Turnovers costly as Raiders' football season ends at Clarion

It's over.

Cameron County's long 2007 football season ended Saturday afternoon at the hands of the Kane Wolves, 14-6, in a game held to decide both a berth in the Elite Eight of the state playoffs and the PIAA District 9 championship.

The Red Raiders closed at 11-2 while the Wolves improved to 13-0 heading into Saturday's playoff game in Erie against Mercyhurst Prep.

Five turnovers proved costly to the Raiders, who had trouble enough with the Kane defense even when they did hold onto the ball on a chilly afternoon at Clarion University Memorial Field.

Defense dominated the game until well into the third quarter, when Kane broke finally broke the ice.

Quarterback Zach Anderson, a tough kid under heavy pressure all afternoon, connected with Matt Mix and John Bizzak on a pair of aerials that covered 44 yards. He followed with a short pass over the middle to Mike Punk, who slipped behind blockers to polish off a 21-yard touchdown play.

The score stayed at 6-0 well into the fourth quarter. Cameron County dodged one bullet after Kane's John Bizzak recovered a fumble at the Raider 11. Cameron's defense held, as Abram Zoschg covered Bizzak like a blanket on a fourth-down pass into the end zone.

With about five minutes left in the game, Kane's Dustin Moran intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. Anderson hit Mix with the two-point conversion and a 14-0 lead.

With survival on the line, Cameron County earned a couple of first downs - one of them on a 20-yard scramble by quarterback Jordan Crane - to set up a 34-yard touchdown pass from Crane to Zoschg. A two-point conversion attempt failed.

Trailing 14-6 with 2:36 left, the Raiders tried an onside kick that was recovered by Kane.

Cameron County had one last gasp when Anderson, in punt formation, shanked a kick and the Raiders took over at their own 45. They had just 45 seconds to operate.

Crane tried four passes against the Wolves' prevent defense and came up empty.

There was no doubt that the Raiders came to play. They were all over Anderson, sacking him seven times and holding him to nine completions for 139 yards. Marcus Mullens, Shawn Ellenberger, Taylor Songer, Darick Mason, Jarek Holjencin and Mike Malizia were Anderson's chief antagonists.

Moran had to earn every one of his 88 yards on 21 carries. Kane's final ground totals were a meager 91 yards on 39 attempts.

Crane played a gutsy game, hitting eight of 17 passes for 107 yards and running nine times for 62 yards. Cameron Clingan was held to 27 yards on 10 attempts and Zoschg rushed six times for 28.

"Our turnovers were the difference in this one," lamented Red Raiders' coach Tony Defilippi. "Plus, we had real good field position twice (first downs at the Kane 20 and 16-yard lines) and weren't able to come away with anything. In big games, you've got to convert."

Elated over his own squad's success, Kane coach Jason Barner said he was impressed with Cameron County.

"They are a very good football team, and a very physical football team," Barner said. "Turnovers are the biggest reason we're moving on and they're not."