Wildcats Down Elkers 33-14

(Above image by Nate Girvan) Kolton Bradley (67) leads the way for Breckin Rex (20)

The Central Clarion Wildcats hosted the Ridgway/Johnsonburg Elkers, at Memorial Stadium, on Friday (October 8th), coming away with a 33-14 win.

The Wildcats struck first, with quarterback Jase Ferguson taking a keeper around left end for a twelve yard touchdown. And with Charlie Franchino’s point after, Central led 7-0 at 7:03 of the first. A key play of the drive was a thirty-one yard Ferguson to Christian Simko pass down the right side, that set gave the Wildcats a first and ten at the Elkers’ twenty, several plays earlier.

Ridgway/Johnsonburg closed the gap to 7-6, when Dominic Allegretto stripped the ball carrier and ran it back forty-nine yards for the score, with 2:32 left in the first. Dawson Hotchkiss blocked the extra point. Central answered on their next possession. With the ball at the Wildcats’ thirty, Ferguson hit Ashton Rex, who was behind the defender and took the in stride at about the Elker twenty-five and raced to the end zone for a seventy yard touchdown, with 1:21 left in the quarter. Franchino was good again and the Wildcats now led 14-6.

The Elkers would tie the score at 14-all, at 2:31 of the second quarter, with a twelve yard touchdown pass and successful two-point conversion. The Elkers missed a thirty-five yard field goal, that would have given them a three point lead at the end of the quarter. But as it was, the teams went to the locker rooms tied 14-14.

Coach Dave Eggleton had this to say about the miss, “Yeah, it was (big). I thought it was going to be good from my angle. I couldn’t tell. I was a little relieved when I saw them call it no good.  He definitely was close on it.”

The Wildcats moved out in front for good at 10:27 of the third, with Ferguson hitting a wide open Simko, at the Elker eight, who ran it in from their for a Thirty-eight yard touchdown. Franchino’s kick made it 21-14.

Shortly before halftime, Public Address announcer Dave Constantino gave a special shout out to former Clarion-Limestone standout from the Class of 2018, Marine Corporal Riley Hummell, who was in attendance. Corporal Hummell, who is the brother of current Wildcat Ryan Hummell, has served in the Marine Corps for three and a half years.

Corporal Hummell has returned from deployment from Belgium and on Wednesday, October 9th he will leave for a one-year deployment in China. He is a Marine security guard and will be guarding the U.S. Embassy and Consulate at Shenyan, a city of over 8,000,000.

Corporal Hummell said that he loves the Marines and those he works with there.

Thank You For Your Service Corporal Hummell!!!! Hoorah!!!!

The Central lead moved to 27-14, with Ferguson finding, Simko at the front of the end zone. Simko out hand fought the defender for the ball, coming away with the touchdown with 3:20 left in the quarter.

Central pretty much owned the clock in the fourth quarter. They started a possession with 11:09 on the clock, at their own eleven. And in a game of the opponent can’t score if they don’t have the ball, the Wildcats, ran left, right and over the middle for fifteen plays, being stopped on a lost fumble at the Ridgway/Johnsonburg, with just 1:26, left in the game.

Though they didn’t score, it was still as great a drive as you could ask for, with Central eating up 9:43 of play clock.

Coach Egglton said, “Put that on the O-linemen’s backs. The O-Line opened up holes and our backs ran hard. We would have liked to finish it there, but we were trying to make that extra effort to get the first down, on fourth down and just had the ball pop out.

“But what a drive though. That’s the type of drive that good football teams make, when the game is on the line. And we couldn’t be more proud of how our team stepped up in that moment.    

“Kaleb Keihl at center, our two guards, Kolton Bradley and Coleman Slater, our two tackles, Ian Hagan and we were mixing in between Colby Wright and Mason Songer and then Tommy Smith at tight end was making some big blocks too.    That whole crew tonight, took it on their own. And I thought our guys on the outside blocked well, as well. It was just a great group effort there.”  

And the real fruit of the drive, which left Ridgway/Johnsonburg deep in their own territory came on several plays into the Elkers’ possession, when Breckin Rex intercepted the pass and took it down the right sideline for twenty yard touchdown. And with sixteen ticks left on the clock, the final was set at 33-14, Wildcats.

The Wildcats ran well overall during the game, though there were several fumbles. But coach Eggleton sees the bright side on that. “They were running hard tonight. We obviously need to take care of the football better.

“But those are some, just effort plays, where they are trying for that extra yard sometimes. And we’ve got to realize that sometimes it’s not worth that extra yard.

“But they ran the ball super hard and pounded it, pounded it at them. I think we wore them out there at the end.”

And the defense had a great night also, with Wildcats in the opponent’s backfield a good bit of the night, getting a number of tackles for loss and sacks; some big pass breakups; good surehanded tackles and more.

Apart from a hiccup or two, the defense played as good of game as you could hope for.

Coach Eggleton said, Our defense, the whole way around, every point we gave tonight, it felt like we just gifted it there. The fumble return and I can’t remember the other one. I think we were there to make a play and just didn’t make it.

“But overall, our entire defense just really stepped up tonight. Give Coach Louder (Wildcats’ Defensive Coordinator) and the rest of the coaches credit.

“They coached them up and had them ready. Ridgway has a tough offense to prepare for, with multiple formations and our coaching staff and the guys did a great job recognizing and getting in the right positions to play good defense.” 

And about the passing game that has improved by leaps-and-bounds, as the season progresses.

“Jase and Christian, their relationship just keeps on developing every week. And they are going to keep on connecting like they are. And Ashton is just such a weapon on the outside too. A lot of teams will try to focus on Simko and Ashton’s just so quick that he’s going to take some shots and he’s hard to cover.   

“And Jase is maturing every week, making the right reads and the right throws. He’s not putting the ball in danger.” 

Key Wildcats Offensive Stats:

Jase Ferguson completed 7 of 12 passes for 196 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions, and ran the ball 4 times for 22 yards and a touchdown. Breckin Rex had 24 carries for 162 yards. Ryan Hummell had 14 carries for 88 yards. Christian Simko hauled in 5 passes for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ashton Rex had 2 receptions for 82 yards and 1 touchdown and carried the ball 1 time for 12 yards.

The Wildcats are scheduled to travel to Bradford, to face the Owls, this Friday (October 15th).

Thanks to Maria Wilson and Nate Girvan for their images. Keep It Goin’ Wildcats!!!!)