back, with a score of their own, on their next possession, when Stevenson caught a pass from quarterback Cale Albaugh and raced down the right side for an 80 yard score. The score was now Clarion 30 – Sheffield 13, with 8:25 left in the half.
(Photo by Tina Buchanan) Sheffield’s Myquandre Stevenson had a big day, with three touchdowns.
On Clarion’s next possession, Spencer Miller took a handoff up the middle, cut to the right and ran down the right sideline, outdistancing the defense, for a 67 yard touchdown. Rapp followed some nice blocking up the middle, for the conversion, making the score 38-13.
Bobcat quarterback, Brendan Miller closed out the first half with a touchdown from the eleven. The Cats had a play action fake up the middle. Miller kept the ball on a naked bootleg around the left side and scored just inside the pylon, with 47.2 seconds left. Cam Craig’s PAT was good and Clarion led at the half 46-13.
Following the first half scoring parade, neither team put any points up in the third quarter.
Nellis scored on a three yard run up the middle, with 9:52 left in the game. The PAT was good and the Cats’ lead moved to 52-13.
Stevenson took the ensuing kickoff at the Sheffield 20 yard line. He started down the left side, ran into a lot of traffic at the 30, cut right and raced the rest of the way, for an 80 yard touchdown. The PAT was good, making the score Clarion 52 – Sheffield 20, with 9:38 left.
(Photo by Bri Nellis – Bri Nellis Photography) Spencer Miller looking to throw
Spencer Miller hit Weaver with a seven yard scoring pass, at 2:58 and then from the holder position, on the PAT took the ball, rolled right and found Ty Burford for the conversion, to set the 60-20 final.
The Bobcats had 395 total yards, including 360 on the ground. Some other notable stats: Brendan Miller had 6 carries for 30 yards and an interception on defense; Spencer Miller had 2 carries for 68 yards; Caleb Bailey had 9 carries for 48 yards; Josh Kriebel had 3 kickoff returns for 119 yards, including a 52 yarder; Kyle Patterson had 8 tackles including a sack; Zack Huet had 6 tackles including 2 sacks; Luke Nellis had 5 tackles; Noah Myers, Josh Vanek and Thomas Wurster each had a sack.
(Photo by Bri Nellis – Bri Nellis Photography) Kyle Patterson and Alexander Burkhart wrapping up Sheffield ball carrier
The Cats will travel to Clarion-Limestone, to take on the Lions on Friday (September 18th). Kickoff is set for 7:00PM.
(Thanks to Matt Buchanan with help on this article and to Tina Buchanan and Bri Nellis for the photos. Way to go, Cats!!!!)