Clearfield Uses Potent Ground Game and a Stellar Defense to Cruise Past University Prep 34-6

Tagged under: District 8, District 9, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

Phil Myers | November 7, 2026

The Clearfield Bison may have played their best game of the year in defeating University Prep by a score of 34-6 on a damp and chilly Saturday afternoon at Mansell Stadium in DuBois. The victory gave them the District 8/9 Class 4A Championship.  

Although they did throw two touchdown passes out of five completions, it was the running attack that punished University Prep.  On the defensive side, the Bison gave up a few big plays but mostly held a dangerous offense in check throughout the game.  

Jayce Brothers uncorking one of his two touchdown passes.

Clearfield’s head coach, Myles Caragein, had this to say, “It was a great win.  Those kids practiced hard this week.  They did a great job.  We tried to simplify it a little bit and they executed.  I’m very proud of how they played.”

University Prep began the game by driving into Bison territory, but the Clearfield defense stiffened and the Wildcats were hurt by a couple of penalties forcing them to punt.

Clearfield went to work right away by driving 58 yards in 10 plays to open the scoring.  The big play was a 21-yard dash by Noah Troxell that put the ball at the Prep 10.  After a 3rd down pass to Troxell from Curtis Putt put the ball at the one yard line, Ryan Ludwig plunged into the end zone on 4th down.  Tucker Scott booted the PAT and Clearfield led 7-0.

Clearfield’s Noah Troxell (#14) catches a pass and comes up just short of the goal line. Dominic Natoli is #16.

The next possession by both teams had similar results.  The Wildcats generated a first down, then Clearfield’s defense and a penalty halted them.  Their punt didn’t go far, and the black and white clad Bison began an 8 play, 54 yard touchdown drive that ended with Putt’s 6-yard TD run.  The extra point attempt was no good as a high snap forced the holder to run and the Prep defense had no trouble stopping his progress.  At the 9:26 mark of the second quarter Clearfield led 13-0.

After University Prep drove to the Clearfield 32, they turned the ball over on downs as the Bison ‘D’ came up big once again.  But Clearfield lost 18 yards on a first play fumble and they lost possession when Talib Johnson pounced on the loose ball at the Bison 14.

It took only two plays for the Wildcats to score.  QB Brayden Clark went 13 yards to the house for the only Wildcat score of the game.  The two point try was no good and the Pittsburgh City League school was back in the game trailing 13-6 with 5:28 remaining in the half.

University Prep’s Brayden Clark – Touchdown.

Momentum stayed with University Prep as their defense forced Clearfield to punt, but Elijah Glunt intercepted Clark’s desperate third down heave at the Prep 30 as he was being chased back toward his goal line.  That allowed Clearfield to go up by two scores again with 43 seconds left.  

Jayce Brothers converted a 4th down with a short run, then he found Glunt in the end zone with a 18-yard touchdown toss.  Scott’s point after made it Clearfield 20 and University Prep 6 going into the intermission.

Clearfield flubbed the second half kickoff and a penalty on the play pushed the ball back to their two yard line.  Clearfield then rattled off twelve straight runs and drove 98 yards to more or less put the game away.  The drive took almost six minutes off the clock and sent the Bison into a comfortable 27-6 advantage.  Ludwig did the honors with his second one yard run of the game.  “I think that was a back breaker for them when we drove 98 yards for a touchdown,” Coach Caragein stated.

Ryan Ludwig (#33) scoring on one of his two 1-yard runs.

The next time Clearfield had the ball they scored for the fifth time.  It came very early in the fourth quarter and it came on Brothers’ second touchdown pass to Glunt.  This one covered 24 yards.  Scott’s fourth PAT gave Clearfield the 34-6 lead which turned out to be the final.

The Bison were led by Brothers on offense, although almost everyone contributed.  He ran for 114 yards on 16 carries, plus he was 2 for 2 passing, both going for touchdowns and both to Mr. Glunt.

Elijah Glunt with the touchdown reception.

FULL GALLERY BY WILLIAM SPICHER

Ryan Perry led the Wildcat rushers with 93 yards on 11 totes.  Clark finished with 63 yards and the lone University Prep touchdown.  Clearfield’s defense only permitted Clark to complete 4 passes out of 20 attempts and only for 17 yards.  He also threw an interception. 

“Defensively, we were physical up front.  We read our keys and did our jobs.  Our secondary stayed over the top and we had a bend, don’t break defense.  They had a couple of big plays, but we rallied back together and did a great job,” stated Caragein.

University Prep ends the season with a 5-5 record, while Clearfield goes to 5-6.  The Bison get a week off before they play the winner from District 10, either undefeated and state ranked General McLane or Erie Cathedral Prep on either November 20th or 21st.