CLARION — In terms of the first half, it wasn't how Clarion started.

It was how the Bobcats finished.

Clarion (11-0) scored touchdowns on its final four possessions of the half — including three in the final 5:30 — to take a 42-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Bobcats wound up shutting out Union, 49-0, in their first round District 9 Class A football quarterfinal at Clarion University's Memorial Stadium.

“They gave us some trouble early. Union came out and played us tough,” Clarion coach Larry Wiser said. “Once we got up on them ... We figured it could be a little tough on 'em.”

The Bobcats entered the game averaging 56.4 points per contest, but went three-and-out on their first possession.

Ian Corbett broke free for a 34-yard touchdown burst, however, and Damien Slike scored the first of his three touchdowns on a 2-yard run to give Clarion a 14-0 lead before the end of the first period.

“They're such a hard team to contain,” Union coach Dave Louder said. “They're strong up front and their quarterback (John) Katis just doesn't make mistakes.”

Clarion was seemingly impossible to contain late in the half. Slike scored on TD runs of 3 and 63 yards, Katis threw a pair of scoring passes and the game was out of hand.

A 33-yard punt return by Cody Hearst with 52 seconds left in the half set up Clarion's final touchdown.

Slike rushed for 158 yards, Corbett for 106 and two TDs. Katis threw for 140 yards. Wiser pulled his first-team unit after three quarters.

The Bobcats' defense posted its eighth shutout of the season, sacking Union quarterback Lane Cicciarelli five times in the first half. Cicciarelli — the Golden Knights' single-season record holder with 1,682 passing yards — did not play in Union's 62-0 regular season loss to Clarion.

“It was good to see him out there tonight,” Wiser said. “He's a talented player and we had to take away their three-step passing game. They can do damage with that.”

Cicciarelli threw for only 86 yards on the night, 31 of those coming on a fade pattern to sophomore Cole Morris late in the second quarter.

The play gave the Golden Knights (4-7) a first down at the Bobcats' 39-yard line — Union's lone foray into Clarion territory all night.

On fourth-and-2 from the 31, Cicciarelli was sacked by Ethan Straffin to end the threat. Straffin had three sacks in the game.

“That was supposed to be a quick pass and they just broke in there,” Louder said. “They did a good job of pressuring our passing game and limiting our receivers.”

Neither Chet Carmichael nor Shane Murphy — who combined for 54 catches, 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns this season — had a reception for more than 8 yards.

“Hats off to Clarion,” Louder said. “That's a great team. They have the No. 1 defense in the state for a reason.”

Union was held to 129 yards offensively. Clarion had 501, including 361 rushing.

The Bobcats will play Brockway — a 53-28 winner over Smethport — in the next round.

Clarion 49, Union 0

Union 0 0 0 0 — 0

Clarion 14 28 7 0 — 49

U C

5 First Downs 19

27-43 Rushes-Yards 36-361

86 Passing Yards 140

9-14-0 Comp.-Att.-Int 8-16-0

129 Total Yards 501

1-1 Fumbles-Lost 2-1

5-32 Penalty Yards 7-55

First Quarter

C — Ian Corbett 34 run (Antonio Troese kick), 4:56

C — Damien Slike 2 run (Troese kick), 1:31

Second Quarter

C — Slike 3 run (Troese kick), 8:28

C — Tyler Allen 9 pass from John Katis (Troese kick), 5:10

C — Slike 63 run (Troese kick), 2:07

C — Cody Hearst 2 pass from Katis (Troese kick), :06

Third Quarter

C — Corbett 12 run (Troese kick), 8:08

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Union, Eric Seary 2-15, Brandon Greenawalt 2-14, Dugan Gallagher 5-12, Dylan Shirey 1-9, Cody Stockdill 2-5, Brett Trithart 6-(-3), Lane Cicciarelli 9-(-9). Clarion, Damien Slike 8-158, Ian Corbett 7-106, Tyler Allen 6-42, Tanner Corbett 4-19, Cody Hearst 1-16, Ben Babington 2-15, Thomas Plummer 2-8, Destin Stauser 1-2, Caleb Bailey 2-0, TEAM 3-(-5).

Passing: Union, Lane Cicciarelli 9-14-86-0. Clarion, John Katis 8-16-140-0.

Receiving: Union, Shane Murphy 3-15, Cole Morris 2-49, Brett Trithart 2-14, Chet Carmichael 2-8. Clarion, Cody Hearst 3-45, Antonio Troese 2-47, Ian Corbett 2-39, Tyler Allen 1-9.