Clayburg-Kimmel, Northern Bedford Taking to the Turf

This hasn't been the kind of season of which the Claysburg-Kimmel High School football team dreamed. Since opening the year by beating Everett, the Bulldogs have dropped five in a row.

"A big part of it is we're a really undersized team where we have a lot of younger players on the line," C-K coach Matt Bilchak said. "We're relying on a lot of splash plays where we get 30 to 40 yards, but then we don't have the follow-up play. Unfortunately, with the teams we're playing, if you can't chunk the ball downfield, you're going to have a hard time scoring."

Those bad experiences will quickly be forgotten if the Bulldogs can find a way to spring the upset on undefeated Northern Bedford in a special Thursday night contest. Kickoff at Hollidaysburg's Tiger Stadium for the Inter-County Conference clash is set for 7 p.m.

"It's pretty big," Bulldog senior running back/wide receiver/defensive back Gabe Weyant said. "If we can beat Northern Bedford, it would show everybody what we're all about. We're got to bring all 11 on every play."

There's still a lot of incentive for Claysburg-Kimmel this week beyond turning around the season and boosting morale: The Bulldogs are just a win out of the eighth spot in the District 6 Class 1A standings, which would mean a return to the postseason in spite of the struggles so far. Beating Northern Bedford would provide a bonanza of power points to aid in that pursuit.

The visiting Black Panthers, though, are chasing the top seed in the District 5 Class 1A playoffs, a year removed from a D5 championship and a spot in the state's final eight. Northern Bedford is coming off a 56-8 victory in a battle of then-unbeatens at Conemaugh Township, which improved their grip on the top spot in the standings.

"Each week, we start 0-0. We go out and prepare each week like we're going to come out and dominate out. We come hard, we come to practice and we work hard each day," NBC junior running back Adam Johnson said. "We're going to come out this week and play as a team again."

With 21 touchdowns, Johnson is among the state leaders in scoring, and his words are music to Northern Bedford coach Garry Black's ears. The last thing Black wants to see is his team bank some cache like it did at Township only to give some of it back by losing as an odds-on favorite and squandering momentum.

"Things are looking up for us, but that can slip," Black said. "I always tell the kids the story about the game I went to when I was younger, an undefeated (actually once-beaten) Bishop McCort team traveled to Central, and Central wasn't very good that year, but, on the magic that night, Central beat them."

It was 2001 and it was the Scarlet Dragons' only win of the year, 21-19. McCort went to the PIAA semifinals.

Claysburg might present a problem in that players like Weyant, running back Cole Claycomb and quarterback Caleb Oakes have shown the ability over the last two years to break big plays, something that has victimized the otherwise invincible Panthers through six weeks.

"We have to continue to grow as a defense," Black said. "Our offense has shown that they're pretty good. We've had (lapses on defense). Last week, we did not give up a defensive touchdown. To do what we want to do (this season), our defense has to get better, so I'm looking for continued growth from our defense."

Behind Johnson (892 yards rushing) and Eion Snider (1034 yards, 11 touchdowns passing), Northern Bedford has scored at least 40 points in four of its six starts and at least 50 in two of the last three weeks.

"They're a very good team. They like to run the ball," Weyant said. "We have to prove to them we can stop them from running the ball and try to make them pass it a little bit more. We have a handful of interceptions (eight) this year."

Another key for the Claysburg will be to keep its offense on the field and force Northern to be patient by not beating itself.

"The big thing is minimizing mistakes, whether it be interceptions, fumbles, penalties," Bilchak said. "We have to maintain consistency staying ahead of the sticks."

Northern Bedford will have a size advantage up front, but the Bulldogs will be playing on artificial turf at its home-away-from-home field, something the Panthers only see in the playoffs.

"Being on Thursday gives us less time to prepare," Johnson said, "but I love playing on turf. I know a lot of people on my team do, so we're going to go out and have some fun."

This article is sponsored by Carpet Depot Home Center.

In other Week 7 games ...

Central Scarlet Dragons (4-2) vs.

Central Cambria Red Devils (1-5)

Date and time: Friday, 7 p.m.

Site: Central Cambria Stadium, Ebensburg

Coaches: Central – Dave Baker; Central Cambria – Don Fyfe

Last game: Central – defeated McCort-Carroll, 55-21; Central Cambria – lost to Bishop Guilfoyle, 35-3

Last meeting: Central, 49-13 (Sept. 17, 2021)

Series record: Tied, 5-5-1 (first met in 1966)

Tussey Mountain Titans (2-4) vs.

Juniata Valley Green Hornets (4-2)

Date and time: Friday, 7 p.m.

Site: A.R. Simkins Memorial Field, Alexandria

Coaches: Tussey Mountain – Tim Lucko; Juniata Valley – Bill Musser

Last game: Tussey Mountain – lost to Glendale, 40-12; Juniata Valley – defeated Moshannon Valley, 28-0

Last meeting: Juniata Valley, 20-2 (Aug. 27, 2021)

Series record: Juniata Valley, 36-19-2 (first met in 1960)