DuBOIS, Pa. (EYT) — The King of the Mountain trophy is staying in DuBois after the Beavers beat the Clearfield Bison, 30-20, Friday night at E.J. Mansell Stadium.
It was the first meeting between the two teams since 2009 when DuBois claimed a 35-21 win. It was also the 104th meeting between the long-time rivals and the Beavers claimed the 70th win in the series. Clearfield has won 29 times and there have been five ties.
Beavers senior quarterback Braden Paulinellie had an outstanding game while standing in for junior Matt Miller, who is nearly recovered from a knee injury.
Paulinellie ran and threw the ball very well in totaling 277 total yards and three touchdowns. Paulinellie finished with 182 yards rushing and three scores while hitting 12 of 18 passes for 95 yards with one interception.
“Braden played a great game,” DAHS head coach Frank Varischetti said. “He’s an outstanding athlete and tough kid.”
Miller, who threw for more than 3,600 yards and 32 touchdowns as a sophomore, said after the game he hopes to be back in a few weeks when the Beavers travel to Meadville.
When he does, Paulinellie, the teams’ leading rusher in 2015, will likely play at receiver, but Friday, he was in charge behind center.
On DuBois’ second possession after defensive end Andy Weese blocked a Clearfield punt, Paulinellie guided a short drive that set up a 23-yard field goal by Carson Hanna.
Paulinellie then intercepted a pass by Bison QB Isaac Rumery and the Beavers started at their 46.
Paulinellie carried the load on the drive, running five times for 23 yards and hitting a pair of passes for seven yards. Brock Adams, who also had a very strong game on both sides, had a big, 24-yard run to the 10.
Then Paulinellie capped it with a 2-yard run and Hanna’s kick made it 9-0.
Seth Caldwell got the Bison within two points when he scored on a 7-yard run, but Paulinellie got it right back a few plays later when he got around the corner and raced down the left sideline for a 61-yard TD.
The Bison came back with a big play when Rumery hit Micah Heichel for a 51-yard TD with 2:13 left in the half to make it 16-14.
In the third, Bison started with the ball and drove it 74 yards on nine plays with Rumery running eight yards for the TD to give his team its only lead, 20-16, early in the third.
DuBois was stopped on downs inside the Bison 20 on the next possession.
Caldwell then ripped off a 16-yard run to the Bison 33 before the game’s biggest turning point happened.
Ryan Lezzer gained four yards before losing the football and Beavers standout senior tackle Ryan Pasternak pounced on the ball.
DuBois seized the momentum and took control.
Starting on the Bison 39, Adams got his turn to carry the load as he ran three times for 14 yards and caught a 9-yard pass from Paulinelie, who added a 16-yard run. Adams finished the drive with a 7-yard run and Hanna’s kick made it 23-20 with 3:55 left in the third.
The Beavers forced Clearfield to turn it over on downs near midfield on the next series and the Beavers drove 49 yards to score what was the game-clinching TD.
Paulinellie ran for 10 yards on first down then hit Kyle Hopson for a 12-yard gain.
Dalton Kruzelak then had two good runs, including a 17-yarder to the Bison 2 to close out the third quarter. Kruzelak, a junior, finished 46 yards on seven carries as the Beavers piled up 320 yards on 46 carries.
Paulinellie capped the drive with a 2-yard run with 11:55 left to make it 30-20.
The Bison got the ball back for the last time and marched to the 4. But four downs later they hadn’t progressed and the Beavers took over.
Junior Cole Meighen knocked a pass away from a Bison defender to stop the drive with 7:14 left.
Paulinellie and Adams then took turns running the ball as the Beavers offensive line dominated.
DuBois outgained Clearfield 415-296 and ran 20 more plays.
Both teams are back in action next Friday. DuBois hosts Conneaut while the Bison play at Penns Valley.’
Check out more District 9 recaps on D9Sports.com
DuBOIS 30, CLEARFIELD 20
Score by Quarters
Clearfield 0 14 6 0 – 20
DuBois 9 7 7 7 – 30
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
D – Carson Hanna 23 field goal, 4:40.
D – Braden Paulinellie 2 run (kick failed), 0:55.
Second Quarter
C – Seth Caldwell 7 run (Josh Serena kick), 6:43.
D – Paulinellie 61 run (Hanna kick), 5:48.
C – Micah Heichel 51 pass from Isaac Rumery (Serena kick), 2:13.
Third Quarter
C – Isaac Rumery 8 run (run failed), 8:28.
D – Brock Adams 7 run (Hanna kick), 3:55.
Fourth Quarter
D – Paulinellie 2 run (Hanna kick), 11:55.
TEAM STATS
Clearfield Stat DuBois
11 First Downs 19
32-130 Rushes-Yards 46-320
7-12-1 Comp-Att-Int 12-18-1
166 Passing Yards 95
44-296 Total Plays-Yards 64-414
1-5 Penalties-Yards 2-10
1-1 Fumbles-Lost 0-0
1-43 Punts-Avg. 1-53
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing – Clearfield: Seth Caldwell 15-54, Ryan Lezzer 6-33, Isaac Rumery 11-43. DuBois: Braden Paulinellie 25-182, Brock Adams 14-93, Dalton Kruzelak 7-46.
Passing – Clearfield: Isaac Rumery 7 of 12, 166 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int. DuBois: Braden Paulinellie 12 of 18, 95 yards, 1 Int.
Receiving – Clearfield: Micah Heichel 5-115, Ryan Lezzer 2-40, Mason Royer 1-11. DuBois: Kyle Hopson 4-34, Kenny Garvey 2-31, Brock Adams 2-20, Dalton Kruzelak 3-11, Dylan McCluskey 2-(-1).
Interceptions: Clearfield: Micah Heichel. DuBois: Braden Paulinellie.
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