DUBOIS — A 22-point second quarter outburst led third-seeded Elk Catholic to a 39-14 win over second-seeded Clarion-Limestone in the District 9 Class A semifinals Saturday in DuBois.
The win puts the Crusaders into a district title game for just the second time in program history and the first in 21 years. Elk Catholic lost, 9-8, in the 1995 title game to Smethport.
The Crusaders will play Ridgway at 7 p.m. Friday at Brockway.
It’s quite a turnaround for the Crusaders and head coach Tony Gerg after the team struggled to an 0-9 season in 2013.
“We are doing it for all the guys who put our uniform on and wore our colors and didn’t get to this spot,” Gerg said. “I’m one of them. I’ve been coaching for 20 years, this is the farthest I’ve been. To be in this position, it’s for all those guys and all those coaches who maybe didn’t get to this spot.”
The current Crusader senior class were freshmen then in Gerg’s first season as a head coach.
“I saw them start their careers and to get to this point with them, it’s a dream come true,” Gerg said. “It’s a blessing from God to be here at this point with them.
Elk Catholic out-gained Clarion-Limestone by a 366-205 margin, while Jared Braun, Hunter Cashmer and Brad Dippold picked off Lion quarterback Brenden Makray once each.
Running back Dan Stauffer (17 carries, 64 yards) scored two of his three touchdowns in the second quarter, while quarterback Nate DaCanal (11-for-21, 214 yards passing; nine rushes, 55 yards rushing) added a five-yard run in that big second quarter as the Crusaders built a 29-8 halftime lead.
Stauffer plunged in from one yard out to open scoring in the first quarter. Clarion-Limestone’s Sam Leadbetter immediately answered for the Lions, running the ensuing kickoff back 75-yards to take an 8-7 lead.
However, Elk Catholic was able to keep its offense on the field the majority of first half and limiting Clarion-Limestone to around 13 offensive plays. That, coupled with the Crusaders’ big, powerful line, wore down Clarion-Limestone’s defense.
“When you’re on defense that long,” Gerg said, “they were constantly having to make adjustments. They got tuckered in the first half. That was dream come true for us to get that many plays.”
SCORE BY QUARTER
ECC 7 22 7 3 – 39
C-L 8 0 0 6 – 14
TEAM STATISTICS
Rushing Yards: Elk Catholic 47-152, Clarion-Limestone 24-120. Passing Yards: Elk Catholic 11-21-214, Clarion-Limestone 8-17-85. Total Yards: Elk Catholic 366, Clarion-Limestone 205
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: Elk Catholic: Nate DaCanal 9-55-1, Dan Stauffer 17-64-3, Jared Braun 8-27, Bryce Gabler 8-27, Alex Bittler 4-13, Tyler Dilly 3-negative 10, Ryan Heary 1-2, Jacob Raffeinner 2-negative 1, Team 1-negative 1. Clarion-Limestone: Mike Macefe 17-86-1, Brenden Makray 1-negative 3, Chris Peace 4-23, Riley Hummell 2-14.
Passing: ECC: Nate DaCanal 11-21-214-2. Clarion-Limestone: Brenden Makray 8-17-85-0-3
Receiving: ECC: Jared Braun 3-42, Eric Gerber 2-44, Ryan Heary 3-39, Dan Stauffer 1-58-1, Brad Dippold 2-31-1. Clarion-Limestone: Riley Hummell 2-33, Sam Leadbetter 2-7, Mike Macefe 3-27, Dan Callen 1-18.
