Wildcats Down Beavers In Wildcats Senior Night / Clarion Area Homecoming Football Game (Posted 10/05/20)

(Above Image by Bri Kirkland – Kirkland Photography) 2020 Clarion Area Homecoming Court: (L-R) Cal German, Ava Cherico, Beau Verdill, King Brian Acey, Queen Jenna Miller, Hunter Craddock, Gabby Klein, Cutter Boggess, Ava Kiser, Ethan Burford, Sarah Clark.

https://www.kirkland-photography.com/

The homestanding Central Clarion downed the DuBois Beavers 15-7, on Friday (October 2nd), in the Wildcats Senior Night and Clarion Area Homecoming football match-up, at Memorial Stadium. The festivities took place prior to the game, with Jenna Miller being crowned the 2020 Homecoming King and Brian Acey being selected King.

Senior Night honored senior players and band members from all three schools in the Wildcats’ co-op, Clarion Area, North Clarion and Clarion-Limestone.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 6-0 lead, at 8:41 in the first quarter. With the Cats at the Beavers’ forty yard line, quarterback Cal German avoided pressure by rolling to the left and found Cutter Boggess, who had gotten behind a defender along the left sideline. Boggess took it in from there, for his first of two touchdowns, on a night that saw him accumulate 143 yards in total offense (9 carries for 81 yards, 4 catches for 62 yards). The point after was unsuccessful.

The Wildcats threatened to score in the second quarter, when Boggess took a handoff up the middle and cut to the left on a fifty-two yard run to the DuBois seven. But the Beavers held on downs.

The Cats thwarted a Beaver drive, when Boggess intercepted a pass in the endzone and brought it out to the DuBois twenty-two yard line, with seconds remaining in the half. Central took a knee to take the 6-0 lead into halftime.

Beau Verdill upped the Wildcat lead to 9-0, with a twenty-three yard field goal, at the 3:21 mark of the third.

Some history was made in the third quarter, when German hit Ethan Burford, over the middle at the DuBois sixteen. Burford cut to the right and took it to the Beavers’ eight, for a forty-two yard gain. With the catch and run, Burford eclipsed the 2,000 career reception yards milestone. Burford would finish the night with five catches for 110 yards, giving him 551 yards on the season and 2,019 in his career, thus far.

The Beavers recovered a fumble on the next play though, ending the threat.

DuBois was stopped when Ryan Hummell intercepted a pass that caromed off a receiver at the Beavers’ thirty-five.

Breckin Rex who had a big night with 13 carries for 107 yards, took the ball to the DuBois thirty and a penalty against the Beavers added another fifteen yards. Two plays later, Boggess powered through the line, breaking several tackles for a nine yard score with 4:17 left in the game, giving the Cats a 15-0 lead.

DuBois was moving down the field, but they were stopped when Hummell gathered in his second interception on the night, a diving catch at the Central ten.

With an interception on the next play, the Beavers were set up at the Central forty-two. DuBois, scored with twenty seconds on the clock when Cam-Ron Hays hit Austin Mitchell in the endzone for a thirty-five yard score. The kick was good and the score was now 15-9, Wildcats.

The Beavers’ onside kick was recovered by Dawson Smail.

Two kneel downs and a fourteen yard run by Rex around right end, ate the rest of the clock, securing the win in the first Wildcats’ first Senior Night/Clarion Area Homecoming game.

German finished the night completing 10-of-23 for 186 yards and one touchdown and one interception. He has 1,148 yards so far this season and sits at 3,820 for his career.

Some other key defensive stats were turned in by: Kaoz Baker – 16 tackles; Jason Ganoe – 13 tackles; Cooper Shall 9 tackles; Dawson Smail – 9 tackles and Boggess – 8 tackles, 1 interception.

With this being the Wildcats first season, this was their first matchup with the Beavers. The Clarion Bobcats never met DuBois and it is thought that the Clarion-Limestone Lions and the Beavers never met.

After the game, Dave Eggleton Sr. and Randy Boggess hosted the team with burgers, hot dogs, chili and desserts.

CAT QUOTES:

Breckin Rex

“It was great to get a win for our homecoming game and our senior night. The line blocked great and opened up holes big enough to gain yards. Overall we played great as a team, but there were times we got to the redzone but could not score. For next week we are going back to watch film and get better for our next game.”

Cutter Boggess

“It felt great getting all those yards, but it wouldn’t have happened without Calvin or our line. It was a tough game and I think the team fought well the whole game. I feel it was very special, not only for me, but for mostly everyone to get a big win on our Homecoming and Senior Night.”

Coach Larry Wiser

“A win is a win! We played a very physical game with a good opponent and I am pleased with the outcome. There are things we worked hard on all week and it showed up against DuBois. Like any game we play, there are things that we need to improve on. The last two weeks, I have been pleased with the practice effort of this group. It will be important that we take the same approach again this week to improve as a team.

“As a staff we always stress TEAM play, but will make an exception this week.

“From an individual stand point, my staff and I want to congratulate Ethan on his historic accomplishment. I also want to point out the play of Luca Cherico who is having one of his best seasons as a football player, sophomore Ryan Hummel on his two interceptions and the continued fine play of Cutter Boggess.” 

The Wildcats will travel to Karns City on Friday (October 9th).

(Thanks to Bri Kirkland – Kirkland Photography and Laura Burford for images. Keep up the good work Wildcats!!!!)