CLARION – Clarion and Coudersport will battle for the District 9
Class A football title tonight.
Game time at Clarion University is 6 o’clock.
Coudersport brings an 11-0 record into the game, while the
Bobcats are 9-2.
Clarion is making its first appearance in the title game since
losing back-to-back championship games in 1999 and 2000. The
Bobcats are looking for their first title since 1997.
“I am excited about playing this game Saturday,” Clarion head
coach Larry Wiser said. “Coming into this season off of last year’s
playoffs (Clarion lost to Curwensville in the semifinals in ’04) we
knew we had a good chance to get to this point. To get here, a lot
of things have to take place the right way. Fortunately we were
able to stay healthy.”
Coudersport is back in the title game for the first time since
winning their second D-9 championship in 2001. The Falcons also won
the title in 1994.
“People are excited about this game,” Coudersport head coach
Paul Simcoe said. “It is great for the whole community. The feeling
among people is not only that of support but that if we play well
it (a championship) is an attainable goal. But we will have to play
well to do it.”
Clarion’s recipe for success this season has been a ball-control
offense and a shutdown defense.
The Bobcats have the top scoring defense in District 9 allowing
just 10.8 ppg. Clarion has not allowed more than two scores against
it since the double overtime loss at Karns City in Week 6.
The Bobcats rank second in District 9 in rushing offense with
257.1 yards per game. They have gone over 300 yards rushing in each
of their two playoff games. Last week against C-L, Clarion ran 54
plays with 53 of them being runs.
Senior Chris McSwain has carried the ball 248 times for 1,658
yards and 18 touchdowns this season and has 3,510 career rushing
yards. Last week he toted the football 40 times for 315 yards and
two touchdowns.
The Falcons are the top scoring offense in District 9 averaging
37.9 ppg while averaging 337.1 yards per game, the fourth best mark
in D9.
The winner of the game will play the winner of the District 10
championship game between Sharpsville and Kennedy Catholic next
week at a District 10 site to be detemined in the opening round of
the PIAA playoffs.
