Clearfield gets high-powered offense going against Penns Valley
Saturday, October 11, 2008
By Rich Murawski Assistant Sports Editor
HYDE - The Clearfield football team came into Friday's Mountain Athletic Conference battle with Penns Valley averaging 400 yards per game. After the high-octane Bison offense was done battering the Rams, that per-game average was even higher.
Clearfield amassed 485 yards and scored eight touchdowns in a 56-28 win that improved the Bisons' record to 6-1 overall and kept the Bisons perfect (5-0) in the Seven Mountains Division of the MAC.
It didn't take long for Clearfield to begin its offensive assault as it scored just 47 seconds into the game when Jarrin Campman took off for a 55-yard touchdown run on the third play from scrimmage.
The Bisons added to their lead less than a minute later when a Ram turnover led to Campman's second touchdown of the night.
Clearfield's Tyler Wilson recovered a Penns Valley fumble at the Ram 5-yard line on the ensuing kickoff, and Campman scored from a yard out on a quarterback sneak two plays later to give Clearfield a 14-0 lead just 1:35 into the game.
"When you jump on them for 14 points right away, it definitely sets the tone for the game," Clearfield head coach Tim Janocko said. "I thought our offense played real well on all aspects. We threw the ball well, we gave our quarterback time to throw, and Jarrin and Isiah (Morgan) ran the ball well. We have a lot of weapons, and when we're able to hit on all cylinders, we can put some points on the board."
The quick Bison start put a damper on the Penns Valley game plan.
"We wanted to try and play ball control, but when they put the two quick scores on the board like that it's tough to battle back," Penns Valley head coach Martin Tobias said. "It took us out of what we were trying to do. But finally we settled down after we were down about 28-0 and said, ‘let's just run our game plan and work on executing.' "
Penns Valley did put together a 9-play drive that took almost five minutes off the clock on its next possession, but the Rams turned it over on downs at the Bison 31-yard line.
Just six plays later, Clearfield was in the end zone again.
Jarrin Campman started the drive with a 38-yard scamper and brother Trey put the finishing touches on it with a 9-yard touchdown run on a speed sweep.
The third of eight Parker Herrington extra points gave Clearfield a 21-0 lead with 3:05 left in the first quarter.
Campman rushed for 101 yards in the first quarter alone and finished the game with 136 on eight carries.
After a Penns Valley punt, the Bisons went on the offensive once more.
Clearfield drove 52 yards in six plays with Morgan powering into the end zone from a yard out on the third play of the second quarter. Brandon Sass made a big play on the drive, catching a slant from Campman before changing direction and racing toward the sideline for a 25-yard gain.
The Bisons added to their lead at 8:36 of the second quarter when the Campman Connection combined for a 30-yard pitch-and-catch. Jarrin tossed a perfect pass to Trey, who had a step on the defender in the back of the end zone. The score gave the home team a 35-0 lead.
Jarrin Campman completed all five passes he attempted in the game, going 5-for-5 for 114 yards and two scores.
"He's a great athlete," Tobias said of Campman. "He's not just a passer, he's the complete package. He's a great ball player who is going to give a lot of teams trouble. It was a case where we couldn't just key on the pass because he brings so much with the run, and if you load up the box against the run, he's going to throw the ball."
"He had a good week of practice, and he really played well again tonight," Janocko said of Campman. "When he makes plays, we're real dangerous. And Isiah's running well and the offensive line is doing the job, so we can put points on the board."
Morgan took center stage on the Bisons' next offensive series, finding a seam in the Ram defense and taking it to the outside and down the sideline. A Penns Valley defender made a diving attempt at a tackle, clipping Morgan's feet, but the Bison tailback kept his balance and finished off the 64-yard touchdown jaunt at 5:32.
With the 42-0 advantage, the Clearfield defense was victimized for a 77-yard Bryan Lee touchdown run. Josh Rippey blocked the extra point to keep the score, 42-6. Lee scored again four plays later on a 25-yard run, taking advantage of a Bison fumble. Lee led Penns Valley with 105 yards on just three carries as the Rams put up 334 yards rushing.
"We get a little complacent, and it drives me crazy," Janocko said. "It's something we have to keep working on. But we knew Penns Valley could run the ball. They have some good backs, and they can make plays."
The Bisons struck one more time before the half as Jarrin Campman hooked up with Sass for a 25-yard score with 1:25 left before the break, giving Clearfield a 49-13 lead. Sass made four receptions for 84 yards in the contest.
"Brandon Sass had two big plays tonight," Janocko said. "He caught the slant and turned it into a big gain, and the touchdown was just a beautiful throw and a beautiful catch."
The Bisons upped the lead to 56-13 on its first drive of the second half as Isiah Morgan accounted for every yard in the possession. He carried four times for 40 yards, capping the drive with a 3-yard score. Morgan was held to just two yards on four carries in the first quarter, but ended the night with 177 yards on 18 totes.
"He's a big kid. He kind of reminds you of a Jerome Bettis," Janocko said. "You might stop him in the first quarter a little bit, but as the game wears on, he starts pounding on you. He wears the defense down."
Ram quarterback Kyle Hockenberry scored on the very next play from scrimmage, scampering 67 yards on a quarterback sweep.
"I think we just managed to execute some things that we were able to hit," Tobias said. "It wasn't like we were consistently moving the ball all night. We hit a play here or there. But there's no question it boosted our kids' spirit a little bit."
Penns Valley scored one more time late in the fourth quarter as backup quarterback Matt Helm rushed for a 20-yard touchdown and Bill Fegley powered in the 2-point conversion to set the final.
Clearfield gained 485 yards of total offense and ran 50 plays. Penns Valley had 341 yards of offense on 43 plays.
The Bisons are back in action Friday, playing host to undefeated Central in a MAC showdown.
NOTES: Morgan has rushed for 985 yards on the season ... Campman has thrown for 972 yards and added another 661 on the ground ... The 1998 Clearfield football team that finished the regular season undefeated was honored prior to Friday night's kickoff. About 15 of the players from that squad were on hand.
Clearfield 56
Penns Valley 28
Score By Quarters
Penns Valley 0 13 7 8-28
Clearfield 21 28 7 0-56
First Quarter
C-J. Campman 55 run, (Herrington kick), 11:13.
C-J. Campman 1 run, (Herrington kick), 10:25.
C-T. Campman 9 run, (Herrington kick), 3:05.
Second Quarter
C-I. Morgan 1 run, (Herrington kick), 11:01.
C-T. Campman 30 pass from J. Campman, (Herrington kick), 8:36.
C-I. Morgan 64 run, (Herrington kick), 5:32.
PV-Lee 77 run, (kick blocked), 4:28.
PV-Lee 25 run, (Hockenberry kick), 3:24.
C-Sass 25 pass from J. Campman, (Herrington kick), 1:25.
Third Quarter
C-I. Morgan 3 run, (Herrington kick), 7:18.
PV-Hockenberry 67 run, (Hockenberry kick), 6:40.
Fourth Quarter
PV-Helm 20 run, (Fegley run), 1:01.
TEAM STATISTICS
PV C
Total First Downs 11 20
Rushes-Yards 35-334 45-371
Comp-Att-Int 2-8-0 5-5-0
Passing Yards 7 114
Total Plays-Yards 43-341 50-485
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 2-1
Punts-Avg 3-35 0-0
Penalties-Yard 3-15 4-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Penns Valley-Lee 3-105, Hockenberry 8-93, Fegley 7-53, Bjalme 11-47, Helm 2-33, C. Sweeley 3-3, T. Sweeley 1-0.
Clearfield-I. Morgan 18-177, J. Campman 8-136, Mellgard 3-23, T. Campman 2-20, Frye 5-11, Rippey 4-7, Smith 4-(-1), Team 1-(-2).
Passing
Penns Valley-Hockenberry 2-of-7, 7 yds.; Zerby 0-of-1.
Clearfield-J. Campman 5-of-5, 114 yds., 2 TD.
Receiving
Penns Valley-Weaver 1-12, Bjalme 1-(-5).
Clearfield-Sass 4-84, T. Campman 1-30.