Bison rally again, beat Lions on homecoming

Carlisle's Jasean Harper heads toward the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Bison's 35-34 win over Clarendon on Friday night. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

CARLISLE — For the second week in a row, the Carlisle Bison had to rally from a double-digit deficit to get a conference victory.

The Bison, now 6-3 overall and 5-2 in 2A-6 play, trailed 28-14 at halftime to Clarendon but rallied for a 35-34 homecoming victory Friday night at Fred C. Hardke Field. The win is Carlisle’s fifth in a row. Last week, Carlisle trailed Brinkley 30-6 before rallying for a 40-36 win over the Tigers. 

Carlisle pulled to within seven at 28-21 with 3:43 left in the third quarter. Devon Kendrick scored on a 1-yard run then kicked the extra point. This was the culmination of a 79-yard, 9-play drive. Jasean Harper had a 39-yard run on the drive. 

The Bison took a 29-28 lead when Tristan Seidenschwarz intercepted a Clarendon pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown with 1:38 left in the third quarter. Kendrick added the two-point conversion. Carlisle's Gray Amaden forced the  Clarendon quarterback into a bad pass that led to the score.

The Bison added to their lead following an interception by Braiden Jenkins. Carlisle drove 81 yards in four plays with Harper scoring on a 25-yard run with 6:20 left. The 2-point conversion was no good and the Bison led 35-28. 

The big play of the drive was a 33-yard run by Ian Seidenschwarz, who appeared to be stopped near midfield but kept his feet after rolling off a Clarendon defender and ran the ball to the Lions 25. 

Clarendon would not go away. 

The Lions pulled to within one at 35-34 when Jama Cross scored on a 1-yard run with 3:45 left in the game. He attempted a pass on the 2-point conversion try but Harper intercepted the pass to preserve the Bison’s one-point lead.

Carlisle took to be in control of the game after a 12-yard run by kendrick down to the Clarendon 42 following an onside kick attempt. But the Bison were penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, backing them up 15 yards. The Bison then fumbled the ball back to Clarendon with 3:29 left.

Clarendon’s Marvin Horns then ran the ball 30 yards to the Bison 14. They gained only yard before facing fourth-and-nine at the Bison 13. A bad snap on the play led to the Bison getting a tackle behind the line of scrimmage. They took over at their own 18.

Kendrick then ran 6 yards. Then Harper was horse-collared tackled on the next play. After an automatic first down, the Bison kneeled out the clock to get the win. 

Harper led the Bison with 119 yards rushing on 11 carries. Kendrick had 117 yards rushing on 24 carries. Ian Seidenschwarz had 54 yards on four carries. 

Carson Cunningham completed 1 of 2 passes for 26 yards. Houston Garrich caught the pass.

Carlisle got off to a quick start, leading 7-0 with 9:14 left in the first quarter. Kendrick scored on a 9-yard run. He also kicked the extra point.

Clarendon scored the game’s next 14 points to lead 14-7. The Bison tied it at 14-14 when Harper scored on a 15-yard run with 11:07 left in the first half. Kendrick kicked the extra point. 

Clarendon scored two second-quarter touchdowns to lead 28-14 at halftime. 

Carlisle has already clinched a spot in the Class 2A state playoffs, which start in two weeks. 

The Bison can get the second seed from the 2A-6 with a  win over defending state champion McCrory on Thursday at home. If the Bison lose, they would be the third seed if Palestine-Wheatley loses to Hazen. If the Patriots beat Hazen and McCrory beats Carlisle, the Bison will be the fourth seed. Second- and third-place teams will host first-round playoff games.
Kickoff Thursday night is set for 7 o’clock.

Carlisle's Houston Garrich [40] battles Clarendon's Jaquan Bones for a pass in the first quarter.