The Green Hornets threw two interceptions, had a snap fly over the punter’s head to give Claysburg a first-and-goal at the 10 and gained just 86 yards on offense.

The second half was a different story.

JV took the lead with a 12-play, 81-yard drive to open the third quarter and tacked on a pair of Andrew Clark touchdown runs in the fourth quarter for a 38-25 win Friday at A.R. Simkins Memorial Field.

“We knew that in the first half we had made some mistakes that helped them along a little bit,” Valley coach Bill Musser said. “You give that to a good team, and they’re going to take advantage of it. We just had to settle down.”

11/07/25 Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Claysburg-Kimmel's Mason Campagna runs into the arms of Juniata Valley's Aaron O.

A late hit out of bounds on Claysburg on 3rd-and-11 kickstarted the drive followed by an 18-yard completion from Jett Rand to Harker on 3rd-and-14 moved the chains again. Back-to-back completions to Anthony Neri capped the drive, the second being a 27-yarder that Rand laid right in Neri’s hands as he crossed the goal line.

On the ensuing possession, Claysburg was driving to reclaim the lead, but quarterback Mason Campagna was hit hard at the end of a 15-yard run and dislocated his shoulder.

He dislocated his shoulder in the first half as well, but it popped back into place. He regained enough strength in the shoulder to return after missing a few plays.

The second time, he was unable to return.

“It happened last year. He’s dealt with it before,” C-K coach Chuck Kassick said. “He wasn’t getting any strength back, and I would never jeopardize any kids’ future. I told him there’s bigger things in life than a football game.”

11/07/25 Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Juniata Valley's Andrew Clark skips by Claysburg-Kimmel's Jacob Freeman.

Up to that point, Campagna had run for 179 yards and two touchdowns, including an 85-yard dash through the middle of the Hornets’ defense in the second quarter.

After the injury, the Bulldogs managed just 59 yards and a pair of back-up quarterbacks combined to throw four interceptions in a little more than a quarter of play.

Player of the game: Clark ran for 184 yards and four touchdowns, 117 of which came in the second half.

“There weren’t really any X and O’s adjustments. It was more mental. Realizing we’re the better team, the more physical team and just coming out and doing what we know how to do,” Clark said.

One run epitomized that change in mentality. Early in the fourth quarter after gaining 8 yards, Clark dragged a host of would-be tacklers another 15 yards to the delight of the crowd.

Neri caught six passes for 84 yards and also had two interceptions on defense.

“I just want to go out there, catch the ball and make plays. Jett Rand always finds me when I’m open,” Neri said.

Unsung hero(es): Harker bobbled the kickoff he returned at first before calmly scooping it up and finding a lane to the end zone.

“I picked it up. I went left. Coach wanted me to go left. I saw a hole, nothing but open field, and my eyes lit up,” Harker said.

For Claysburg it was a teary ending to a fine season.

“These kids are the 40-some odd sons I’ve never had. They’ve given me more joy than I can ever give back. They’ve given me so much,” Kassick said.

Records: C-K (9-3); JV (10-2).

Next week: C-K’s season has concluded. Juniata Valley advances to the title game against the winner of Saturday’s Bishop Guilfoyle/Homer-Center game.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Claysburg-Kimmel 7 18 0 0 — 25

Juniata Valley 7 13 6 12 — 38

First Quarter

JV–Clark 9 run (Rodkey kick), 9:14.

CK–Campagna 22 run (Fee kick), 4:06.

Second Quarter

CK–Diehl 28 run (pass failed), 11:02.

JV–Harker 78 kickoff return (kick failed), 10:48.

JV–Clark 27 run (Rodkey kick), 6:06.

CK–Campagna 85 run (kick failed), 5:52.

CK–Diehl 3 run (pass failed), 4:46.

Third Quarter

JV–Neri 27 pass from Rand (pass failed), 6:31.

Fourth Quarter

JV–Clark 9 run (kick failed), 11:16.

JV–Clark 7 run (kick failed), 2:40.

TEAM STATISTICS CK JV

First downs 16 20

Total yards 323 277

Rushes-yards 36-270 38-146

Yards passing 53 131

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 7-19-4 10-21-2

Punts-avg. 3-30.7 2-31

Fumbles-lost 3-1 2-1

Penalties-yards 6-65 6-76

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–C-K, Campagna 16-179, Diehl 14-89, Haney 2-1, Mowry 1-(-4), Kulick 2-7, TEAM 1-(-5). JV, Clark 31-84, Rand 1-9, Harker 2-3, TEAM 4-(-50).

PASSING–C-K, Campagna 2-8-10, Kulick 0-3-2-0, Treon 5-8-2-43. JV, Rand 10-21-2-131.

RECEIVING–C-K, Mowry 2-25, Haney 4-21, Herline 1-7. JV, Clark 1-15, Smith 1-8, Neri 6-84, O 1-18, McCall 1-6.