When the Bisons took the field Friday night many in the stands believed this was a game where all the Bisons had to do was show up in order to get a win. Unfortunately, Bald Eagle Area had different plans. The Bald Eagles, who entered the game winless, had nothing to lose and showed that early by going for the Bison jugular on the first series of the game when quarterback Justin Taylor hit Brock Bathurst for a 77-yard strike to start the game up 6-0 enroute to a 34-21 victory over the hometown Bisons on Homecoming.
Bathurst had a monster game for Bald Eagle by picking off three Curtis Frye passes and returning one of them for a touchdown while also adding a score on the ground.
Clearfield answered right back on their next possession as Curtis Frye hit senior wideout Chad Zurat for a 46 yard score to put the Bisons up 7-6 after the Zurat point after.
The Bisons held onto their lead for one more possession as Frye connected with Trey Campman for a 29 yard scoring toss to put the Bisons up 14-6.
The lead didn\’t last long however as Taylor connected for his second scoring pass this time to Kyle Wormer for a 42-yard touchdown. After a successful 2-point conversion the game was tied at 14-14 with seven minutes left to play in the half.
On the Bisons ensuing drive everything was looking good as they marched down field and ended up in the Bald Eagle redzone with a chance to go up before the end of the first half, but on 3rd and short the Bisons hit the self destruct button. Frye\’s pass intended for Derek Danver at the nine yard line was picked off by Bathurst who raced 91 yards in the opposite direction to give Bald Eagle the lead 20-14.
The Bisons got the ball back with a little over a minute left in the half, but were forced to punt after a three and out. Unfortunately for the Bisons the snap to punter Zurat never left the ground as it skipped backwards and pinned the Bisons deep in their own territory for a turnover on downs. After a long pass completion Taylor called his own number from two yards out with seconds remaining in the half to put the Bald Eagle\’s up 28-14.
Trey Campman did his best to try and keep the Bisons in the game as he returned the second half opening kickoff 81 yards for a score to put the Bisons down only seven, 28-21.
Clearfield was unable to do much with the ball offensively in the 3rd quarter turning the ball over three times and failing to score again.
Bald Eagle put one more score on for good measure at the beginning of the 4th quarter as Bathurst scored on a 34-yard rushing touchdown.
Clearfield had two more opportunities to score inside the Bald Eagle 10 yard line but failed to convert either time.
The Bisons will be on the road next week as they travel to Penns Valley to take on the Rams with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 PM.
Notes: Taylor Casher was named the 2009 Clearfield Homecoming Queen…..Frye and Campman have now connected for a touchdown in all six games this season….with the loss and falling to .500 the Bisons are in jeopardy of having their first losing season in 13 years…..
Rushing
Bald Eagle Area-Hoffman 15-65, Bathurst 3-34, Hicks 7-14, Eisenhuth 2-5, Ripka 1-0, Taylor 6-(-10).
Clearfield-Morgan 14-49, Frye 13-12, Campman 3-(-8), Team 2-(-15).
Passing
Bald Eagle Area-Taylor 9-of-16, 219 yds., 2 TD.
Clearfield-Frye 15-of-35, 285 yds., 2 TD, 3 Int.
Receiving
Bald Eagle Area-Bathurst 2-89, Wormer 2-76, Schall 1-29, Eisenhuth 2-23, Hoffman 1-7, Hicks 1-(-5).
Clearfield-Campman 9-149, Danver 4-72, Zurat 1-46, Morgan 1-18.
Bald Eagle Area-Hoffman 15-65, Bathurst 3-34, Hicks 7-14, Eisenhuth 2-5, Ripka 1-0, Taylor 6-(-10).
Clearfield-Morgan 14-49, Frye 13-12, Campman 3-(-8), Team 2-(-15).
Passing
Bald Eagle Area-Taylor 9-of-16, 219 yds., 2 TD.
Clearfield-Frye 15-of-35, 285 yds., 2 TD, 3 Int.
Receiving
Bald Eagle Area-Bathurst 2-89, Wormer 2-76, Schall 1-29, Eisenhuth 2-23, Hoffman 1-7, Hicks 1-(-5).
Clearfield-Campman 9-149, Danver 4-72, Zurat 1-46, Morgan 1-18.