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Chucks prepare for biggest game in seven years |
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Written by Dan Walk
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Friday, 13 November 2009 |
Punxsy — shown here getting ready to snap the ball during its first drive against Keystone Oct. 30 at home — hopes the team's size up front makes all the difference against Clearfield tonight. "The way those guys have been playing, I'm looking for an advantage up there," Punxsy head coach Alan Nichol said. (File photo by Dan Walk/The Punxsutawney Spirit)
DUBOIS — For a moment that has been nearly a decade in the making, the Punxsy football team will be playing in its first District IX Class AAA Championship game since 2002.
At 7 p.m. tonight at E.J. Mansell Stadium in DuBois, the Chucks will look to avenge a blowout loss to Clearfield for the district title Nov. 8, 2002.
Punxsy was demoralized by the Bisons in 2002. The Chucks were out-rushed by 300 yards during a 40-7 defeat. But that was then, and this is now, as both teams are riding high after concluding their respective seasons in impressive fashion.
Punxsy, which lost its first two games, ended the regular season on an eight-game winning streak. That came after Punxsy went a combined 13-45 from 2003-2008 and lost all 10 games twice.
The Bisons started 2-2 before winning five of their last six and four straight to end the year. In what will be Clearfield's 14th-straight trip to the playoffs, it will try to win its seventh district title since 1998.
Both teams didn't wrap up a playoff spot until just last week when Punxsy beat Brookville (29-12) and Clearfield defeated St. Marys (32-27). Considering both needed those wins to be in this position, last week's games were district semifinals, of sorts.
"Playing Brookville last week with a lot of attention on the game, that had some playoff atmosphere," Punxsy head coach Alan Nichol said. "For us, knowing that we had to win to give ourselves a chance to move on, there was a sense of that."
The last time Nichol coached against Clearfield head coach Tim Janocko was in 1999, when the 9-3 Bisons beat the 6-4 Curwensville Golden Tide, 28-20. Much like he has in Punxsy up to this point, Nichol built up the Curwensville football program.
A year prior, Nichol and Janocko faced off with Clearfield beating Curwensville, 47-14. Curwensville, the 2009 AML champions, enter the District IX Class A playoffs tonight as the No. 1 seed.
Janocko is currently the assistant principal at Clearfield Area High School, meaning he and Nichol were administrators that worked seven miles apart during Nichol's time as principal at Curwensville.
"Coach Janocko and I go back pretty far," Nichol said. "From the coaching standpoint, it adds some enjoyment to it."
But at the end of the day, it's all about how the Chucks and Bisons compare on the field.
Statistically, the two teams match up pretty evenly, both with balanced offensive attacks that are led by sophomore quarterbacks.
Punxsy's offense has gained 2,930 yards, including 1,588 on the ground and 1,342 through the air. Meanwhile, the Bisons have totaled 3,181 yards, with 1,706 yards passing and 1,475 yards rushing.
Clearfield's air attack is led by quarterback Curtis Frye, who has thrown for the third-most passing yards in the district, with 1,561 yards. He has completed 53.4 percent of his passes, with 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Weaver may be only fifth in the district in passing yards with 1,246, but he has been more efficient with his passes. He has completed 54.1 percent of his passes, with 14 touchdowns and a miniscule three interceptions.
Both Punxsy and Clearfield run with backs that aren't so widely-known, but are impressive in their own right. Senior Brennan Niver, who didn't get a carry during the first two weeks, has totaled 763 yards on 141 totes (a 5.6 average) with 11 touchdowns.
When not counting his four carries against A-C Valley, Niver has gained 104.9 yards a game during Punxsy's last seven contests. That includes 137 yards a game during the Chucks' last three games.
Derek Morgan leads the Clearfield ground game with 726 yards on 138 carries with nine touchdows. During the last two games, he has gained 191 yards on 30 carries with three rushing TDs.
Frye helps out Clearfield's rush attack with 422 yards and 10 scores.
Clearfield also employs Trey Campman, one of the most talented receivers in the district. He has 47 catches for 858 yards and eight touchdowns. He has also rushed for 227 yards and three TDs.
Derek Danver also helps out in the air with 409 yards and three TDs on 28 receptions.
Punxsy counters with Braedon Pennington, who has 620 yards on 29 catches — an amazing 21.38 yards a reception — and four TDs. Also playing well out wide is Zak Dickey, who has 23 catches for 304 yards and five TDs.
Defensively, only two teams in the district have allowed fewer points per game than Punxsy's 11.5. After giving up a combined 45 points during their first two games, the Chucks have allowed just 8.75 points per contest during their eight-game winning stretch.
Nichol said that Clearfield's defense creates pressure and sometimes goes for broke. Punxsy may be able to break some big plays if it executes.
"They have a good pressurized defense. We'll have to keep pounding away," Nichol said. "They're high-risk, and you hope to bust a big one."
Helping matters during Punxsy's success during the past two months has been the strides its offensive line has made.
Both teams are physical and are roughly the same size up front, but Nichol feels his squad — featuring Ryan McGregor, Zach Beatty, Devon Luzell and Tige Woodson — is gelling at the right point.
"The way those guys have been playing, I'm looking for an advantage up there," he said. "Clearfield's a dangerous offense, but at the same time, the game is won and lost up front. A lot of times, if you control the line of scrimmage, you give yourself the best chance to win."
The Bisons are the favorite due to the two teams' recent pasts. Punxsy may have never seen an offense as explosive as the Bisons' this year, but its second-half defense has rivaled the best all year.
With the streak Punxsy's been on this season and its play-by-play approach, the Chucks and their fans wouldn't be surprised if they come out on top tonight.
Even if Punxsy falls behind early, Nichol knows that it is all about how his team finishes.
"I want to have a lead at the end of the game," Nichol said. "If things are going to happen good and bad, you just have to keep playing. Teams that play for 48 minutes give themselves the best chances to win."
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 14 November 2009 )
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