Bellefonte football looking for first win over Clearfield since 2007
Bellefonte coach Shanon Manning is curious to see if his team can put together another strong, all-around effort this week.
That’s how the Red Raiders earned impressive wins over Jersey Shore and Tyrone, and that’s the type of performance they’ll need to knock off Clearfield at 7 p.m. Friday at Rogers Stadium.
“We would have to play our best football game of the year to win this game,” Manning said. “There’s absolutely no doubt. Anything short of that, we would have difficulty.”
Bellefonte (4-1) still has plenty to prove heading into the matchup with the Bison (3-2), the defending Mountain League champions who have owned the series with the Red Raiders in the past decade. Since Bellefonte’s last win over Clearfield in 2007, the Red Raiders have lost eight games to the Bison by an average of 34.2 points. Last season, Bellefonte lost the regular season matchup between the teams 28-0 before falling 34-7 in the District 6-9 Class 4A semifinals.
The Red Raiders and Bison could meet again in this year’s postseason.
“Both teams kind of have to look at it like this is going to be a turning point of the season,” Bellefonte sophomore C.J. Funk said. “This is going to be the time that we’re going to have to step up and make our (run) for the playoffs.”
The Red Raiders are in good position to return to the postseason after opening the season with a comeback win over Jersey Shore and improving their record to 4-1 after last week’s win over Tyrone. They executed to near-perfection in both games as the defense held Jersey Shore scoreless in the second half of a 17-13 win. Though Tyrone (1-4) doesn’t boast the same record as Jersey Shore (4-1) after five weeks, the Red Raiders played their best game from start to finish in a 49-14 win.
Bellefonte wasn’t intimidated by Tyrone’s proud history last week, and the Red Raiders face a similar challenge this week.
How hungry are they to beat Clearfield for the first time in a decade? How will they respond to taking on another storied program?
“When they come out with that black helmet that says Clearfield across the front, it’s up to them,” Manning said of his players. “At that point, are they over it being Clearfield — that they don’t owe them anything anymore, they just owe themselves the best effort they can put out there?”
During Bellefonte’s eight-game losing streak against Clearfield, the Bison have averaged 40.1 points per game — and this year’s Clearfield team boasts a talented offense led by quarterback Isaac Rumery.
Manning said Rumery will be the best quarterback his team has faced this season. Rumery has accounted for five touchdowns twice this season to lead Clearfield to a 42-12 win over Penns Valley (five touchdown passes) and a 49-10 win over Central Mountain (four passing touchdowns; one rushing).
Funk and teammate Cade Fortney know they’ll need to be ready for Clearfield’s passing attack. They’ve been well-prepared throughout the season, studying film of opponents’ routes, reviewing those plays against the scout team and using that information to make plays Friday nights.
Funk leads the team with two interceptions and returned one for a touchdown in last week’s win over Tyrone.
“I don’t think I’m ever going to forget that,” Funk said.
Funk read the quarterback’s eyes on the play and leaped in the air to make the grab before racing 45 yards down the right sideline for the score.
“I told him that was my favorite play of the game — a pick-six reigns over a TD catch,” said Fortney, who has one interception this year.
The defense’s matchup with Rumery and Clearfield’s wide receivers will be crucial, but the Red Raiders will also need to be ready mentally to challenge the defending Mountain League champions.
“They have 30 years of just being a traditional power, and that’s what they are,” Manning said. “Until we beat them, that’s what they will remain.”
This story was originally published September 28, 2017 at 6:50 PM with the headline "Bellefonte football looking for first win over Clearfield since 2007."