The teams traded touchdowns on the first three possessions of the game as Strong Vincent grabbed a 14-6 lead late in the first quarter. The score remained that way until Clearfield scored on a double-pass with just over two minutes left in the second quarter and Jarrin Campman's two-point run tied things at 14-14.
Strong Vincent made one final surge down the field but clearfield forced a fumble in the final seconds and Bison Cruise Kerr recovered at his own 10 to send the teams into the lockerrooms tied at 14-14.
Clearfield got the ball to start the second half but disaster struck the Bisons when Colonel Brandon Marlow picked off a Campman pass on a play where it appeared Brandon Sass, the intended receiver, was held. Strong Vincent's Deonte Flemings scored from 43 yards out three plays later but Vincent only led 21-14 entering the fourth quarter.
Flemings helped put the game away with TD runs of 11 and 51 yards in the fourth quarter. Flemings second-half outburst (9 carries, 117 yards) led a Colonels rushing attack that gained 395 yards on 48 carries in the game. Flemings led the way with 13 carries for 167 yards and four touchdowns, while teammates Darrell Brooks and Emari Tangle each went over the century mark with 124 and 119 yards respectively.
Strong Vincent outgained clearfield 197-153 in the first half, but the in the final two quarters the Colonels held a 224-66 advantage with all Vincent's second-half yards coming on the ground. The 34 point were Vincent's second lowest total of the season, while Clearfield became just the third team this season to score at least two touchdowns against the Colonels. The 20-point margin of victory also was the closest of the season for Vincent.
"They're (Vincent) suppose to be the No. 2 football team in the state and we had them on the ropes going into the fourth quarter," said Clearfield head coach Tim Janocko. "Our kids played very well, and I'm very proud of them. It really came down to a couple plays that hurt us.
"We were in it going into the fourth quarter, but just came up a couple plays short. We've had a great year, and we had some kids end great careers tonight. This season has meant a lot to our program. We've shown that we can play with some of the better teams in the state. We just have to keep it going."
Vincent got the opening kickoff and promptly marched 65 yards on eight plays. Brooks jump-started the drive with a 26-yard jaunt, while Flemings capped the drive three plays later wqith an 18-yard TD run on an end around. Hurlburt Shane's kick gave the Colonels a 7-0 lead just under three minutes in to the game.
Clearfield countered with a seven-play, 61-yard scoring drive of its own. The key play of the drive was a 31-yard pass play from Campman to Brandon Sass on third-and-19. Sass made a nice grab as he held on to the ball as he was drilled just as he caught for a first down at the Vincent 39.
Campman picked up another first down with a 14-yard run, and Sass made another nice grab along the sideline in the end zone for a 21-yard score on the ensuing play. However, the snap was nad on the PAT try and the Bisons trailed 7-6 with 5:07 left in the first quarter. Sass had two catches on the night for 52 yards, while Campman completed 4 of 11 passes for 79 yards and a score. he also ran for 53 yards on 23 carries.
Vincent anwered right back as the Colonels drove 68 yards on eight plays to take a 14-6 lead with 1:35 left in the opening frame. Tangle had a big 28-yard run on the second play of the drive but the key play was a 26-yard grab by Marlow on a fourth-and-13 play. Brooks scored from 13 yards out one play later and Shane's kick made it 14-6.
The teams then traded punts for most of the second quarter before Clearfield went to a little trickery to find the end zone. On a first down play from his own 49, campman threw a quick lateral out to Sass, who in turned found Trey Campman wide open down the field for a 51-yard touchdown pass. Jarrin campman ran in the two-point try to even the score at 14 with 2:09 left in the first half.
Vincent threatened to score just before the half, thanks in lare part to a 38-yard run by Flemings on a fake punt from the Colonels' 34. Vincent got down to the Clearfield 17, but the Bisons defense drilled tangle on a first down run, forcing a fumble that Kerr fell on at the Bisons' 10. Clearfield then took a knee to end the half.
The Bisons got the ball to start the third quarter and Vincent forced a quick punting situation. However, the colonels jumped offsides, giving clearfield a fourth-and-inches at its own 48. Janocko decided to go for it and jarrin Campman picked up the first down with a three-yard QB sneak.
However, disaster struck Clearfield on the next play as Campman looked for Sass down the middle of the field. Sass appeared to be held on the play, and Marlow ended up making a dicing interception at the Viincent 31 with Sass out of the play.
The Colonels quckly turned the pick into a score as Tangle ripped off a 31-yard run followed by a 43-yard TD scamper by Flemings with 7:52 left in the third quarter. Shane's kick made it 21-14.
Vincent orced a three-and-out, and after taking over possession at its own 43 following a punt, drove down to the Bisons' 5. However, Clearfield's defense dropped Flemings for a 14-yard loss back to the Colonels' 19. Flemings then fumbled a handoff on a reverse two plays later and Clearfield's Nick Redden recovered the loose ball at the Bisons' 21.
Clearfield appeaqred to have a first down on its ensuing possessio when Josh Rippey caught a short out. However, a Vincent defender dislodged the ball from Rippey with his helmet on a big hit. Clearfield recovered at its 22 on the final play of the third quarter but was forced to punt.
Vincent quickly put together a five-play, 46-yard scoring drive that was capped by an 11-yard run by Flemings with 9:56 left in the game. Shane's PAT made it 27-14.
Flemings added a 51-yard TD run on Vincent's next possession and Shane's kick gave the Colonels a 34-14 lead with 5:31 left to play.
Clearfield made one final push to score driving from its own 37 down to the Vincent 15. The key play of the drive was a 30-yard pasas play from Jarrin campman to younger brother Trey Campman, who made the catch depsite being interfered with. Trey Campman had two catches for 81 yards in the game.
Strong Vincent kept the Bisons out of the end zone as Campman threw three incompletions to end the game. The Colonels knocked two would-be TD catches away from Trey Campman in the final three plays.
Clearfield ends its season at 10-3, while Strong Vincent (13-0) plays top-ranked Thomas Jefferson next week in the state quarterfinals.
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