Wildcats’ Cutter Boggess, Ethan Burford, Brookville’s Jack Krug, Karns City’s Nathan Waltman Turn In Solid Performances In First Ever East-West 1-3A Game

(Photos courtesy of Randy Boggess) Above: Ethan and Cutter

Central Clarion Wildcats Cutter Boggess and Ethan Burford participated on the West Squad, in the first ever Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PSFCA) Class 1-3A East-West Game at Central Dauphin’s Landis Field, in Harrisburg on Sunday, May 30th. With this past season being the Wildcats’ first, the duo are also the first in team history to play in a statewide all-star game.

Prior to this year the PSFCA had two statewide All-Star Games, the Big33 Game, which currenty pits Pennsylvania against Maryland and the East-West Game. This year they had two East-West Games (Small School 1-3A and Large School 4-6A).

Though the West lost in a close 17-10 game, Cutter, a linebacker and Ethan, a wide receiver turned in solid games, as did fellow District Nine League and former Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference players, quarterback Jack Krug from Brookville and linebacker/defensive lineman Nathan Waltman from Karns City. Keystone’s Nick Weaver was also selected, but couldn’t play due to injury.

Ethan had one reception, but it covered quite a distance, thirty-nine yards. Describing the play, Ethan said, “I ran a wheel route right up the sideline and Quarterback Ameer Dudley (from Central Valley) found me wide open let the the ball fly. I had to come back to the ball for the catch and then I side-stepped the oncoming defender making him miss the tackle. I stepped out of bounds shortly after trying to make a cut upfield. The (thirty-nine) yard catch put the West team deep in the East territory.”

Cutter had a big defensive game. Unofficially, Cutter had seven tackles (4 solo, 3 assisted), one for loss and two pass breakups.

Krug threw for 125 of the West’s 202 passing yards, with his biggest play coming late in the first quarter. Dudley, lined up at quarterback and handed the ball off to Krug, crossing behind him, left to right, making it look like a sweep. Krug through back to Dudley who ran the ball in for a seventy-five yard touchdown and with the extra point, by Bishop McCort’s William Hazlett, the West held a 7-0 lead, with 3:45 left in the quarter.

The play really impressed Ethan. “My favorite part of the game was when we ran a trick play on our first drive to score an 80 yard touchdown and take the lead.” Ditto for Cutter. I think my favorite play of the game was the trick play when Jack threw the ball back to Ameer for a touchdown.

The East tied the score at 7-all at 5:02 in the second on a two yard run up the middle by Steelton-Highspire’s Odell Greene and the point after by Macrae Plummer from Anville-Cleona.

Nate had some real strong play on defense. Probably his biggest play came shortly before the half. The East was on the West one yard line and looking for a touchdown. But Nate broke through for a tackle in the backfield. The East had to settle for a Plummer field goal, as time ran out in the third, for a 10-7 lead.

The East moved their lead to 17-7, with 2:57 left in the third, on a twelve yard scoring pass from Johnny Gilchrist from Riverside (in Taylor) to Salisbury’s Chad Parton, coupled with an extra point by Aiden Cirulli from Wyomissing.

The game’s final points came on a forty-two yard field goal by Hazlett, with 6:13 left in the game, brought the West cut the deficit to 17-10 East.

Cutter said, “This game was great to experience. It allowed me to see what college football would be like. It also gave me a chance to make friends with people I would have never met and receive coaching that will stick with me through college.” He added, “It was great to get be able to experience a game like this with one of my best friends (Ethan).  It was also nice to have other guys from our area play in the game with us. It was great to have them on our side too.”

And Ethan shared, “Overall, it was a great experience and I am humbled to represent the west side of the state. This game gave me a good idea of what the next level of football is like.

“It was also nice to have some guys from the other (District Nine League) on the West team. I think that we (Ethan Burford, Cutter Boggess, Nathan Waltman, Jack Krug) all played very well and each of us made some big plays. It was nice having a few guys from our area represent our district.”

Other players from around District Nine and Ten who participated in the game for the West Squad were: Clearfield’s Zane Ignatio on the offensive line and Nick Domico at tight end; Wilmington’s Weston Phanco on the defensive line and Ethan Susen at defensive back. Slippery Rock head coach, Larry Wendereusz was an assistant coach.

The East also won the 4-6A Game, 38-13, while Pennsylvania defeated Maryland 20-0 in the Big33.

(Congratulations to Ethan, Cutter, Nathan, Jack, Nick and all the others from District Nine and District Ten selected to to the West Squad!!!!)