2024 District 9 – Playoff Review of 14th Week Action
Tagged under: District 9, News, pfn
Phil Myers | November 26, 2024
https://www.twobirchwinery.com/
There were three D9 teams in the quarterfinals last week. Two of them won, and for the first time ever two D9 teams are in the state semifinals!!
PLAYOFF RECAPS OF GAMES FROM WEEK 13:
Port Allegany 38 Wilmington 20 – The Gators scored on the game’s opening possession and took an 8-0 lead. Wilmington battled back to score a touchdown in the first and then scored another five minutes into the second quarter to take the lead 14-8. Port got a TD with three minutes left in the half to take a 16-14 lead into the intermission. Gavin Moses opened the third quarter with a pick six that may have proved to be the big turning point of the game. But the Greyhounds did answer right after that interception score to cut the Gator margin to two points again at 22-20. From there on in, it was all Port Allegany as they tacked on a couple more touchdowns. With Tristan Kiser out due to an injury, Aiden Bliss picked up some of the slack by rushing for 293 yards on 35 carries. Kiser’s sub, Kellen Veilleux, looked like he was a starter as he rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Aiden Bliss.
Central Clarion 49 Cambria Heights 6 – Central Clarion led start to finish and dispatched of the D6 champion, who was undefeated, without too much difficulty. QB Jase Ferguson showed the way by passing for 223 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also rushed for 141 yards and 4 scores. The Wildcats led 21-0 after the first quarter and 35-6 by halftime. On their first possession of the second half, they got the Mercy Rule clock running in route to the convincing win over a team that averaged 37 points a game and gave up only 7 per contest. Central Clarion is only the second non 1A school in D9 history to advance to the state semifinals.
Jase Ferguson #1.
Thomas Jefferson 35 Clearfield 0 – The Bison had a tough day and did not play their best against one of the best in the state. Five turnovers will not win many games in playoff football let alone a quarterfinal game against a quality program like TJ. Clearfield fell behind early and just couldn’t get anything going even though they got to midfield on a few occasions and were stopped just short of scoring on the last play of the first half. Thomas Jefferson built a 28-0 lead by the break and put the continuous Mercy Rule clock in motion early in the fourth quarter with their fifth touchdown of the game. Brady Collins led the Bison offense with 82 yards rushing. Clearfield ends a very successful year with a 12-1 record.
TOP PERFORMERS OF WEEK 14:
Quarterbacks:
- Jase Ferguson, Central Clarion, accounted for 7 touchdowns, 3 passing and 4 rushing. He passed for 223 yards and ran for 141.
Running Backs:
- Aiden Bliss, Port Allegany, ran for 293 yards and 3 touchdowns.
- Kellen Veilleux, Port Allegany, rushed for 82 yards and scored a TD.
- Brady Collins, Clearfield, ran for 82 yards.
- Noah Harrison, Central Clarion ran for 65 markers.
Receivers/Athletes:
- Ethan Rex, Central Clarion, caught 8 passes for 118 yards and 2 TDs.
- Kohen Kemmer, Central Clarion, snagged 4 passes for 65 yards and a score.
Defense and Special Teams:
- The Central Clarion Wildcats have the 3rd best defense in the state and held another very good offense to a mere six points. The Wildcats also intercepted 3 passes.
- Jase Ferguson, Central Clarion, garnered his 8th and 9th interceptions of the year.
- Gavin Moses, Port Allegany, had an interception return for a TD of 18 yards.
NOTE: for previews of playoff games involving teams from District Nine, see separate stories regarding such.
THIS WEEK’S DISTRICT 9 PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
There are two D9 teams left in the state playoff picture and both of them are undefeated and highly ranked:
CLASS 1A STATE SEMIFINAL
#3 Port Allegany (13-0) vs. #2 Fort Cherry (14-0) at PennWest-Clarion – Friday Nov. 29 @ 7:00 PM
CLASS 2A STATE SEMIFINAL
#2 Central Clarion (13-0) vs. #3 South Park (12-1) at Farrell HS – Friday Nov. 29 @ 7:00 PM
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