District #9 Class (AAA) Football Pre-view
-
THE CHOPS
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 1900
- Joined: October 24th, 2003, 10:42 am
- Location: SCOTTDALE, PA.
District #9 Class (AAA) Football Pre-view
DISTRICT #9 CLASS (AAA) CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: Clearfield (7-3) vs. Bradford (7-2)
In a district that is known more for it's smaller classification schools, District #9 is few and far between when it comes to (AAA) and (AAAA) schools. In fact, DuBois is the only (AAAA) team in District #9, and should the Beavers qualify for the playoffs, they combine with District #10. District #9 hasn't had a (AAAA) tournament since the middle '90s.
But, in 1997, District #9 began a (AAA) playoff tournament, and it has been going strong now for this its 9th season.
And in the 9th edition of the District #9 Class (AAA) Championship game, two teams that know each other really, really, really well will play not only for D#9 supremacy, but also bragging rights. When the Clearfield Bisons (7-3) take on the Bradford Owls (7-2) from Clarion University's Memorial Stadium Friday evening, it will be the 5th time the two have renewed acquaintances with each other in the (AAA) Championship game. Kickoff time is slated for 7 pm.
The lack of many (AAA) schools in District #9 has allowed both Clearfield and Bradford to build up impressive playoff stats.
The Bisons, formerly (AAAA), have been to "11" Championship games ("3" in AAAA), winning "6". Bradford has been to (5) Championship games, winning 3 (all over Clearfield), and represented District #9 in the 2003 Class (AAA) Western Championship game against Pine-Richland, where the Owls lost 37-7.
So, doing the math, that's a combined "16" Championship game appearances and "9" combined Championship game victories. Those are staggering numbers to say the least, regardless if there's only "4" (AAA) teams or "40".
And, to make things even more interesting, Friday's championship match-up pits two distinctly different offensive philosophies: power running vs. spread-'em-out-and-wing-it.
Bradford is the running team. Plain and simple. 83% of the Owl offensive output comes on the ground. But Bradford doesn't have just one feature back who gets the bulk of the carries. The Owls have three of them.
Taylor O'Brein leads the group with 1,011 yards and 17 TDs on 111 carries, an average of 9.1 yards per rush. EJ Moore has run for 737 yards and 8 TDs on 80 carries, a 9.2 average per rush. And finally, Nick Johnson has run for 479 yards and 7 TDs on 52 carries, also, a 9.2 average per rush.
It's the first time in District #9 history that a team has had three running backs with a minimum of 50 rush attempts, 450 rush yards, and each averaging over 9 yards per carry. And D#9 has had a long history.
Seeing that Bradford runs so much, you wouldn't think that the Owls score many points. That's 100% false. Bradford averages a D#9-best 35.8 points per game! So this is not your typical, everyday Wing-T attack. Bradford has topped the 50-point plateau twice, and hasn't scored below 21 points at all this season.
Since Bradford is the power team, then that leaves Clearfield as the spread-'em-out-and-wing-it team. But this year, that isn't exactly accurate.
Yes, the Bisons love to throw the football. They can claim D#9's leading passer, in Andrew Janocko, who has thrown for 1,817 yards and 10 TDs while completing 56% of his passes. To put it in perspective, the 2nd-leading passer, Moniteau's Tyler Armagost, is 800 yards behind Janocko.
But the Bisons have a trump card this year that they haven't had in years past: a solid, reliable running game.
It starts with sophomore Isiah Morgan, who has run for 987 yards and "13" TDs this season. Morgan keys a rush attack which has accounted for 40% of the Bison offensive output in 2006. Morgan needs just "13" more yards to become the fourth D#9 running back since 2000 to run for 1,000 yards in his sophomore season. He would join Redbank Valley's Ron Greist (2000) and Alex Bladel (2006), and Curwensville's Nick Sipes (2004), the only other backs to accomplish that feat.
Now, since Clearfield likes to spread-'em-out, you would think that they score a ton of points. Not true. Clearfield averages only 26.8 points per game, kind of a-typical for a team with such a proficient attack.
But the key may be defense. Clearfield's defense isn't exactly dominating, as it allows 22.9 points per game. Bradford hasn't lit the world on fire defensively either, and allows an average of 17.6 points per game.
Don't expect a defensive war on Friday night from Memorial Stadium. Bradford won the regular season battle between these two 56-35.
And for two teams with a ton of playoff experience and two potent offenses, we might just get another shoot-out.
THE CHOPS...
In a district that is known more for it's smaller classification schools, District #9 is few and far between when it comes to (AAA) and (AAAA) schools. In fact, DuBois is the only (AAAA) team in District #9, and should the Beavers qualify for the playoffs, they combine with District #10. District #9 hasn't had a (AAAA) tournament since the middle '90s.
But, in 1997, District #9 began a (AAA) playoff tournament, and it has been going strong now for this its 9th season.
And in the 9th edition of the District #9 Class (AAA) Championship game, two teams that know each other really, really, really well will play not only for D#9 supremacy, but also bragging rights. When the Clearfield Bisons (7-3) take on the Bradford Owls (7-2) from Clarion University's Memorial Stadium Friday evening, it will be the 5th time the two have renewed acquaintances with each other in the (AAA) Championship game. Kickoff time is slated for 7 pm.
The lack of many (AAA) schools in District #9 has allowed both Clearfield and Bradford to build up impressive playoff stats.
The Bisons, formerly (AAAA), have been to "11" Championship games ("3" in AAAA), winning "6". Bradford has been to (5) Championship games, winning 3 (all over Clearfield), and represented District #9 in the 2003 Class (AAA) Western Championship game against Pine-Richland, where the Owls lost 37-7.
So, doing the math, that's a combined "16" Championship game appearances and "9" combined Championship game victories. Those are staggering numbers to say the least, regardless if there's only "4" (AAA) teams or "40".
And, to make things even more interesting, Friday's championship match-up pits two distinctly different offensive philosophies: power running vs. spread-'em-out-and-wing-it.
Bradford is the running team. Plain and simple. 83% of the Owl offensive output comes on the ground. But Bradford doesn't have just one feature back who gets the bulk of the carries. The Owls have three of them.
Taylor O'Brein leads the group with 1,011 yards and 17 TDs on 111 carries, an average of 9.1 yards per rush. EJ Moore has run for 737 yards and 8 TDs on 80 carries, a 9.2 average per rush. And finally, Nick Johnson has run for 479 yards and 7 TDs on 52 carries, also, a 9.2 average per rush.
It's the first time in District #9 history that a team has had three running backs with a minimum of 50 rush attempts, 450 rush yards, and each averaging over 9 yards per carry. And D#9 has had a long history.
Seeing that Bradford runs so much, you wouldn't think that the Owls score many points. That's 100% false. Bradford averages a D#9-best 35.8 points per game! So this is not your typical, everyday Wing-T attack. Bradford has topped the 50-point plateau twice, and hasn't scored below 21 points at all this season.
Since Bradford is the power team, then that leaves Clearfield as the spread-'em-out-and-wing-it team. But this year, that isn't exactly accurate.
Yes, the Bisons love to throw the football. They can claim D#9's leading passer, in Andrew Janocko, who has thrown for 1,817 yards and 10 TDs while completing 56% of his passes. To put it in perspective, the 2nd-leading passer, Moniteau's Tyler Armagost, is 800 yards behind Janocko.
But the Bisons have a trump card this year that they haven't had in years past: a solid, reliable running game.
It starts with sophomore Isiah Morgan, who has run for 987 yards and "13" TDs this season. Morgan keys a rush attack which has accounted for 40% of the Bison offensive output in 2006. Morgan needs just "13" more yards to become the fourth D#9 running back since 2000 to run for 1,000 yards in his sophomore season. He would join Redbank Valley's Ron Greist (2000) and Alex Bladel (2006), and Curwensville's Nick Sipes (2004), the only other backs to accomplish that feat.
Now, since Clearfield likes to spread-'em-out, you would think that they score a ton of points. Not true. Clearfield averages only 26.8 points per game, kind of a-typical for a team with such a proficient attack.
But the key may be defense. Clearfield's defense isn't exactly dominating, as it allows 22.9 points per game. Bradford hasn't lit the world on fire defensively either, and allows an average of 17.6 points per game.
Don't expect a defensive war on Friday night from Memorial Stadium. Bradford won the regular season battle between these two 56-35.
And for two teams with a ton of playoff experience and two potent offenses, we might just get another shoot-out.
THE CHOPS...