STRATTANVILLE, Pa. (D9Sports) — A pair of schools unaccustomed to playoff action meet at 7 p.m. Friday night in Strattanville when seventh-seeded Otto-Eldred (5-5) takes on second-seeded Clarion-Limestone (7-2) in a District 9 Class 1A first-round contest.
While the Lions are making their first playoff appearance since 2005, the visiting Terrors are making their District 9 postseason debut.
After starting 0-4 against the AML South, Otto-Eldred ran the table to win the AML North before losing to Kane a second time, 37-26, in the AML Title Game which was a big improvement considering the Wolves beat them 42-7 earlier this year.
Meanwhile, also-resurgent C-L, looking for its first District 9 title since 2004, won the KSAC Small School Division with their lone losses to Karns City and Clarion, who are a combined 16-3.
The Lions come in at 410 yards per game offensively — 238 rushing, 172 passing — and junior quarterback Brendan Makray (97-185, 1,545 yards, 13 TDs, 11 Ints.) and senior fullback Mike Macefe (204-1,420, 19 TDs). Makray’s top receivers are Riley Hummell (35-527, 4 TDs) and Sam Leadbetter (29-562, 6 TDs). Macefe also leads the defense with 11 tackles per game. Leadbetter has six interceptions.
Otto-Eldred, which enjoys a co-op with Oswayo Valley, averages 242 yards per game — 127 rushing, 115 passing — with the Drummond brothers, junior quarterback Sawyer (69-120, 907 yards, 11 TDs, 6 Ints.) and senior running back Seth (160-690, 6 TDs) at the center of attention. Seth is the all-time leading rusher at Otto with over 2,000 career yards, while Sawyer has also rushed for a second-best 222 yards. Grant West (24-400, 4 TDs) and Dylan Close (23-328, 5 TDs) are the leading receivers.
C-L is playing its first home playoff game since 2005 as well when it routed Johnsonburg, 42-14, in the opener. The Lions are playing their 20th district playoff game, owning a 10-9 lifetime record.
