Clearfield (7-2) at Brockway (5-4)

BROCKWAY — It's a first for Clearfield coach Tim Janocko.
During his tenure as head coach of the Bisons, he's never coached
against Brockway.

"As far as I know, we've never played them," Janocko said. "It's the
first time since I've been here. We've never played them."

That will change this week. The Bisons — winners of three consecutive
games — will face a Brockway team that has also won three straight.
Something has to give.

The Bisons enter the game fresh off a 31-0 drubbing of Punxsutawney in
the muck and mud at the Bison Sports Complex.

"I thought we played a real good football game in some adverse
conditions against Punxsutawney. It doesn't get any nastier than that.
I thought we played a pretty good game there. We've had a great year,"
Janocko said.

Of course, some of the shine will be taken off the season if the
Bisons lose to the Rovers.

Therefore, the Bisons will play this game just like they have the
previous nine — all out.

There will be no resting starters in this contest.

"We're just gonna play it like it a regular game, we have to play it
like a regular game," said Janocko. "We want to get that eighth win.
We want to be 8-2 and then go into the playoffs. This is not an
exhibition game. It has meaning as far as our record, it has meaning
for our potential seeding."

Normally, the Bisons would not be playing a 10th game. But this season
is different. The PIAA pushed the playoffs back a week, so the
District 9 Class AAA title game will, in all likelihood, not be played
until Nov. 17.

Janocko is pleased that his squad has a game this week.

"It's great that we have a game. They're going to the playoffs and
we're going to the playoffs," he said. "The way the PIAA set things
up, had we not played, we could have potentially have had
two-and-a-half weeks off before we played another game."

If the Bisons can win this week, they will earn a bye in the D-9
playoffs. Bradford, Clearfield's likely opponent in the D-9 title
game, does not play a 10th game and will finish the season at 7-2.

In the Rovers, the Bisons will have to contend with a team that likes
to run the football. Dillon Park is the 12th-ranked rusher in District
9 with 734 yards on 129 carries — an average of nearly six yards per
carry. He's also scored six touchdowns.

Quarterback Anthony Varischetti is a capable signal-caller. He's
completed 35-of-90 passes for 484 yards. He's tossed five touchdowns
and five interceptions.

"They mix it up. They have some weapons they have a good tailback
(Park) and their quarterback, Varischetti, throws the ball well. They
spread the ball around. We'll have to play sound defense," Janocko
said.

As usual, the Bisons will rely on the arm of quarterback Andrew
Janocko. The senior still leads District 9 in passing. He's completed
116-of-204 passes for 1,662 yards. He's thrown nine touchdowns and six
interceptions.

He was impressive against Punxsy last week, especially when you
consider the conditions.

"It's tough to throw 30 times in that kind of mud," Janocko said.
"When the balls get wet, they get muddy and it's like throwing a rock.
Our offensive line has done a great job, too, no question."

Running back Isiah Morgan is closing in on 1,000 yards. So far, he's
carried the ball 177 times for 929 yards — 5.2 yards per carry. He's
also scored 12 TDs.

Needless to say, the Bisons have improved leaps and bounds since Week
One, when they fell to Bradford, 56-35.

"You probably wouldn't recognize us," Janocko said. "We've come a long way."

Kickoff in Brockway is set for 7:30 p.m.