Bobcats Down Raiders In Regular Season Finale, Clinch Playoff Spot

Clarion Area traveled to Brookville last Friday (November 6th) and came away with a 58-0 win, to close out the regular season with a 6-4 record. With the win, the Bobcats clinch a spot in the District Nine Class-A Football playoffs. The Cats will host Curwensville, on Friday (November 13th), at Memorial Stadium.

(Photo by Matt Buchanan) Bobcats' offense lining up against Raiders' defense

(Photo by Matt Buchanan) Bobcats’ offense lining up against Raiders’ defense

The Raiders’ first possession ended with Spencer Miller blocking a punt and the Bobcats recovering at the Brookville three yard line. Colton Rapp ran the ball in on the next play to give Clarion a 6-0 lead, less than a minute into the game.

Rapp scored again, at 7:54 of the first, on a 4 yard run. Josh Kriebel scored on the conversion, giving the Bobcats a 14-0 lead, at 7:54 of the first quarter.

 

Spencer Miller intercepted a pass, ending Brookville’s next possession, setting the Bobcats up at the Raider 44. Several plays later, he ran in for an 8 yard touchdown, and a20-0 Clarion lead, with 6:01 left in the first.

The Cats scored again, just three seconds into the second quarter, on a run  by Michael McCloskey, moving the score to 26-0. The play was set up by a 27 yard run by Brendan Miller. Clarion’s lead moved to 32-0, when Ty Burford returned an interception 41 yards to paydirt, just over a minute later.

Korbin Schill recovered a fumble at the Brookville twenty-eight and on the next play Brendan Miller hit Kriebel with a 21 yard touchdown pass moving the score to 38-0. McCloskey got his second touchdown of the night, on a 19 yard run, with 2:56 left in the half. Cameron Craig hit the PAT and the Bobcats carried a 45-0 lead into the half.

There was a big treat during the intermission, with the Bobcat and Raider Bands combining for the whole halftime show.

Combined Bobcat and Raider Bands at halftime

Combined Bobcat and Raider Bands at halftime

The Cats would close out the scoring with thirteen third quarter points. The first came when Traeson Douglas hit Dominic Fleming on a 10 yard touchdown pass (the first varsity touchdowns for each). Craig’s kick was good and the Cats led 52-0. Then, with 2:38 left in the third, Schill ran in from 20 yards out, to set the 58-0 final.

The Bobcats rolled up 224 rushing yards, with eleven players carrying the ball. Kriebel led the Cats with 50 yards rushing. Shill had 49 yards. Kriebel also had 3 catches for 38 yards.

Defensively the Cats had a big night, registering 6 sacks, with Alexander Burkhart, Thomas Wurster, Jacob Selker, Colt Stimmell, Josh Vanek, Seth Nellis and Zach Huet all taking part. Wurster, Huet, Selker and Schill all had fumble recoveries and Spencer Miller and Ty Burford each had interceptions. Rapp and Wurster had 7 tackles, while Kyle Patterson and Burkhart had six apiece.

(Thanks to Matt Buchanan for spotting and taking notes for this article and for his photo. Keep it going, BOBCATS!!!!)