Clearfield Overwhelms Penns Valley
Tagged under: District 6, Gameday Hub, News, pfn
Kerry Shawley | September 28, 2024
A person looking at the final score of Clearfield’s 59-27 victory over Penns Valley could not be blamed for thinking the game played out exactly the way one would have expected beforehand. Clearfield entered the contest with a 5-0 record while Penns Valley was winless at 0-5. While Clearfield did eventually dominate, the Rams certainly made things interesting at the beginning of the game.
After receiving the opening kickoff, Carter Ironside hooked up with his brother, Fletcher Ironside, who raced 45 yards to the Clearfield 27-yard line. A roughing the passer penalty on the play tacked on another 15-yards and Penns Valley was in business on the Clearfield 12-yard line. Following another Clearfield penalty, Carter Ironside connected with Spencer Althouse for a 7-yard touchdown pass. The Riley Winkelblech extra point gave the Rams a 7-0 lead with 9:46 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Clearfield took possession on their own 39-yard line. Following a penalty, Brady Collins took the handoff and sprinted 67-yards for a touchdown that tied the game up, following the Connor Morgan extra point; there was 9:18 remaining in the quarter.
It would only take Clearfield seven seconds to take the lead. Following a touchback on the kickoff, Carter Ironside dropped back to pass on first down, but his pass was picked off by Bryce Frushour who took it in for the score. Following the extra point, Clearfield led 14-7 with 9:11 remaining in the quarter.
Fletcher Ironside gathered the Clearfield kickoff and raced up the sideline 94-yards for a touchdown that brought the Rams to within a single point. The extra point was blocked, and just 3 minutes and 3 seconds into the game, Clearfield led 14-13.
Penns Valley squibbed the next kickoff, but Collins gathered it on the 12-yard line, took off, and 88-yards later, crossed the goal line and after the extra point sailed wide, Clearfield led 20-13 with 8:40 remaining in the quarter.
Penns Valley would fumble on their next possession, giving the Bison great field position. Carter Freeland carried the ball in from 5-yards out and following the extra point, Clearfield now led 27-13 with 5:28 remaining in the quarter.
The Bison would add to their lead before the quarter ended. Following a Ram punt, Collins would score his third touchdown in the opening quarter when he took a handoff and galloped 63-yards for another score. The extra point was blocked, and the Bison led 33-13 with 2:05 remaining in the quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, Xavier Curry connected with Cooper Broad, who out jumped the defensive back, for 62-yard score. The extra point made the score 40-13 with 11:48 remaining in the first half.
Clearfield continued to roll in the second quarter and Freeland would add touchdown runs of 1 and 45 yards and Clearfield would lead at the half 53-13. The Bison would pull most of their starters for the entirety of the second half, and with a running clock the game moved quickly. The Ram touchdowns in the second half came on a Chase Shelley 7-yard touchdown run and an 18-yard touchdown pass from Carter Ironside to Kolton Shawver. Bryndin Chamberlin scored from 2-yards out for Clearfield’s lone touchdown in the second half.
Brady Collins was magnificent for Clearfield. He is clearly one of the top players in Pennsylvania and he did not disappoint on this night. I do not have his final numbers for the night, but he had to be near 200-yards rushing in just one half of work. Carter Freeland also had an outstanding game for Clearfield. The Bison will be at home next week against Bald Eagle Area.
Penns Valley, which will seek its first win next week at Central, continues to show some promise offensively. The two second half scores came against the Clearfield reserves, but the opening drive of the game was a thing of beauty. Fletcher Ironside had an outstanding game, and along with Spencer Althouse, he gives the Rams a dangerous pair of receivers for Carter Ironside to work with. Chase Shelley also had a nice game.
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